Hanwell Town continued their strong start to the season at home as they defeated newly promoted Marlow on a sunny Bank Holiday Monday (26 August 2024) afternoon at the Powerday Stadium.
Manager Chris Moore was forced into two changes to the side that started in south Wales, bringing in defender Harry Seabrook to replace Will Hall who suffered a hamstring injury, and Alfie Pendlebury returned to the striking role as Elliott Beynon had picked up a slight knock.
Hanwell had the first clear chance of the game, midfielder Mat McKenzie managing to direct his header on target and with Marlow keeper Aaron Watkins beaten, it took a goal line clearance to stop the Geordies scoring first.
The game as pretty even as Marlow tried to impose themselves on the game, not having yet won so far this season, Brandon Curtis having the best chance with a free kick that was blocked by the defensive wall.
Just before half time, defender Elijah Oladunjoye came closest for the visitors with a shot that was deflected wide of the goal as the Geordies comfortably defended in a game that had seen very little for either side so far.
During the half time break, Chris Moore asked the team to raise their game and within 5 minutes of the restart, Hanwell had the lead.
Great work in the box by forward Jordan Edwards, following Pendlebury’s header, gave him enough space to strike a shot at goal and Watkins was unable to prevent it going into the back of the net.
Marlow were forced to try and take the game to the Geordies, and striker Jordi Ebanda pulled off an acrobatic attempt that keeper Sam Beasant had to throw himself to his left to grab hold of.
With some 20 minutes left in the game, attacking midfielder Kameron English thought he had the second goal as he clipped a shot past Watkins, but the referee’s assistant had deemed him offside just as he received the pass.
However, it wasn’t long before Hanwell did have that second goal. The Geordies forced a series of corners, with Marlow’s keeper Aaron Watkins having to punch the ball away on a couple of occasions, before Harry Seabrook found himself in the right place to slot the ball past the keeper following a scramble in the area.
That knocked the wind out of the Marlow players, and in the end, Hanwell comfortably held on to take a third win from their three home games so far.
Following the final whistle Chris Moore was clearly happy with the performance.
“A great way to finish the Bank Holiday, there’s a lot of tired legs out there after Saturday and today.
“At half time, I asked them to give another 20-30% as I thought we had enough in the tank to do so, and it came off with the early goal. Goals change games, and Jordan Edwards has got that in him, and that settled the boys down.
“Harry Seabrook deserved his goal and the man of the match, he’s been fantastic in training and now its his shirt to lose.
Hanwell take a break from league action as they enter the FA Cup, with a journey to Kent side Sheppey Utd in the 1st qualifying round on Saturday, with the usual 3pm kick off.
The club will also be broadcasting a live radio commentary of the game from the club website, hanwelltown.com, for those not able to get to the game.
1 Sam Beasant, 2 Dan Carr, 3 Cameron Rohart-Brown, 4 Callum Woodcock, 5 Dwayne Duncan, 6 Harry Seabrook, 7 Kameron English (Kyron Richards, 90), 8 Mat MacKenzie, 9 Alfie Pendlebury (Ezekiel Coker, 68), 10 Jordan Edwards (Nathanael Boayke, 88), 11 Chris Regis (Rod Orlando-Young, 65).
Substitutes
12 Nathanael Boayke, 13 Kyron Richards, 15 Ezekiel Coker, 16 Leo Donnellan, 17 Rod Orlando-Young
Attendance 396
