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Merton's dismal away form continued with a narrow defeat by champions-elect Hanworth Villa. The team have now lost 4 of their 5 away games in the league, and all hopes of the championship have evaporated after this latest result. The game itself was a dour affair with little goal mouth action, and Merton were very unlucky to come away empty-handed after dominating possession for long periods. The first half saw very little of note. Both defences were very solid and any attacks were closed down very quickly and both keepers were rarely threatened. Nevertheless Merton dominated the play with Jamie Streat and Nicholas Holley very prominent in midfield, but nothing of susbstance was created as Hanworth defended well and in large numbers. Craig Stanley and Julian Osei-Gyimah were sharp enough up front, both could not compete with the physical presence of the towering Hanworth defenders.

The second half started with Warren McCourt making a very good save from a tremendous long-range free kick that was launched from somewhere around the half-way line. Merton came back strongly, and four minutes into the restart Julian Osei-Gyimah finally broke into the Hanworth penalty area, but then stumbled through a suspicious-looking challenge. No penalty, but from the resulting corner Louis Barron-Pell saw his knee volley drop over the keeper and onto the top of the cross bar, and thence to safety. After this escape disaster struck Merton on 38 minutes when a foul throw on the Hanworth right wing led to a powerful high cross that Warren McCourt failed to hold at full stretch. The loose ball fell kindly for a Hanworth player to bury the ball in the net from close range. The visitors recovered quickly and resumed control of the midfield, but they could not break through the granite-like Hanworth defence which put the Merton strikers under intense physical pressure. Hanworth relied on the long ball to relieve the pressure on their defence, but the Merton back line was in such outstanding form that Warren McCourt was reduced to a spectator. Merton continued to press forward for the rest of the game, but the Hanworth keeper was never seriously threated because most attacks ended with high balls into the penalty area that left the towering Hanworth defenders with routine headed clearances. A very good team performance that deserved at least a draw, but in truth Merton had difficulty turning possession into clear-cut chances. Consequently, the Hanworth keeper was never seriously threatened. Excellent performances all along the back line, and impressive work from Jamie Streat and Nicholas Holley in midfield.

Reporter's man of the match: Lewis West.

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