Click on back button to return... 

The runaway league leaders, Hanworth Villa, lost their unbeaten league record at the hands of second-placed Merton in Beddington Park. The hosts totally outplayed Hanworth in a goal-less first half, but managed to score twice in a disappointing second half that saw the major honours go to a solid-looking Merton defence. A very bad start saw Merton immediately lose the explosive pace of Jack Malin, when the winger fell awkwardly to fracture his arm after breaking up an Hanworth attack down the left. This major setback spurred Merton into a frenzy of attacking football that had Daniel Johnson, Jamie Streat, George King and Julian Osei-Gyimah creating all sorts of problems for the visitors. Merton were in all-out attack mode and Hanworth survived several scares involving the lightening-quick Julian Osei-Gyimah. After 15 minutes Nicholas Holley broke into the box and should have scored, but he delayed his shot long enough for a defender to deflect his effort wide for a corner. Five minutes later Julian Osei-Gyimah accelerated past two defenders, and with the goal at his mercy managed to hit the underside of the bar from three yards out. Hanworth were a physically-strong, well-organised side, but lacked flair and pace, and threatened mainly from set pieces and via powerful long-range shooting. Merton suffered another severe setback five minutes before the interval when their most dangerous forward, Julian Osei-Gyimah, retired through injury. Merton continued to attack for the remainder of the half, but without the success their domination warranted.

Merton started the second period without midfielder Nicholas Holley who sustained an injury in the first half. Hanworth had a much better second half and frankly looked the better side, but they were stunned when Merton took the lead two minutes into the restart. A brilliant passing move involving Daniel Johnson and Jamie Streat unleashed George King into open country down the left wing. The winger accelerated away, cut inside and scored with a terrific cross shot into the bottom far corner of the net. Thereafter, control of the midfield slowly swung to Hanworth. On 41 minutes Warren McCourt was forced to make a good save from a very powerful long-range free-kick. Hanworth seemed to get physically stronger as the game progressed and eventually the Merton midfield faded under the onslaught. Whenever the ball was played through to Craig Stanley or Louis Barron-Pell, they were muscled off the ball by strong physical challenges. The Merton defence, however, remained superb with Lewis West always getting the better of a physically-demanding centre forward. In support, Adam Marie, Jonathan Kehoe and Spud Bradley thwarted most of the other Hanworth attacks. After 50 minutes Hanworth hammered in a long-range free-kick that Warren McCourt kept out with a difficult finger-tip save. Four Hanworth forwards then converged on the loose ball, and after a bit of scramble, the ball was struck over the line. However, the goal was ruled out by the linesman's flag for offside. The midfield battle continued with Tshepho Sawdon and Daniel Johnson prominent, but Hanworth were able to force a couple of dangerous corners that came to nothing. In the dying minutes Merton pressed forward, and the scoring was completed 15 seconds from the end when Louis Barron-Pell fired the ball home through a crowd of players after a corner.

Reporters man of the match: Lewis West.

Team: Warren McCourt; Adam Marie, Lewis West, Jonathan Kehoe, Spud Bradley; Jack Malin, Jamie Streat, Daniel Johnson, Nicholas Holley; Craig Stanley, Julian Osei-Gyimah. Sub: Louis Barron-Pell, Billy Kelly, Tshepho Sawdon, George King.