Saturday afternoon saw the visit of Hanworth Villa to the John Jenkins in league action, to see if Moneys could start November in the same positive manor which was seen throughout October. There was a couple of changes with Simba Mlambo missing and Tayo Singerr a late withdrawal due to what is hopefully only a slight muscle tweak. Jack Lumsden and Rudi Blankson came into the starting XI in their places.
Hanworth Villa were definitely the better of the two teams in first half, getting the large majority of any positive play and definitely having far more of the ball. Malachi Osei-Owusu in the Moneys net saving well inside 15 mins, 1-on-1 and then a diving save off to his left later on in the half. Villa were generally a much bigger team and tried to make the most of this with a number of corners and long balls, but Malachi bossed his penalty area tremendously, even with the 6’7 Joe Adoo-Peters to compete with for the ball.
It took until 25 minutes for Moneys to see their real first sight of goal as Rudi fired a half-volley just over.
There was a small amount of handbags as the first half came to a close after a few late challenges. The referee had let a lot to go and perhaps from both sides, a little too much as it just allowed the game to get a little scrappy and feeling like it was on the edge of some bookings. Half time came at the right time from the referee’s perspective and probably Moneys too as adjustments were definitely needed.
Half Time – Moneyfields 0-0 Hanworth Villa
Moneys came flying out of the blocks in the first 5 minutes or so with a couple of chances, with the best falling to Adam Payce. Rudi had played a great through ball onto the equally fantastic run of Payce. Sadly the finish was saved well by the keeper and it stayed goalless.
That deadlock was however broken on the 53rd minute as ‘the Villains’ took the lead. Villa striker Sam Merson was there to tap in the end of a counter attack. Merson scoring a winning goal will be no new storyline, as Sam is the son of former Pompey and Arsenal legend Paul Merson.
In a first change to freshen things up, Kieran Alcock came on for Louis gates on the 65th minute. Soon after that, two Hanworth yellow cards to skipper George Wells and Marco Haigh, sandwiched what was probably Moneys best effort of the second half. Ciaran Martin cut inside from his left channel and flashed a shot off which only just flew over the crossbar.
More changes were made in the 73rd minute as Lawrence Cooper came on for Adam Payce. That was followed in the 83rd minute, by Callum Kimber coming on for Jack Lumsden. There was then one final change as Jordan Pile came on for Faris in the 93rd minute.
Tom Jeffes received a late booking in the 95th minute but that was about all the action as Moneys lost for the first time in 8 games.
Full Time – Moneyfields 0-1 Hanworth Villa
Man of the Match sponsored by K&T Premium Travel: Malachi Osei-Owusu
