Isthmian South Central 5 April 2025
Hartley Wintney 1
- Conor Lynch (16’)
Hanworth Villa 3
- Pierre Fonkeu (51’)
- Abdullah Javaid (63’)
- Dylan Randall (90+6’)
Match Report
Hanworth Villa moved within touching distance of the promotion play-off spots after another come-from-behind 3-1 win over Hartley Wintney at The Memorial Playing Fields.
After a torrid first half, goals from debutant Pierre Fonkeu. Abdullah Javaid and Dylan Randall gave Villa our sixth win in seven matches. Hartley captain Liam Gavin was sent off in the 84th minute for a horrendous tackle on Sam Merson.
With five matches to play, Villa are third on 71 points and have a game in hand ahead of Kingstonian (69) and Hayes & Yeading United (66).
Manager Simon Haughney said: “I thought it was a game of two halves, Hartley a much better side in the first half to be honest but we were better in the second half.
“We’ve got a fit team, a fit bench and just a good set of lads. For me, it’s all about the players.
“We’re not there yet because it’s not mathematically done yet. It’s a two-game swing so Leatherhead on Saturday is all I care about.
“There’s still a lot of teams chasing who have got the capability of winning the last four games, so we need more points.”
Eager to avenge the 4-1 defeat at Rectory Meadow, Hartley dominated possession from kick off in front of a 288-strong crowd. They were energetic and played passes with intent in what was a must-win match for them to keep their play-off hopes alive.
Against the run of play, Sam Merson found space in the 13th minute but Hartley goalkeeper Nick Jupp pulled off a fine reaction save to deny Merson’s powerful volley.
Three minutes later, Hartley capitalised on a cheap Villa giveaway to snatch the early lead on the counter attack.
KJ Osu tried to take a throw in quickly towards Fonkeu, but Villa’s debutant lost the ball which allowed Calvin Camara to race away down the left flank.
The Hartley winger put in a smart cross just evading the backtracking Villa defenders’ reach, allowing Lynch to unleash an unsavable strike from 20 yards out into the bottom corner.
It looked like a completely different Hartley side from the same team that lost convincingly at Rectory Meadow just two weeks ago. Villa consistently struggled to string passes together and were largely pinned back into our own half.
Villa’s drop in level did not last for long though, returning after the interval with more passion and vigour.
About his half-time team talk, Haughney said: “I felt it was a bit lacklustre and lethargic. Those were the two words I used at half-time. I didn’t scream, I didn’t shout because I know the boys know it’s not good enough.
“I thought we were a little half yard away from those things and the second half we came out with a real endeavour.”
In the 51st minute, Villa found a leveller from a corner kick. Delivered to the near post, Merson flicked it on towards the six-yard box and Fonkeu reacted quickest to prod the ball home.
Keeping up the momentum, Villa had a golden opportunity to take the lead on the hour mark after the ball kindly fell into Manny Parry’s path from a lofted free kick.
Showing his striker’s instinct, our captain struck it well from the edge of the area with his laces, but the ball agonisingly bobbled just wide of the post.
Three minutes later though, Villa took the lead. A lovely threaded through ball from Lucas Defise found Fonkeu, who tried to round Jupp who managed to get a hand onto it. But Javaid followed close behind and was there to smash home the rebound into an open net.
Into the 84th-minute, Gavin went in studs-up into Merson on the edge of the area and the referee showed no hesitation to send the Hartley captain his marching orders.
There was time for Villa to capitalise on the extra man’s advantage, after substitute Randall struck an absolutely stunning volley from outside the penalty box in the final minute of stoppage time to seal the three points.
Haughney added about the goal: “Great first touch, he’s hit it on the volley and fantastic execution. Well done to Dylan. I feel a bit sorry for him because it took him a while to get back his match fitness, he’s had a bad injury, but he’s starting to come back at the right time.”
Villa will next travel to face Leatherhead next Saturday, who dropped to eighth after a crushing 10-0 defeat to Uxbridge.