Isthmian South Central 23 Nov 2024
Moneyfields 2
- James Franklyn (71’)
- Steve Ramsey (75’, pen)
Hanworth Villa 3
- Sam Mead (39’)
- Sam Merson (81’)
- Alex Body (90+4’)
Match Report
For the second successive game, Hanworth Villa left it late to snatch three points against 15th-placed Moneyfields.
Alex Body’s 94th-minute winner sealed a hard-fought 3-2 away win in cold and windy conditions at the John Jenkins Stadium in Portsmouth.
Sam Mead’s first-half goal was cancelled out by James Franklyn’s goal and Steve Ramsey’s penalty in the second half.
But repeating the last-minute heroics from our win against Binfield last week, Villa — in the final 10 minutes — battled from 2-1 down to win.
Sam Merson equalised in the 81st minute before Body scored at the death. Moneyfields’ frustrations showed when Jack Lee was sent off in the final minute.
A relieved Simon Haughney said post-match: “I thought we showed great character to get back in the game. On a wet, blustery, windy day we had to be the same.
“Fairplay to Moneyfields, a together team. You can see it. Only one team was going to make it at the end and it was us thankfully.”
It is shaping up to be a close scrap for the promotion play-off spots. Just five points separate third-placed Hartley Wintney from 10th-places Hayes & Yeading United.
Villa, now fourth, have a game in hand against Hayes & Yeading on Tuesday, and are only one point behind Hartley.
Last time out, we played out a 1-1 draw on Sep 28 against Moneyfields at Rectory Meadow. This time round, it was a much more exciting game.
Despite the harsh conditions, Villa started calm on the ball and strung together a series of passes to grow into the game.
Speaking about the challenging weather, Haughney said: “We don’t mind it. We got no ego. We can’t wait for these pitches to churn up and we don’t care if we’re playing on a cow’s field.
“We’re not bothered. Predominantly, we are a winter team. I don’t think many teams would want to play us over the winter.”
Eight minutes in, intricate one-touch interchanges between KJ Osu, Finlay Macnab and Mead on the left flank gave Villa an early half chance.
The ball fell to Merson, whose stinging low effort was well caught by Moneyfields goalkeeper Callum Smart.
After Villa’s Manny Parry missed a close-range header from Macnab’s free kick, the home side nearly went ahead in the 19th minute from right-back Harry Birmingham’s looping 30-yard effort.
Helped by the wind, the ball swerved left and right but Mark Smith just about managed to tip it over the bar.
From the resulting corner, Moneyfields had a penalty appeal waved away as Osu put his body in front of goal to block a shot destined for the back of the net.
Osu, wearing his heart on his sleeve, was then booked by referee Simon Faires five minutes later for a chomping tackle high up the pitch.
As the momentum of the game began to peter out, Villa took the lead in the 39th minute with a sudden burst of energy — winning the ball from a well-coordinated high press.
Inside the penalty area, Macnab rolled the ball across goal to Mead who calmly slotted home into the bottom corner for his second league goal of the season.
There was drama before half-time, after Ben Mulley was subject to a nasty challenge near the halfway line which resulted in a minor argument.
Stand-in captain Smith, deputising for the suspended George Wells, angrily charged up the pitch to protest Faires’ decision to let play go on.
Mulley was then booked for re-entering the pitch earlier than he was supposed to.
Villa had an early second-half scare after a Moneyfields player’s header back across goal from an overhit cross trickled across the goal line.
The game slowed thereafter but the home side soon equalised on the 71st minute with their first chance of the half.
James Franklyn, close to the penalty spot, directed a cutback into the net after Villa failed to deal with a long goal kick sent up field.
Four minutes later, Franklyn turned provider as he was brought down by Smith’s outstretched arm reaching for a loose ball in the penalty box. Faires did not hesitate in pointing to the spot.
Birthday boy Steve Ramsey sent Smith the wrong way to give Moneyfields an unlikely lead.
Responding immediately, Haughney brought on Alex Body and Ali Mansaray, a decision which proved to be a game changer later on.
In the 81st minute, Merson levelled the game with a terrific outside-of-the-box strike which came off the back post of the net.
After initial confusion, as the ball did not touch the net, referee Faires awarded the goal much to the relief of Villa fans.
Into the fourth minute of injury time, substitute Body shrugged off one defender after another and wriggled free down the left flank.
In a one-on-one situation with Smart, Body kept his cool with a dinked finish over the goalkeeper cueing mad celebrations with the away fans.
The game’s intensity boiled over in the final minute as Moneyfields’ Jack Lee was sent off for putting Ali Mansaray in a headlock.
The win was the perfect wedding present for Theo Crawford, who missed the game to get married to his partner Lana.
Haughney added: “Theo has been a stalwart in this team over many years. I’m going to put my suit on and head over with a couple of the players now.
“This three points was for him and we can’t wait to celebrate it together with him.”
