Report by Jools Thomas

A controversial dismissal midway through the first half shattered all of FC's early running and when a penalty was conceded just a couple of minutes later, this gave the home team a mountain to climb. The 2nd half dismissal of Ben Stevens for a second yellow should have been the signal for an onslaught of the home goal but instead Hanwell failed to offer a great deal and the game petered out.

Hanwell did have the first chance and this fell to Dean Allen with his snap shot failing to trouble FC keeper Kyle Forster. FC responded with immediately and could have been awarded a penalty when Ben Stevens appeared to be felled however the referee showed little interest. Kai Walters then produced a shot on the turn which Town keeper Melvin Minter got a couple of fingertips to. The game continued to ebb and flow and the next man to make an attempt on goal was Alex Atkinson and his header was on target but also straight into the arms of Forster. Returning Mole Lamar Simpson created the next chance and his fine run ended with a creative curling shot which Forster was equal to.

Next followed the game's defining moments. A hopeful punt forward saw Rob Tomlin on the half way line adjudged to have held his man back from a clear run on goal. Minimal contact was made however the referee dismissed the midfielder with a straight red card. From the free kick, the ball was played into the FC box and a close range strike was struck against the hands of Stevens. Whether it was deliberate could be debated but it made no difference as Allen stroked the resultant penalty into the net.

Ty Deacon had a great chance to equalise on 26 minutes. He took the ball high on his chest and then cracked a great volley that was tipped round a post. From the corner Ben Stevens got his head to the cross with the keeper plucking the chance form the air. On the half hour mark, the lead should have been extended but thanks to a fluffed shot by Town's Zak Joseph, the score remained 1-0. There was a flurry of chances as the break approached. Josh Bamford had an impressive run and shot which just whistled past the post and then Kai Walters' powerful strike was blocked by desperate away defending.

Ben Bateman came on in the 2nd half to even up the Moles' midfield and Kai Walters who himself had had a good game made way. The second half never lived up to the action of the first. A heavy pitch coupled with poor vision from a relentless bank of fog made the going difficult. Dean Allen hit a reasonable shot on 57 minutes and this was the prelude for the 2nd FC dismissal. Ben Stevens had already received a caution in the first half and with Hanwell players remonstrating with the referee after a strong yet combative challenge by the FC captain, Stevens was dismissed.

A pummelling by Hanwell was now on the cards but it never really happened with the sight of the ball being hoarded by the corner flag at Hanwell corners being a case in point. A header by the all action Ty Deacon late on could have produced something later on but alas it was not to be