By Rod Ellis
Leatherhead 1 Hanworth Villa 0
In-form Leatherhead maintained their winning momentum as they narrowly beat fifth-placed
Hanworth Villa in a close encounter at Fetcham Grove on Saturday.
Dave Tarpey’s cool finish just before half-time was enough to extend Tanners’ winning league run to
five matches and keep alive their slim hopes of a final play-off spot in the end-of-season run-in.
Villa started brightly with Leatherhead keeper Serine Sannah having to make a smart save from
Meshach Williams’ close range header after six minutes. Kyen Nicholas also went close for the
visitors five minutes later as his powerful shot flew narrowly over the bar.
Tanners eased their way into the match with Dan Hector and Omarr Lawson forcing saves from Villa
goalkeeper Gary Ross before Hector drove a shot just wide of the post on the half hour mark.
Man of the match Hector set up the only goal on 44 minutes, picking out Tarpey with a fine through
ball. Leatherhead’s leading scorer took a couple of touches before drilling his finely executed shot
past Ross from the edge of the box.
Tarpey almost added a second for the hosts in first half stoppage time, with his dipping long range
effort striking the top of the crossbar.
Villa made a substitution at the start of the second half as Ben Geraghty replaced Aston Nunn, with
the visitors increasing the tempo of the match in their attempts to get back on level terms.
Geraghty and Williams each saw efforts go over the bar during an attacking spell of play for Villa. The
visitors had a strong appeal for a penalty on 54 minutes after Finlay McNabb was fouled on the edge
of the area. The referee decided the infringement occurred just outside the box and the resulting
free kick was well blocked by the Leatherhead defence.
Tanners were able to frustrate Villa’s attacks with tight marking throughout the match and the hosts
were rarely troubled in the closing stages.
Tarpey narrowly missed out on a chance for a second goal on 85 minutes, firing wide from the edge
of the area with only the keeper to beat.
Tanners controlled possession in the final minutes to gain another vital three points and keep their
season alive, as they prepare to make the short journey to Whyteleafe on Easter Monday to face
Sutton Common Rovers in another must-win encounter.
Leatherhead: Serine Sanneh, Jerry Puemo, Louis Collins, Ben Frempah, Fikayo Atewologun, Jamie
Splatt, Dan Hector, Olly Allen, Dave Tarpey, Omarr Lawson, Kwesi Ntim (Alex Addai 70)
Hanworth Villa: Gary Ross, Kyron Richards, Aston Nunn (Ben Geraghty 45), Guy Ansah-Palmer,
Baboucarr Jarra, Tom Bender, Gagendeep Samra, Finlay McNabb (Jordan Ellis 79), Kyen Nicholas,
Sam Merson, Meshach Williams