Hanwell Town's 2024-25 season came off the back of a tense, close season in 23-24, which saw the Geordies escape relegation by goal difference only. Late season victories had kept them in the Southern League Premier South by the skin of their teeth, and in many respects, the squad had not quite been up to scratch.
In the close season, Chris Moore made a number of what turned out to be astute signings, given the club's small budget, bringing in defender Harry Seabrook to add strength to the defence, and adding forward Jordan Edwards. Important to the squad were the likes of midfielder Mat MacKenzie, keeper Sam Beasant pluslong standing defenders Dwayne Duncan and Dan Carr, and Chris was able build his team around these vital talismans.
The season began with a trip to newly promoted Wimborne Town, possibly the worst way for the Geordies to start the season. Neither side really hit the ground running, being tentative in their play, before the home side's Cameron Munn converting a rebound off Beasant midway through the second half for a winning start for the Magpies.
Hanwell had to return back to the Powerday Stadium with nothing, but on the following Tuesday evening, they quickly made amends with a fine 3-1 victory over Bracknell Town. Alfie Pendlebury got one of his rare league goals to open the evening, before Bracknell equalised in first half stoppage time. As the game wore on, Hanwell slowly took the game away from their visitors, and goals from Mat Mackenzie and Chris Regis confirmed the win.
Next up was a visit from Swindon Supermarine, and a single goal from Jordan Edwards late in the first half was enough to give Hanwell the three points.
Already it was clear who the front runners in the league were going to be, and the Geordies had to face one of them next, a trip to what would subsequently become a fortress. Merthyr Town's Penydarren Park is a tough place to go and Hanwell knew it would be a tough place to go and get anything from the day. Hope was raised with Will Hall's goal before halftime, but the second half, the Martyrs upped the pressure. Goals from Jarvis and Rees gave the home side a narrow victory, leaving the Goerdies behind but not disgraced.
On the bank Holiday, the Geordies returned home to face Marlow, who were already starting to find the Southern League Premier South a little bit of a stretch following their promotion. Goalless at half time, Harry Seabrook and Jordan Edwards scored in the second half to put Hanwell in a comfortable position as they looked forwards to the FA Cup and a rare journey eastwards.
The first month of the new league season had left the Geordies in a healthy 7th place after 5 matches, with 9 points on the board.
To end the month, though, Hanwell then opened their FA Cup campaign, with a trip to Sheppey Utd and they made hard work of coming away from the isle with a draw, Jordan Edwards’ late goal meaning the Ites had to come to West London for the replay on September 3rd.
Hanwell had placed themselves in a good league position but September saw a stumble or two as Cup football placed itself on centre stage.
Sheppey Utd were the first visitors to the Powerday Stadium during the month for the FA Cup replay and up to half time, it looked like it would be a close contest, with only Jordan Edwards goal being the difference between the two sides at half time. In the second half, the Geordies broke loose, Edwards completing his hat trick, a brace from Alfie Pendlebury plus a debut goal for Joe Wilson leaving Hanwell 6-0 winners, their best FA Cup result.
In one of a number of trips down to the West country, the Geordies then went to Taunton and in a breathless start, Hanwell were 2-1 up before 20 minutes had been played, with goals from Edwards and Dwayne Duncan. Taunton levelled the scores just after the half hour before Edwards netted a second in first half added time. Hanwell had to settle for a point thanks to Taunton's equaliser midway through the second half.
The Tuesday night jaunt to Walton and Hersham would not normally have been anything special, but the match would have repercussions later on in the season.
Walton took the lead just before the half hour but Jordan Edwards equalised with a penalty a few minutes afterwards. Walton retook the lead early after the restart before Mat MacKenzie got Hanwell's second on the hour. Just before the final whistle, Dwayne Duncan was shown a red card, along with a Walton player, but in the early months of 2025, Dwayne had to serve a further ban following Walton's referral of an unrelated on-field incident to the FA.
Hanwell's woes continued in the next round of the FA Cup. Drawn at home to Chertsey Town, it was a classic close FA Cup game until early in the second half when Jordan Edwards was shown a red card, somewhat harshly for dissent. The match continued all-square, but the Geordies were further diminished by a red card shown to Kameron English with less than 20 minutes left. Playing 9 vs 11 was never going to be easy, and before long, the Curfews got the opening goal. As hard as the Geordies tried, they couldn’t equalise and just before the end, Chertsey added a second to dump Hanwell out of the Cup.
The Geordies recovered somewhat the following Saturday by playing out a goalless draw at home against Gloucester City, and then facing Sholing at the Powerday, but going down to a one goal defeat.
By the end of September, Hanwell had fallen to 12th in the table but October would see the opening of the FA Trophy, and the FA's premier non-league competition would be good to the Geordies.
Hanwell had had a disappointing run in the FA Cup, but the Trophy would prove to be different for the club. Drawn at home to Berkhamsted on October 5th, many supporters were feeling positive vibes about the competition.
The Geordies started positively and soon were a goal up, thanks to Jordan Edwards’ finish on 11 minutes. However, they couldn't get the vital second goal, and on the hour, Berkhamsted drew level.
At the final whistle, the Southern League South Central club had been reduced to just 8 men on the field, 3 red cards in 11 minutes, and yet the Geordies hadn’t been able to force the result. In the penalty shoot out though, keeper Sam Beasant saved one penalty and the visitors missed another, to leave Hanwell 3-1 shootout winners.
Hanwell then were faced with a tricky journey to Hampshire and AFC Totton. The Snows Stadium is not a place that teams will often go and look to gain points, and so it proved for the Geordies, going down by two goals to nil, in front of a crowd that appeared to be missing some 400 or so of the advertised 1,300 attendance.
It was a return then to the Powerday for the Tuesday visit of Basingstoke Town, and Hanwell just couldn't bring everything together, being 2 goals down by the time an hour had been played. Jordan Edwards managed to get one back but the equaliser proved elusive.
It was against this backdrop of a couple of disappointing results that the Geordies travelled to The Avenue Stadium, home of Dorchester Town. Yet, at full time, you’d've scarcely believed it.
Hanwell scored early through Dan Carr, and this was followed up just before half time, with Jordan Edwards firing home in the additional time at the end of the first half. The home side were held at bay, with Will Hall making it 3-0 with about 20 minutes left, which the Geordies held on to.
The following Tuesday, Hanwell were brought back to earth with a thud as Havant and Waterlooville gave the Geordies a little lesson. It didn't look so bad at half time, being only 2-0 down and a Jordan Edwards goal brought Hanwell back into proceedings.
Havant scored once more before a Chris Regis penalty kept the Geordies in touch with just over 20 minutes left. The match didn't stay that way for long as Havant promptly scored a fourth, with a fifth coming for the home side deep in additional time.
Hanwell had to go lick their wounds after this result, and it was slightly fortunate for them that the next match was the First Round proper of the FA Trophy. The Geordies had been drawn against old rivals Hendon, recent foes in the Southern League.
Hanwell never really looked in danger as they rattled five goals past the Greens, with Alfie Pendlebury completing a hat trick, before goals from Dwayne Duncan and Nathan Boayke left the Geordies 5-0 victors and gave them a ticket to the Trophy 2nd round.
Results in the League had seen the club drift downwards to 15th place, some 4 points off the relegation places, but that was about as bad as it got for the Geordies as October came to an end.
October had not been the best of times for Hanwell Town but November made up for it, with Mooro's boys being undefeated in 5 games during the month.
The Geordies welcomed Winchester City to the Powerday but they looked a bit off form, the visitors getting an early goal on 10 minutes. Hanwell struggled to break their visitors down and it wasn't until added time at the end of the match that the Geordies were awarded a penalty. This was converted by Jordan Edwards, Winchester by this time had been reduced to 10 men.
Hanwell's trip to face Tiverton Town at their Ladysmead home was never going to be a walk in the park for Mooro's boys. 0-0 at half time, it wasn't long before Jordan Edwards managed to give the Geordies the lead, but it wasn't long before Tiverton equalised.
The game looked to be drifting to a bore draw, but Dan Carr had other ideas. A cross from the right was barely cleared by the home side, and stepping up, Carr struck the sweetest of volleys past the Tivvy keeper in what was turning in a common thread of the season, the Carr Spectaculars, this finish giving Hanwell the much-needed points.
The Geordies returned to FA Trophy action, this time with another uncommon eastwards journey, to face Folkestone Invicta in the 2nd round proper. Victory here would extend the club's progress in the competition into new territory and raise the possibility of being drawn in a money-raising tie against a National League club.
Folkestone, from the Isthmian Premier, would not be a game that the Geordies would take for granted, and so it proved. For nearly an hour, the two sides battled for superiority until Alfie Pendlebury scored. It wasn't until deep into the additional time at the end of the game that Hanwell felt safe, thanks to Mat MacKenzie’s finish for the second goal.
This result meant that Hanwell had progressed further in the competition than ever before, and the draw was awaited with some excitement in the Hanwell Massive.
The live draw gave the Geordies a home tie early in December, facing National League Eastleigh and the fans believed they could yet spring an upset.
Before this though, there was further league action to negotiate, and on a wet afternoon, Hanwell travelled to Poole to take on an underperforming and troubled Poole Town. They took the lead with an strong Dan Carr goal early in the game, before the Dolphins equalised after a few minutes of the second half. Carr wasn't going to let circumstances stand, and just after hour struck an amazing overhead volley past the Poole Town keeper to win the game, an early candidate for the Goal of the Season.
Hanwell then negotiated a 0-0 draw against Hungerford Town as the month came to a close. The Geordies had risen up the table to 10th by now and still in touch with the playoff places, but they knew the bigger games were still to come.
The month opened for the Geordies with the knowledge there was a historic FA Trophy tie on the horizon; the club's previous best being second round proper in 21-22 and 22-23. This then was sitting prominently in the supporters minds, but there was league business to be conducted first.
Facing an out-of-form Frome Town at the Powerday on the Tuesday night, Hanwell were slow out from the game's start, and it was no surprise when the visitors scored with 10 minutes to go before the half time break. The Geordies, caught on the back foot, then soon conceded a second almost immediately, against a team that had only won one game up this point. Despite Chris Moore's half time changes, Hanwell couldn’t get back into the game and had to take an unexpected defeat on the chin.
Not the preparation you would hope for ahead of what was potentially the club's biggest ever game. However, as the Eastleigh game grew closer on the following Saturday, nature decided to be unkind and despite the club's best efforts to make it happen, Friday afternoon rain meant a Saturday AM postponement, thwarting the committee’s hope for a large crowd.
On the following Tuesday then, the Spitfires came to West London. Not for the first time, as the original aircraft had been stationed at RAF Northolt during WW2. Hanwell took the lead just before the half hour, through a great Joe Wilson finish, and the Massive started believing that a place in the fourth round might be a possibility.
Eastleigh then got a goal back partway into the second half and despite pressure, it was looking like the Geordies might be able to take their chances in a penalty shootout, there being no extra-time in this competition.
With just a few minutes before added time, Eastleigh won a soft penalty, Sam Beasant being adjudged to have brought down the Eastleigh player, despite there appearing to be no contact and the Spitfires made no mistake from the spot.
Hanwell had done very well to be there and to have made it to the Third round proper was a massive credit to the squad and Chris Moore, but to go out in such a manner was heart-breaking.
Chris then had just a few days to pick up the squad ahead of the next league fixture, against Gosport Borough, and in a tight game at the Powerday, it ended goalless.
As Christmas loomed, the game against Bracknell Town at Bottom Meadow was brought forward to the Friday evening, but it did the Geordies no favours. All square at half-time, the Geordies then donned their Santa hats as Bracknell scored four time in the last 30 minutes, with only a Jordan Edwards penalty to give the scoreline something for Hanwell to look at.
It came then to the Holiday crush, 3 game in 6 days and the Geordies’ form was nothing to write home about. They took on Chertsey at the Powerday on Boxing Day, and it looked like they would turn their form around as Jordan Edwards scored midway through the first half.
The second half though, was a different story as the Curfews scored early to equalise and then increasing pressure on the Hanwell goal saw Chertsey get the winner with some 20 minutes to go.
Three days later, Hanwell made the journey to Swindon Supermarine, hopeful that events would take a more upwards path as December came to its close. Despite conceding early, the Geordies got back into the game almost immediately through Jordan Edwards, who then grabbed a second before half time.
It was starting to look like Hanwell would go home with three points, but an innocent high ball forward into the box came off Harry Seabrook, diverting it past Sam Beasant and into the net to deny the Geordies the three points.
The disappointing run of form had seen the Geordies drop to 15th place by the end of the month, and one or two were starting to look ever their shoulders at the relegation places. Yet things were to change in the New Year...
Hanwell had been on an indifferent run of form in December, and no doubt looked on the journey to Marlow as a route to finding it again, and so it proved.
The game was in doubt right up until about 90 minutes before kick off, thanks to persistent rain, and it turned out to be an important game for the Geordies.
A Jordan Edwards strike just before the half hour gave Hanwell the confidence and immediately following the half time break, Edwards got a second to seal the win.
Hanwell then were looking to extend this win into a sequence, but the weather had other ideas. A frozen Powerday pitch meant the game against Wimborne Town had to be postponed as did the game at Badgers Hill against Frome Town for the same reason. The Middlesex FA Charity Cup game against Hillingdon Borough was a non-starter as well, meaning Hanwell went 17 games without a competitive match.
Chris Moore was therefore happy when the fixture at home to Tiverton Town took place, and although Tiverton went ahead midway through the first half, new signing Joe Waight showed his abilities with an early goal in the second half, leaving Hanwell with a point to get their season back on track.
Hanwell’s postponed trip to Playmouth Parkway, scheduled for the same date at the Eastleigh FA Trophy tie, had had to be scheduled for a Tuesday night, and ifit hadn't ben, the usual party bus would have rocked the journey home.
A Dan Carr goal midway through the first half set the Geordies on in a positive manner before his second just before the break gave them a platform to manage the game in the second half, and the well deserved three points went back up to Perivale Lane.
January came its conclusion with the short trip to Basingstoke, and it was a game of ups and downs.
Jordan Edwards gave the Geordies a lead inside the first 15 minutes, before Basingstoke posted an equaliser just before the half hour. Hanwell retook the lead through Joe Waight early in the second half and once more, the home side brought the game back to level terms soon after.
With the score being 2-2, and 10 minutes to go, it was still anyone’s game. Dan Carr decided it would be the Geordies’ game, getting another goal, before Alfie Pendlebury gave Hanwell some breathing space with a fourth, just a couple of minutes later.
Basingstoke managed to get their third goal, deep in added time but Hanwell held on to register another welcome win.
January’s run of form for Hanwell had catapulted them up the table into 8th place and the promotion places were back in sight, but could the Geordies make up the gap to them?
The dawn of February brought home the realisation that the season was two thirds through and that Hanwell were in a pretty good position compared to 12 months previously. Sat in 8th place but still plenty of points to play for as there were still 15 games to be played before the season climax against Plymouth Parkway and whisper it quietly, potentially a chance of getting close to the playoffs.
The Geordies welcomed Wimborne Town at the start of the month, and after Joe Waight had opened the scoring early on, looked to be going in at half time with a slender advantage. A goal deep in added time changed all that for the visitors, but with about 20 mins to go, Will Hall got a rare goal, coming up from the back. Hanwell couldn’t hold on to the lead and had to settle for a point.
Four days later, the Geordies travelled to Winchester, looking to keep the unbeaten run going, which began against Swindon Supermarine just after Christmas. On a pitch much improved from Hanwell’s previous visit, now being a 3G surface, the Geordies took to their surroundings and Harry Seabrook gave Hanwell the lead early in the first half.
Hanwell couldn’t take their chances to extend the lead and paid the price as a very late injury time goal for the home side snatched the 3 points away from the Geordies.
Hanwell returned to the Powerday, knowing that they had a big game coming up against Havant and Waterlooville, a game that could define so much of the remaining season. At half time, there was nothing to separate the sides but two goals either side of the hour mark for the visitors looked to have taken the game away from the Geordies.
However, the Geordies’ resilience, not often seen in recent seasons, came to the fore not long after as Harry Seabrook’s headed goal pushed open what had looked to be a closed door for Hanwell. With less than 10 minutes left, Dan Carr rammed his boot into that partially open door with a stunning 20 yard curling finish into the top right hand corner, to gain the Geordies another point, a point that looked out of reach.
Following a Middlesex FA Cup victory against Hayes & Yeading, the month ended with Hanwell making the now familiar trip down the M4, this time to face Hungerford Town. Once again, the Geordies went behind to an early goal, and then had to chase the game somewhat.
This time, no comeback could be found as Hungerford scored a second goal not long into the second half, and despite the hosts ending the game with 10 men, there was nothing for the Geordies to take back home.
The month ended with Hanwell dropping back to 12th place, comfortably mid-table but for a touch of fortune, they might have been higher as they moved into a frantic March programme of fixtures.
With 12 games left for the Geordies as March opened, were the playoffs out of reach now, the gap being 16 points to 5th place Dorchester Town? Perhaps realistically it now was, but Chris Moore’s squad went into every game looking to still see if they could get there.
The month opened with 3 back to back home games, the first being against Poole Town. The Geordies took advantage of the visitors’ defensive frailties, Joe Waight and Taylor Miles scoring either side of the half hour, to give Hanwell a solid half time advantage.
Time and again, it’s been said that 2 nil is the most dangerous scoreline there is in football, and Hanwell got caught early in the second half as Poole got a goal back to narrow the lead. Elliott Benyon re-established the 2 goal lead before Poole got a second goal with about 20 minutes left.
It was looking like the Geordies would end the day with the points as the referee indicated a minimum of 6 added minutes at the end of the game, but in that 6th minute of added time, Poole stole an equaliser to snatch a point that they were perhaps fortunate to take home.
The following Tuesday, Dorchester Town were the visitors to the Powerday, in a match which was potentially important to both clubs.
In a tight first half, it was looking like a half-time stalemate, before two goals before half time, from Roberto Nditi and Ryan Cole, gave the Geordies another 2 nil advantage in successive games.
This time, there was no comeback from the visitors as the Geordies held Dorchester at bay, Joe Waight getting the third goal with a few minutes left in the game, as Hanwell completed their first double of the season, and by the same 3 nil scoreline each time.
The third home game in a week for the Geordies saw the visit of now local rivals, Walton & Hersham the following Saturday, with everyone behind the scenes hoping that there would be no repeat of the events of the first match. This had seen Dwayne Duncan serve a three match ban following a submission to the FA by the Walton club, some weeks after that first match.
Hanwell took the lead some 10 minutes before half time through Joe Waight, who was fast becoming a fans favourite. Yet, the Geordies went into the half time break behind, two goals from the visitors just before the interval had given them the slender advantage.
Goals from Ryan Cole and Dan Carr early in the second half turned the game around back into the Geordies favour, but Walton’s equaliser with just over 10 minutes to go meant that the points were shared once more.
Hanwell were in some reasonable form by now, solidly mid-table, but the next week saw a sizeable dip in the Geordies fortunes.
Another Tuesday night journey took them to Badgers Hill to face Frome Town, who were fighting to avoid being relegated. Frome looked to have done enough to take a valuable point as the Geordies weren’t able to break through to win it, but with just a few minutes left, the home side grabbed a late winner to bolster their hopes of avoiding that relegation trapdoor.
On the Saturday, Hanwell once again went down the M4, travelling this time to face Gloucester City, who looked like they’d be one of the promotion playoff contenders.
Alas for the Geordies, everything then fell apart, as the home side scored 5 goals without reply, making it the worst defeat of the season for the side. Not the preparation Chris Moore was looking for ahead of the Middlesex Senior Cup final the following Wednesday.
Facing holders Rayners Lane, the Geordies were a little slow to get out of the blocks, and two goals inside 3 minutes midway through the half for the holders meant that Hanwell had to force the pace for the rest of the game.
Sadly, they couldn’t break through and so they had to return home with the runners-up medals instead of the ones they really wanted.
As a result, there wasn’t much expected from the visit of title-chasing AFC Totton to the Powerday, many feeling that a draw might be a very good result.
However, the Geordies put a massive pothole in the Hampshire side’s title chase, as with around 5 minutes left to go, new signing Giovanni McGregor made his entrance into the game as substitute for Ryan Cole.
His first touch, some 60 seconds later, was to control a pass through from Kam English, his second was to bury the ball under the Totton keeper into the back of the net to steal the points for Hanwell. Many Merthyr supporters immediately became temporary Geordies as a result!
After easing past a stubborn Tooting & Mitcham side in the London FA Senior Cup quarter final, Hanwell ended March with a trip back into Hampshire to face Sholing. An early Dan Carr penalty settled the Geordies nerves, and despite Alfie Pendlebury being dismissed, Hanwell made the journey home with the 3 points.
With a month of the season to go, Hanwell had lifted themselves to 10th in the table, but with 5 matches of the season left, the playoffs were clearly now not going to have the Geordies involved but how high could they finish, given the fact that the club was on a roll to exceed their highest ever finish in the club’s history?
n March, Hanwell had confirmed their mid table position in the Southern League Premier South, yet during that time, they’d been well beaten by Gloucester City, before surprising AFC Totton with a late winner, so as the season was drawing to a close, it was hard to know how the opening fixture of April would go, against Merthyr Town at the Powerday.
The first half had ended goalless, the South Wales side thus being on the brink of claiming the league title with games to play. Yet Hanwell soon showed that their 10th place in the table was not down to luck.
An early second half Dan Carr penalty gave the Geordies the thought they might yet influence the league title race for a second Saturday, following the defeat of AFC Totton a couple of weeks previously, and boost their record-breaking season.
With 10 minutes to go, Mat Mackenzie confirmed it with a close range header, and despite a late Merthyr penalty beating Sam Beasant, nothing could dispel the satisfaction of the Geordies establishing their best ever season in their history, and with games to go.
Hanwell had to then settle down somewhat as they had to face Hillingdon Borough in the Middlesex Charity Cup, at the quarter-final stage. In a disastrous opening 20 minutes, the Geordies fell two goals behind before Zeeks Coker pulled a goal back. Hillingdon scored a third, but the Geordies kept fighting and in touch, getting a goal back through a Joe Wilson finish. Hillingdon scored a fourth, and although Dwayne Duncan got Hanwell’s third goal, there wasn’t enough time left for Hanwell to get the equaliser.
Hanwell were then brought further down to earth as they went to Gosport and came off second best. Two first half goals from the home side sent the Geordies in at the interval behind, and nothing they could do in the second half could change that. Indeed, a further Gosport goal just before the hour made the result look worse than it really was.
However, the team picked themselves up to face Dulwich Hamlet in the London FA Senior Cup semi final, and it didn’t disappoint.
Once again, the Geordies were caught early, going behind inside the first 15 minutes, but not long after, up popped Dan Carr, latching on to a neat Chris Regis square ball to finish from close range.
Hanwell applied the pressure, but it wasn’t until midway through the second half that the Geordies made it count. Taylor Miles picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area to fire the ball home with a first time finish.
The Geordies then made it three not long after as Callum Woodcock was in the right place to convert the rebound from Alfie Pendlebury’s blocked shot.
Deep in the additional time at the end of the game, Dulwich grabbed a second goal to make the final few moments tense, but in the end, the Geordies confirmed their place in the final.
As it turned out, the Easter weekend brought no consolation as Taunton Town made their way up the M4 and pushed the Geordies’ back down onto the floor, as a goal in either half saw the visitors have a happy journey back to Somerset with the points. A red card for Dwayne Duncan during the game didn’t help the Hanwell fightback despite a valiant effort.
On Easter Monday, the Geordies travelled the short distance to Chertsey for the final away game of the season, and it turned into a happier journey than previous weeks. Will Hall got the game rolling with an early goal, Elliott Benyon doubled the lead to give Hanwell a comfortable cushion which was made even easier with Chertsey having a player dismissed late on in the game.
The final match of the season saw Plymouth Parkway making their longest journey, all the way from Devon, which was probably easier than the Geordies’ Tuesday night journey to Bolitho Park.
Parkway took the lead midway through the first half, meaning once more, Hanwell were chasing the game. The Geordies were struggling somewhat to break through the stubborn Parkway defence, until midway in the second half when Dan Carr topped off an amazing season with a first time volley from over 25 yards, which arced its way into the top corner of the Parkway net.
This galvanised the Hanwell boys, and 10 minutes later, Joe Wilson cut in from the right hand side, hitting a sweet curling finish from the edge of the area into the top corner of the net, to see the Geordies conclude the season with a fine win.
The Geordies final record saw them in 8th place, the best final position in the club’s history, and yet, it might have been so much better. The stage is now set for Hanwell to push on, can the 25/26 season top even this?
Hanwell Town P42 W15 D13 L14 GF58 GA62 58 pts
