Football is More Than A Game

Hanworth Villa 2

Sam Merson (27')

Sam Merson (90+8' pen)

Uxbridge 2

Massimo Giamattei (9')

Kai Hobbs (51')

Massimo Giamattei fires us into an early lead at Rectory Meadow

Before I start the match report - we should all remember that football is just a game and everyone’s health is more important than 90 minutes.

As we know Easter Saturday saw Uxbridge hop over to the other side of Heathrow Airport to take on Hanworth Villa, with both sides looking to resurrect their challenge for second place and home advantage in the playoffs after Uxbridge surprising defeat last time out to second bottom Sutton Common Rovers and Hanworth Villa having picked up a solitary point from their last two games. Both teams had their top goal scorer’s return with the Hosts Sam Merson and Uxbridge George Moore.

Uxbridge made two changes to their starting lineup with left back Casey Bocarro returning from injury replacing Andrio Brandao who dropped to the bench and Moore replacing Dernell Wynter. An attacking bench was selected with Morrison Hashi replacing Luke Paris on the bench, could that come back to haunt us? The game taking place in windy conditions and a very bobbly pitch saw Uxbridge play percentage football with nothing to report in the opening exchanges bar an offside on 7 minutes when Okorogheye fed Moore but the assistant referee raised his flag for offside. Hanworth didn’t heed to the combination and two minutes later, Okorogheye picked the ball up on the half way beat the bobbles to feed Moore who cut inside and curled a shot on his right foot which hit the post and it fell invitingly to Massimo Giamatti to smash home.

In the 17th minute Hanworth Villa dragged a shot wide, and still not much to note when 23 minutes elapsed when Hanworth got the first corner of the game. In the 27th minute, Hanworth were level, from a throw in their own half -which was taken ten yards from where it should have- was flicked on to Sam Merson and a fantastic finish went in off the post. Both teams scoring with their first shot on target!

2 minutes later and the game became insignificant, Uxbridge keeper George Legg ran to the edge of the area to claim a high ball against a Hanworth forward who jumped with Legg and Legg’s momentum took him over the forward and landed badly causing a nasty looking injury to his head / neck area. An ambulance was subsequently called which caused a 45 minute delay to proceedings. We as a club are thankful for the Hanworth Villa physios and staff as a whole for helping George Legg following the collision and the supporters for showing empathy for Legg. Thankfully I am pleased to say it wasn’t as bad as it looked and he is out of hospital. Harry Gallagher came on and went in goal which saw Hanworth shooting from distance hoping for a keeper error, this never came.

40 minutes elapsed and Ben Mulley of Hanworth picked up the first yellow of the game for disputing a referees call, their frustrations starting to show as maybe they expected to be winning by half time! On the stroke of half time Gallagher allegedly tipped the ball over the bar much to everyone’s amusement/bemusement!

HT 1-1

At 16:58 with every other team finishing their game, our second half started. Villa hoping that a centre half in goal would be an accident waiting to happen but 4 minutes in a long throw by Villa was met by a 'photographer' save by Gallagher - he’s done this before! Uxbridge first corner came in the 51st minute which was won through Moore endeavour. An in swinging corner was met by Kai Hobbs who had walked round 2 defenders, behind the keeper and found himself unmarked to nod home, not for the first time this season! Two shots on target and 2 goals for the Red (Blue today) Army!

Villa made their first sub on 54 minutes as Lucas Defise replaced Louis Collins. They made their second on 61 minutes with Shane Dunne replacing Ben Mulley. With the game not producing any shots Uxbridge had a chance in the 72nd minute but Rush just failed to feed Okorogheye and the defender cut out a one on one.

Uxbridge made their second change in the 75th minute with Sole for Fosu. 79 minutes passed when an Uxbridge long throw was met by the head of CJ Fearn but his flicked header was saved by the Villa keeper. A minute later Okorogheye ran through and shot from a tight angle which was parried in the middle of the goal but evaded our players to a Villa defender to clear! Villa, sensing their luck was in didn’t expect Gallagher to be much cop in goal but a cross came in the box from our previous play and he plucked it out of the air 1 handed!

James Taylor collected a yellow card for kicking the ball away in the 82nd minute, despite him not knowing the ball was off the pitch! Villa were getting desperate and made their final sub with 5 minutes of normal time remaining - Manny Parry replacing Pierre Fonkeu - which put their centre half who was at least 6foot 5 up top, unfortunately Uxbridge Luke Paris wasn’t on the bench to counteract the height difference! This change nearly worked a treat when another ball pumped into the box was partially cleared and the resulting shot was parried by Gallagher but the impressive and influential C.J Fearn was there to clear.

With a minute to go of normal time, Wynter replaced Okorogheye who again and as always put in a superb shift. 7 minutes injury time was flagged, where that came from only the ref knows! Most expected 5!

Uxbridge didn’t sit back and Bocarro skipped past the Villa right back and had a 2 vs 2 but was taken out on the follow through, cynically yes, but I believe the phrase is 'taking one for the team'! With the red/blue faithful biting their nails, Moore raced clear in the 95th minute and dragged his shot wide. Should he have gone for the corner or taken a touch to get nearer the goal, you can’t blame him as he’s been fantastic all season and in this match.

97 minutes passed which the referee indicated was the minimum, last chance saloon for Villa which saw a free kick from the half way line pumped into the box for a final time, we won the first header and Fearn looked to clear it but the attacker got there just ahead, and instead of the ball going into row Z, Fearn kicked the the attacker, cast iron penalty which Merson tucked away. The final whistle went 10 seconds after the restart!

In summing up, it was a fantastic result bearing in mind their friend, was taken to hospital and to get their ‘heads on’ was incredible.

Uxbridge next game is on Easter Monday when we take on Southall at Honeycroft, kick off is at 3pm. We look forward to seeing as many of you there as we will look to confirm our playoff spot with a win. Whatever, the outcome we should be second going into the last game of the season but a win would all but guarantee a runner spot in the league for this fantastic group of players.

FT 2-2

Att 276

Uxbridge: Legg (Gallagher 29), Addae, Bocarro, Fearn (C), Taylor, Giamattei, Hobbs, Rush, Okorogheye (Wynter 89), Moore, Fosu (Sole 75).

Unused subs: Brandao and Hashii

Match Report courtesy of David Mallam

Match Gallery here courtesy of Michael Bodman