Ring-rusty Royalists hoping to spring a surprise against free-scoring Villa
Playing one competitive game in the space of four weeks is hardly ideal preparation for the visit of league leaders Hanworth Villa this weekend, but that’s what lies in store for Mark Cooper’s men at Stag Meadow.
The Royalists had been due to get back to league action at Ascot United at the weekend, but a COVID outbreak in the home camp led to the game being postponed, meaning Cooper’s side have just one 90 minutes under their belts since December 11.
The result wasn’t a bad one for Windsor as they came from behind to beat tenants Virginia Water 3-2, however, Cooper felt his players were a little rusty at times and he’ll be worried a similar lack of sharpness could be ruthlessly exposed by the unbeaten league leaders.
Hanworth couldn’t be in better form, having thrashed Burnham 8-0 at the weekend, with Sam and Ben Merson both claiming hat-tricks. They’ve won their last three games without conceding, scoring 14 times in the process and sit 15 points clear of their closest rivals at the top of the Combined Counties Premier Division North.
However, all hope is not lost for the Royalists, who had Villa on the ropes when they met them at Rectory Meadow in early December.
Windsor had a one goal advantage heading into the interval thanks to Charlie Losasso’s penalty kick, but three goals within 15 second half minutes, with Sam Merson and Elliot Simpson on the scoresheet, showed how little margin for error there is against Simon Haughney’s side. Substitute Jake Hammond grabbed a late consolation, and Cooper felt his side still had a sniff of claiming an unexpected result, but Hanworth saw the game out in a professional manner.
Windsor sit 10th on 24 points from 20 games but have shown at times this season they can mix it with the best in their division. They have eight victories, four draws, and eight defeats to their name but will be hoping to blot Villa’s copy book by registering their first defeat. Kickoff is 3pm at Stag Meadow.