Isthmian South Central 1 Jan 2025
Ashford Town 2
- Jack Arnold (17’)
- Basim Mirtahmasebi (60’)
Hanworth Villa 2
- Manny Parry (24’)
- George Wells (88’)
Match Report
Despite a long list of injuries and suspensions, Hanworth Villa halted a four-match losing streak after a 2-2 draw with Ashford Town at The Reg Madgwick Stadium in Cobham.
On New Year’s Day, Villa produced a defiant display despite having only 13 available first-team players.
George Well’s last-gasp 88th-minute equaliser gave us a much needed point after Manny Parry had earlier pulled us level in the first half.
Villa moved up to eighth on 37 points and are four points off the play-off spots with Hayes & Yeading United moving up to fifth following a 2-1 win over Southall.
Not much had changed since Saturday, with manager Simon Haughney hamstrung by a whopping 11 players ruled out.
Haughney said: “I’m proud of the boys to keep going till the end. With all the injuries and suspensions we’ve got, I’ve said to the boys you got to keep digging deep and anything picked up over the next couple of games is a bonus.
“Once we get everyone back, I’m sure we’ll have a little late run at it. Like I said at Raynes Park, I don’t think it’s about a lack of effort, if not you’ll see me shouting.
“We got the draw that we thought we deserved at the end which I think was a fair reflection on the overall game.”
Villa were handed a boost before kick off when Sam Merson was passed fit to start, replacing Theo Curtis in the initial starting lineup.
On a 3G artificial surface with the ball skidding quickly, Villa nearly conceded after just 11 minutes.
After a whipped Ashford Town free kick, Prince Kandolo fired a loose ball on the edge of the six yard box over the bar.
Six minutes later, Villa were not as fortunate as Jack Arnold gave the home side the lead with a right-footed strike into the bottom corner.
But Villa responded quickly in the 24th minute, when Merson’s driven cross was headed home by an unmarked Manny Parry.
It was an all-important header that ended our goal drought having not scored in 272 playing minutes.
We nearly went behind immediately after, as Ashford Town’s Sam Humphreys raced through our defence and tried to dink the ball over Mark Smith in a one-on-one situation.
Fortunately, Humphreys’ cheeky attempt trickled wide.
Villa then had a couple of half chances as Abdullah Javaid’s 30 yard piledriver nearly caught out Ashford Town goalkeeper Marcin Brzozowski, before Bruno Robertson-Tingle could not find the right contact on a half volley.
It was end-to-end action before the interval as Mark Smith was twice called into action to palm away powerful strikes as Ashford Town too pushed for a go-ahead goal.
Villa started the second half the better side, as Abdullah Javaid caused problems for Ashford’s defence down the right flank on multiple occasions.
In the 54th minute, he fizzed a powerful cross across goal that just evaded three Villa players crashing the box.
Three minutes later, he curled an effort destined for the top corner if not for a top save from Brzozowski, before firing wide again moments after.
Yet it was Ashford who regained the lead, against the run of play, on the hour mark.
On the counter attack, Ashford Town broke away in a three-versus-two situation and Basim Mirtahmasebi slotted home into an empty net after receiving a square pass.
With only Shane Dunne to bring off the bench, Haughney had to rely on those still on the pitch if Villa were to get anything out of this game.
As the game drew to its final stages, Ashford goalkeeper Brzozowski began timewasting on goal kicks which riled up the visiting Villa fans.
Brzozowski’s efforts were ultimately futile, as Villa equalised in the 88th minute. Sam Merson’s free kick was whipped deep towards the far post and headed back into the danger zone.
After a goal line scramble, the ball fell kindly into Wells’ path who smashed home Villa’s leveller from close range.
But Ashford had the final say in the game and could have nicked the winner with the last kick of the game.
But after rounding Smith, their attacker failed to set himself to finish into an open net and his eventual shot was saved by Smith who recovered very well.
Haughney said: “In the last 10 seconds, I couldn’t believe what I was watching but we got away there with a fantastic save from Smudge (Smith) who I think’s been our best player this season.”
Villa will next return to Rectory Meadow hosting Leatherhead on Saturday (Jan 4).
Haughney added: ““We’ve got to keep fighting. That was a terrific battling performance. All we can do is keep going.
“I think the youngsters today showed a lot of aggression, off the ball, working really hard. Special mention to them. We’ve just got to pick up what we can in the next one or two games and we’ll be back.”
On a final note, Haughney thanked our Villa supporters for their unrelenting support during this difficult spell for the club.
He said: “They’re there when we win, but they’re there when we lose as well.
“I can’t tell you how much I respect them turning up on a wet, windy day and there’s no ego of them demanding wins.
”We might not have the most (numbers) in terms of support but god do they make a noise.
“We’re having a bit of a tough time at the moment but thanks to everyone.”
