Move on up!

Two hours before kick off, and the sun was shining over Woking Park. The clubhouse was already a hive of activity, and the pa system was blaring out ‘This Charming Man’ by The Smiths, seemingly oblivious to the fact that it should have been broadcasting wall to wall hits by The Jam, Woking’s finest. To almost quote Mr Weller, we were about to find out who was going to be a five o’clock hero- although given the experience of our first two Promotion Finals this weekend, perhaps there was more chance that we’d end up with a six o’clock hero and that it would be a goalkeeper. 

It had been a magnificent season for Westfield- indeed, a season of firsts. They’d already achieved their highest points tally, their highest ever League position, their longest FA Cup run, and now they were in a Step Four Promotion Final for the very first time, hosting Hanworth Villa. They also saw their record crowd watch them defeat AFC Portchester on penalties in the Semi-Final, and were guaranteed to far exceed that total of five hundred and sixty three today. 

Villa, of course, had been here before. Last season they were the best team for much of their Promotion Final at Uxbridge, taking an early lead before falling to late defeat. 2022-23 saw them take an early lead at Walton & Hersham and deservedly hold onto it at the break, only to fall to defeat in the second half. They very much hoped that this would be third time lucky.

Field came into this match having taken more points at home than any other side in the Division. In contrast, only champions Leatherhead had picked up more points on the road than the Villains, and only the Tanners had experienced fewer travelling defeats. Field had been very good indeed in front of goal, their forty two matches bringing ninety goals. Villa had been magnificent at the back, their record of thirty eight goals conceded bettered across the entire League only by Chatham Town, Jersey Bulls, Maldon & Tiptree and Felixstowe & Walton United. 

The meetings between the two sides this season had both gone the way of Westfield, who had triumphed two-nil at Villa on Easter Monday and one-nil at Woking Park at Christmas. Villa had done the double the season before, and the last nine meetings between the sides had seen four wins for the Woking side, three for the West Londoners, and two draws. 

So what did all that mean? Who knew. We just hoped that it would be fun finding out!

Westfield got us underway at two minutes past three, and were quickly on the attack. The Villa drummer began to practice his art, and the blue sky began to get covered by cloud until there was barely a patch of it left. 

After a few scrappy minutes it was the visitors who began to take control, and they earned the first corner on thirteen minutes. In it came, handball was the shout, and the referee agreed, pointing to the spot. Max Meaton went into the book for his protests.

Up stepped skipper George Wells, and his spot kick found the bottom corner, goal! The keeper guessed the right way but couldn’t quite reach it.

Goal: Westfield 0 Hanworth Villa 1, George Wells, 15 minutes

The hosts tried to respond, but the visitors remained on top as we reached the midway point of the half. They nearly had another on twenty three minutes, Ben Geraghty’s effort crashing off the underside of the bar before being cleared. Field needed some sustained possession, but couldn’t seem to keep the ball, and when they did manage to get the ball into a dangerous area tended to deliver a wayward final pass. 

As we approached the half hour the hosts came closer, some fine passing interplay ending in a goalmouth scramble and some desperate defending. But Tyla Dickinson in the Villa goal remained untroubled; although actually that was true of both keepers, the only shot on target so far coming from the spot.

On forty two minutes a long clearance set Liam Ferdinand away. The Villa striker was just about to pull the trigger when stopped by a fine challenge- timed perfectly. At the other end Finn Evans was proving a real nuisance, and a foul on him gave Imran Kayani the chance to fire in a free kick, but although he cleared the wall he also cleared the bar.

Half time: Westfield 0 Hanworth Villa 1

Westfield were out for the second half a full five minutes before their opponents. There was a look of quiet determination about them, but they needed to convert that into something more. 

The hosts worked hard in the early stages of the second half, but without creating very much. They looked most dangerous when Evans received a ball to feet, but far too often it came forward in the air, meat and drink to the Villa centre backs. 

It was soon to get worse for the hosts. Meaton and Brandon Curtis fought for a ball down the left, Curtis got away, the defender committed a foul- and the card was yellow, followed by red. Field were now climbing, if not a mountain, a considerably large summit.

Off came Kayani, on came Dede, and forward came the ten men. Perhaps being forced to throw caution to the wind might suit them? Sadly for the home fans, it didn’t.

On sixty nine minutes Villa scored their second. A corner came in, Guy Ansah-Palmer came close, and eventually the ball fell to substitute Jack Timberlake, who poked it home.

Goal: Westfield 0 Hanworth Villa 2, Jack Timberlake, 70 minutes

Timberlake should have had another eight minutes later. He did almost everything right, controlling the ball to set up a shot, and then leaned back and fired over with the goal at his mercy. It seemed, however, rather unlikely that he’d be made to pay for his wastefulness, particularly as his side were in complete control.

Only a fine save stopped Wells from adding the third with nine minutes remaining; indeed Lewis Gallifent seemed to stop it with his face.  

Into added time, and the hosts were still searching for a first shot on target. That statistic summed up their match. It wasn’t due to a lack of effort, but everything positive they’d done had been nullified by some stout defending. It wasn’t always pretty, but goodness it was effective. 

Final score: Westfield 0 Hanworth Villa 2

It is always sad to end a season with a Final defeat, with an entire seasons effort coming down to ninety minutes. You had to feel for Westfield, after a magnificent campaign, but by the same token it seemed somehow fitting that, after two seasons where they ended up in the role of bridesmaid, Villa finally got to play the role of bride. 

Whether Villa will be Isthmians next season or move in a more Southerly direction remains to be seen; that’s a decision for the FA. But if this is goodbye, it’s been fabulous to have you with us.

And, in the nicest possible way, don’t hurry back!