Sam Beasant’s penalty heroics saw Hanwell Town overcome nine-man Berkhamsted in the Isuzu FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round on Saturday (5 October 2024). Jordan Edwards’ early goal was cancelled out by Roger James’ close range striker on the hour mark.
Chaos then erupted with Dan Newton, Luke Andrews, and substitute Lewis Thorpe all seeing red for the visitors. Hanwell’s attempt to take advantage of their numerical advantage was unsuccessful but goalkeeper Beasant’s superb penalty saves sent them into the first-round proper.
There was a tense opening to the game with the first chance not coming until the 8th minute. Berkhamsted’s Simeon Olarerin worked his way into the box from the left wing but could only fire his shot into the side netting.
Three minutes later, Hanwell opened the scoring. Joe Wilson played a beautiful chipped through ball over the Berkhamsted defence, releasing Dan Carr on the right. The Geordie number 11 them fired a ball across the box. Jordan Edwards then smashed home from close range following a goal mouth scramble.
The Geordies nearly had a second ten minutes later. A quick counterattack found Edwards on the left and he played in Carr. The resulting cross couldn’t quite find Wilson at the back post.
On the 36th minute, Hanwell midfielder Mat Mackenzie was forced off with a shoulder injury. He was replaced by Leo Donnellan who partnered Callum Woodcock in midfield.
As the first half concluded, there was a clear rise in tension. Off ball incidents involving Roger James and Dan Newton had angered the Hanwell crowd.
The Geordies had their first chance of the second half from a free kick. Rod Orlando-Young was fouled just outside the area, but Edwards could only hit the wall, and the ball was eventually claimed by Henry Blackledge.
Chris Moore’s side should have doubled their lead when Edwards, Carr, and Alfie Pendlebury combined well on the right to give the Hanwell number 11 a chance from inside the six-yard box. Blackledge stood firm in the Berkhamsted goal, and the Geordies were left frustrated once again.
Hanwell were made to regret not taking their chances when the visitors levelled in the 60th minutes. A cross in from the left found an unmarked Roger James at the back post and the former Geordie made no mistake finishing past Beasant.
In the 72nd minute, Berkhamsted were reduced to 10 men following an aerial challenge from Newton on Ezekiel Coker that left the Hanwell substitute needing treatment. In the resulting fallout, Comrades unused substitute Lewis Thorpe was sent off.
In the 76th minute, a corner from the right-hand side was headed over by Will Hall as Hanwell looked to make the most of their numbers advantage.
Berkhamsted were punished further in the 83rd minute when Luke Andrews was sent off for second yellow card. Hanwell pushed forward over the remaining seven minutes and nine minutes of stoppage time but couldn’t find a way through.
Hanwell were perfect from their three penalties with Edwards, Carr, and Cameron Rohart-Brown all converting with confidence.
Jonathan Lacey scored Berkhamsted’s first penalty before Jack Tompkins and Olarerin saw their penalties saved and Matthew Bateman hit the left post.
Hanwell’s penalty heroics see them into the first round of the Isuzu FA Trophy. The Geordies had their best run in the competition in 2021/22 and 2022/23 where they reached the second round.
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