A valiant Hanworth Villa survived severe pressure from Merstham to win 1-0 in the Isthmian League South Central. 

Having lost their previous two league games, the Villains were in need of a strong performance to revive their season and they duly responded with a strong defensive showing being enough for three points. 

After going into the break locked in a deadlock, Sami Gagan scored early in the second half on his return from injury to get the only goal on the game. 

Hanworth still have games in hand against the teams around them in the table, but the win takes them up a place in the division at this early stage. 

A long ball up the left for the Moatsiders almost created a fine goal as a Hanworth header was latched onto by Ore Bello and he took a touch before trying his luck and he dragged his shot just wide of the upright. 

A touch more composure could have given Hanworth the lead after 25 minutes as a long throw created danger as Gagendeep Samra attempted a bicycle kick and although he didn't connect properly it fell to Rob Sheridan at the back post, but he got underneath the ball and sent it over the top. 

Omar Koroma was the first to hit the target after half an hour when his free-kick was driven low under the wall but too central and Terry Buss could easily gather. 

Koroma was in again minutes later when Samra failed to deal with a long punt from the Merstham 'keeper and he went round Buss but the goalkeeper got back to him and put him off balance and he sliced his finish high over the stand with the goal at his mercy. 

The woodwork came to Hanworth's rescue late in the half as the ball ricocheted to Adam Allen on the edge of the box and on the half volley rattled the crossbar. 

Having survived until the interval, the Villains laid siege to the Merstham goal early in the second half and scored after 51 minutes from one of a string of long throws which took a few deflections before Gagan poked it beyond Mo Otuyo. 

It probably should have been two ten minutes later as a goal kick bounced over the Moatsiders defence and Jonathan Hippolyte ran beyond and tried to lift the ball over the 'keeper but it went wide of the far post. 

Merstham were setting the pace in the second half but Hanworth certainly looked the more dangerous as Sam Merson escaped down the right and slipped in a wide open Meshach Williams who galloped into the box and his cross-cum-shot just eluded Merson at the far post.