Match Preview: Hanworth Villa (h)

Venue: Honeycroft – Horton Road – Yiewsley – Middlesex – UB7 8HX

Capacity: 3770    -    Seats: 353         

Free Parking available on a first come, first served basis.

Admission: Adults £10 – Concessions £5 – Under 16’s £1

As myself, the Chairman and Media Manager sat in the bar after our 0-0 draw at Binfield on

the 9 September, we starred at the league table. It showed us sitting fourth from bottom,

having played more games than the teams around us. If someone had said at that moment

we would be in the play off final, we would have called for them to be committed. However,

here we are. Sunday is the result of a lot of hard work by multiple people. The Manager and

his coaching team deserve tremendous credit for turning the season around, as do the

players for their skill, hard work and never say die attitude. The supporters for backing the

team through thick and thin. Travelling up and down the country week in and week out in all

kinds of weather. Hopefully, come Sunday evening we will all be celebrating Uxbridge

reaching Step Three for the first time in its one hundred- and fifty-four-year history.

Obviously, Hanworth Villa will have other ideas and have proved this season to be a

formidable opponent. They come into the game in great form, having lost just two of their last

seventeen matches, and have in striker Sam Merson a player who has scored seventeen

goals in those games.

Last time out

Penalty shootouts should come with a government health warning. As should last minute

equalisers. We had both on Wednesday night against Kingstonian, but as far as know

everyone, at least connected to Uxbridge Football Club, came through unscathed. The

players will have had a few days’ rest, an expert massage from Joe the physiotherapist and

will be raring to go come Sunday. On paper Hanworth Villa had a much less stressful night.

Ascot United not scoring until the ninety-fourth minute to reduce the arrears in a 2-1 win for

the home side.

Previously

Six previous meetings with the Villains have produced just the one victory for the Reds. That

came earlier this season, 2-1 at home in September. Two Villains wins and three draws, the

latest only last month courtesy of a ninety-eighth minute equaliser from the penalty spot by

Sam Merson, make up our previous meetings.

The one to watch!

Sam Merson is the name that springs to mind. Twenty-eight goals make him the joint second

highest scorer in the league. His four goals in our previous six meetings have already shown

he can be a thorn in our side.