HANWORTH VILLA 1 (McNab 84’)
GUERNSEY 0
Guernsey came within minutes of an excellent point on the road on Saturday but were undone in the final few minutes.
The Green Lions would have very much been deserving of a point having defended resolutely and creating a few openings of their own, but their luck isn’t in at the moment as they continue to work their way into the new season.
Tony Vance’s side were dealt an early blow as Sam Murray was forced off with dizziness after 20 minutes having collided with Villa keeper Mark Smith.
Murray had already had the first chance of the game, firing over after some neat interplay between Owen Wallbridge and Ben Acey.
Fin Du Port, making his full debut, came close to the opener just before half-time but his effort from the edge of the box curled just over the bar. Ben Acey also forced a corner with an effort from range.
Joshua Millo fired over for Hanworth on eight minutes, before another close call for the Sarnians around the midway point of the half when Josh Addison saved from Dylan Randall one-on-one, then Rayan Djouadj headed over the resulting corner.
Finley McNab fired just wide after a neat one-two with Kyen Nicholas, while a Guernsey header was cleared off the line by Louis Collins. Addison pulled off another excellent save on 39 minutes to keep out a bullet effort after the ball had been delivered into the box
In a similar pattern in the second half, George Wells met a corner at to the far post and headed back across goal but just over.
Nicholas fired wide on 69 minutes Djouadj had a header blocked, and Aston Nunn’s follow-up from 30 yards was destined for the top corner, had it not been for another brilliant save from Addison.
The killer blow came six minutes from the end of the 90. McNab won a free-kick on the left wing, then was there to get on the end of Sam Mead’s delivery to head the winner.
Quincy Patterson fired just inches wide in injury time, but the hosts were unable to add to their score.
Guernsey dropped into the relegation zone in Isthmian South Central, but it’s still early days. The weekend’s other results were as follows: Ascot United 3-0 Metropolitan Police, Farnham Town 4-0 Harrow Borough, Horndean 1-1 Hayes & Yeading United, Kingstonian 2-1 Hartley Wintney, Rayners Lane 5-0 Raynes Park Vale, Southall 2-1 Binfield, Sutton Common Rovers 0-2 Westfield, Uxbridge 4-0 Badshot Lea.
HANWORTH VILLA: 1 Mark SMITH; 2 Ali MANSARAY; 3 Aston NUNN (18 Alfie MEWES, 90’); 4 Louis COLLINS (12 Liam O’Neill, 64’); 5 Rayan DJOUADJ; 6 George WELLS (c); 8 Sam MEAD; 9 Kyen NICHOLAS; 10 Finley MACNAB; 11 Dylan RANDALL (14 Razy NADEEM, 64’); 17 Joshua MILLO (15 Quincy PATTERSON, HT). Not used: 16 Shane DUNNE.
Booked: Wells, Nicholas, McNab.
GUERNSEY: 1 Josh ADDISON; 2 Niall HAINSWORTH (22 Fin PATTERSON, 76’); 5 Tom VAUDIN; 8 Matt LOARING; 9 Sam MURRAY (14 Simon ARNOLD, 20’); 10 Ross ALLEN (c); 11 Owen WALLBRIDGE; 12 Fin DU PORT; 18 Dave MERRIS; 21 Jacques CAUVIN; 27 Ben ACEY.
Booked: Hainsworth, Loaring, Allen, Du Port, Merris.
Attendance: 143.