Isthmian South Central 22 Mar 2025
Kingstonian 0
Hanworth Villa 1
- Sam Merson (68’)
Match Report
Cometh the hour, cometh Sam Merson.
With his 106th Hanworth Villa goal on his 179th Villa appearance, Merson’s second-half header ensured a crucial 1-0 win over second-placed Kingstonian at St George’s Playing Fields.
Merson’s goal was the reward of a brave Villa performance, where we pressed high from kick off and never stopped working hard to seize the initiative.
Manager Simon Haughney said: “We thought we’d have a go today because the pitches at this time of the year is very hard. We know they like to play.
“Kingstonian are a fantastic team, second in the division for a reason and we know the manager gets them to play a lovely style that might not be conducive with the pitch.
“We’ve got nothing to lose, let’s throw bodies forward, let’s press and let’s see if we can get anything out of it. I thought the second half we were on top and we deserved the win.”
The three points kept Villa in fifth on 65 points, the final promotion play-off spot, and crucially two points clear of sixth-placed Hayes & Yeading United who have played an extra game.
Kingstonian remained second on 69 points, while Uxbridge (66) and Ascot United (65) are the other teams occupying the play-off positions.
Haughney made three changes from last Tuesday, handing debutant Lucas Defise a start in midfield.
About his new signing from Walton & Hersham, he said: “The midfield is fine, but with a couple players not available with work and stuff, we felt we needed a little bit of strengthening up in there.
“We feel he can run and he’s quite composed on the ball, you could see today when he was on the ball helping us. So yeah, really pleased with Lucas.”
Both sides exchanged a chance apiece in the opening half hour, as Merson first drew a smart diving save from Kingstonian goalkeeper Liam Allen before Palace Francis lashed a volley narrowly wide.
Villa were adamant to take the initiative and deployed a high press determined to win the ball high up into Kingstonian’s half.
Haughney’s plan nearly paid off in the 31st minute, but Ben Mulley skied his effort high after Villa capitalised on the home side’s sloppy passing at the back.
Seven minutes later, Kingstonian had a penalty appeal waved away after Stan Flaherty went down howling in the box after seeing his shot sail wide.
Right on the stroke of half time, Finlay Macnab had a golden opportunity to put Villa ahead. Picking up the ball in midfield, he drove forward before firing a low strike towards the goal.
It looked destined for the bottom corner, but Allen dove low to palm Macnab’s effort away for a corner.
Just past the hour mark, Kingstonian had their best opportunity of the game.
Substitute Dan Rowe was left unmarked inside the penalty area and he controlled a pinpoint cross with his chest before miscuing his volley much to the travelling Villa fans’ relief.
Villa made Kingstonian pay for that miss in the 68th minute.
From a corner kick, Merson leapt highest to nod past a flailing Allen at the near post to give Villa an all-important lead in the promotion play-off crunch clash.
Javaid could have doubled the lead in the 86th minute after racing through on goal, but his venomous strike was too close to Allen.
Into stoppage time, Kingstonian’s Francis was denied by a brave block from KJ Osu to wrap up the three points.
It was a massive recovery from a soul-crushing last-minute defeat to Leatherhead last Tuesday.
Haughney said: “It’s about how you react to it. We’d been on a fantastic run up to that so it’s quite easy to then go into a lull.
“We had a chat with the boys saying listen, we’re the team in fifth. We can’t look into our wing mirrors, we have to look forward through our windscreens. We came here to win.”
Villa will next host Hartley Wintney on Tuesday in another big clash in the race for the promotion play-off spots.
Haughney added: “My mentality is just try and get the next three points. This is a good win, it’s done for me now. Hartley are chasing the play-offs as well and they’re a good side.
“There’s still going to be twists, there’s still going to be a lot of teams playing one another. It’s going to be tight, but it’s just who can keep their nerve.”