Match Preview: Hanworth Villa (a)

Hanworth Villa v Uxbridge 3rd v 2nd

Saturday 19 April 2025 – Kick-off 3:00pm

Venue: Rectory Meadow – Park Road – Feltham – Middlesex – TW13 6PN

Capacity: 1000    -    Seats: 159

Admission: Adult £11 -- Concessions £8 (over 65’s) -– Under 21’s £6 – Under 16’s £1 (Free with an Adult)

Average Home League Attendance -- 173

What a difference a week makes! We still require four points to be mathematically certain of a play-off place, following our defeat against Sutton Common Rovers last Saturday. The phrase “squeaky bum time” certainly comes to mind. However, if we had been offered second position in the league at this stage of the season, we would have taken it with both hands. As their third-place position suggests, Hanworth Villa will provide stiff opposition at the weekend. Manager Simon Haughney has been in charge at Rectory Meadow since 2019 and has guided the club from the Combined Counties League to higher reaches of the Isthmian League South Central Division. They are no strangers to the play-offs having reached the final in 2023. They were leading at half-time against Walton & Hersham, before losing 1-3 in front of a crowd of over 2000. We are currently fourth in the Current Form Table with twelve points – two points and four places above the Villains. 

Last time out

The less said about last weeks disappointing home lose to Sutton Common Rovers the better. I’m certain the side will be desperate to put that performance behind them and will be looking to return to winning ways on Saturday. The Villains were in action on Tuesday night, at home to fellow play-off hopefuls Ascot United. In a tight nervous affair, with very few chances, the points were shared in a 0-0 draw.

Previously

Our previous five meetings with the Villains have yielded two victories for the side from Rectory Meadow, while our 2-1 win at Honeycroft, back in September, was our first. Our initial two encounters resulted in draws. Notably, we have never faced each other in a cup competition since the Villains' formation in 1976.   

The ones to watch

With twenty-three league goals in thirty-six appearances, Sam Merson is the obvious one to watch. Goalkeeper, Mark Smith has played in all thirty-nine of Hanworth’s league games.