Hanworth Villa 1 vs 0 Chessington & Hook United

With enforced changes again the order of the day, we were from the outset on our game.

In truth the game never really got going, with our organisation and the somewhat robust approach of our hosts cancelling each other out.

Certainly the defences were coming out on top and in difficult conditions chances were at a premium. For the hosts there greatest danger to us was there right side, where on several occasions early on they found room to play which asked some questions of our central defensive pairing of Fontana and Grobler. However they along with Smith in goal snuffed out all that came there way without much problem.

The one time we were breached was when the home striker had drifted off side, and although he finished tidily the goal was correctly ruled out.
Gradually though we adjusted our approach to thwart this outlet, and from the midway point onwards we looked extremely assured.

Offensively we weren’t prolific but our competitive midfield worked tirelessly and our rare forays forward kept Hanworths defence on their toes, as Smart, having his best game for us by far and the returning Reece Jackson both putting in a decent shift and playing at the top of their game.

Following a series of half chances, crosses, and snatched opportunities when well placed, we were then denied the clearest of penalties. Aaron Leacock`s perfectly flighted delivery was met by Grobler whose goal bound header was baulked by the outstretched arms of his marker, but our appeals were waved away. A typical forward on defensive duties described this perfectly, and our frustration continued as he and Dre Grobler discussed the merits of this as they made their way back to the half way line.

At the break we were deservedly level, and with our first half showing had cause for optimism in the second.

At the restart we had more of the same, although our hosts desire to take the points saw an even more physical approach and serious foul play against Andrew Heath and Steve Betancourt, somehow resulted in limited punishment given the nature of the challenges and the injuries sustained.

If anything we were now the more composed side as the hosts almost misplaced belief that we would roll over easily clearly affected there game. Whilst we weren’t always great, we were more than a match and our approach play certainly made use of the midfield for the purpose of contributing to the attack, as opposed to just breaking things up in order to hit 70 yard passes into our defensive third.

Our considered approach nearly contributed to an opening goal with twenty minutes to go, when Harry Smarts clever reverse pass to Reece Jackson created an opening which was wastefully hit over the bar.

As the clock ticked down we were dealing with nothing different to what had been thrown at us in the previous twenty minutes, and to be fair we started to believe that we were going to take a well-deserved point. In fact with seven minutes to go Harry Smart danced his way around two defenders in the box, and with the goal at his mercy and a rather flatfooted keeper he drove wildly, and whilst we enjoyed a favourable rebound the chance was gone.

Now firmly into the last moments of the game another lengthy clearance from the goalkeeper was our undoing. A mis controlled clearance falling favourably to the Hanworth striker, whose curling shot evaded the unsighted Smith in the Chessington goal to break the deadlock.

We pushed forward gamefully to try to restore parity, and opportunities for Brazil, Haywood and White, who was denied at the last, all came and went. In the final minute of the game came another flashpoint. A free kick stood up for us to challenge fell short of its intended target, and Dre Grobler in pursuit of the loose ball was adjudged to have fouled an opponent. Probably a correct decision. To see a red card brandished was an outrage in itself, to see it brandished given what was dished out by our hosts was a travesty.

As usual we have to take that decision and the result on the chin but absolutely neither were deserved in this game.