Match Report: Hanworth Villa 4 vs Evesham United 1

Saturday 22nd August 2026 Southern League Premier South

Evesham United made their first ever visit to newly promoted Hanworth Villa on Saturday and came away with a disappointing 4-1 defeat in Southern Premier Division South.

The home side dominated the early play. In the second minute, Michael Harding crossed from the right to Billy Nutbeam, whose shot drifted just past the far post.

Four minutes later, Haydon Vaughan timed his run into the box perfectly but couldn’t get the right contact to turn the low cross from the left.

Hanworth were awarded a penalty in the 14th minute when Harding was fouled. Harding took it himself and although Evesham stopper Brendan Beard went the right way the power beat him.

Midway through the half Evesham got back in the game deservedly after a period of pressure when Ben Geraghty brought down striker Thomas Conteh. Brandon Liggett stepped up and confidently put the spot kick into the net.

Just after the half hour the Robins had a good move on the counter attack from a Villa corner, that led to Geraghty sliding in to stop the danger.

Villa then dominated the remaining period of the half. In the 37th minute Vaughan picked out Nutbeam in the box, but his header was tipped over the bar by Beard.

With five minutes left of the first half the hosts retook the lead with a potential goal of the season contender. A corner was cleared to the edge of the box where an unmarked Elliott Bolton struck a powerful volley into the top left corner of the goal.

Seven minutes in to the second half Bolton again tested Beard with a shot from distance. Three minutes later Evesham almost equalised, but Liggett on the stretch could not get on the end of the cross. That was to be the best effort for the visitors in the second half.

Just after the hour Harding scored his second from a rebound after Vaughans initial shot was saved by Beard but into the path of Harding who finished with ease. Harding almost got his hat-trick when a powerful drive from the edge of the area hit the woodwork.

The scoring was completed in the 79th minute when substitute Brandon Barzey in the box found the inside of the left-side netting with a precise finish.

Hanworth fully deserved the victory and it left Evesham with two wins and two defeats from the opening four games. Next up is Plymouth Parkway on Saturday at the Spiers and Hartwell Stadium, kick off 3pm then a short trip to Gloucester City on Bank Holiday Monday.

ROBINS STARTING X1:
1 Brendan Beard (GK), 2 Liam Hutt (84′ 5 Antony McCormick), 3 Owen Foye, 4 Josh Barlow, 6 Ioan Richards, 7 Aaron Heap (63′ 20 Sopuru Obieri), 8 Josh McConnell, 10 Amer Awadh (C), 11 Brandon Liggett 23’p (78′ 18 Daniel Hanson), 12 Thomas Conteh, 15 Jyrel Bojang

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES:
19 Lewis Middleton

ATTENDANCE: 253

Match Report: Simon Purfield
Photos: Stuart Purfield