Silver Jubilee Park 2019-20

Hendon 0 FC Romania 1 (Wednesday 17^th July 2019) Pre-Season Friendly (att: 86)

Another new season at SJP and a chance to catch up with my niece Sally. We enjoyed some chips on the walk down to the ground before the teams came out. Hendon had kept a core from the previous season, with plenty of new signings.

There was some promise, although the visitors were stronger and more physical than some of the triallists on show. Both sides rattled the crossbar before George Taban settled the game with a shot from the edge of the box.

Hendon made ten changes at the break to give everyone a run out. The game was a bit tetchy in parts throughout. Ogo Obi had a half chance for the Dons.

Hendon 1 Billericay Town 2 (Tuesday 23rd July 2019) Pre-Season Friendly (att: 122)

This was an entertaining encounter in which a strong Billericay side edged ahead near to half time thanks to a Moses Emmanuel lob over keeper Luke Sheldrick; who’d earlier denied Charlie Wassmer with a top save.

Obi went close for Hendon with a couple of free kicks, before Adam Cunnington doubled the lead with a low shot from outside the box. The Greens were putting in a fine showing. A defensive howler from Town allowed Obi to capitalise past Alan Julian.

Both sides had opportunities towards the closing stages, but the game ended 2-1, with home fans leaving in positive mood.

Hendon 1 Metropolitan Police (Tuesday 13^th August 2019) Southern League Premier Division South (att: 176)

Hendon had started the season with a creditable 2-2 draw at Weston-Super-Mare on the opening day of the league season and put in another fine performance. They fielded a solid formation with Tom Hamblin and Sam Corcoran the stand outs.

The dynamic Kameron English and Connor Calcutt looked to forge a partnership up front against a Met side depleted of many of the players who lost in the Super Play-Off Final a couple of months previously.

It looked like the game would end blank, especially after Ryan Hope saw his shot cleared off the line. English was switched wide following a substitution and he delivered a wonderful cross from the byline for Calcutt to bullet home his header.

The equaliser was slightly fortuitous four minutes from time. Rudy Appiah-Allen stood on the ball in the area, throwing all the defence off guard. His cross was headed home at the back stick by Jeremy Arthur.

Hendon 3 Chesham United 1 (Monday 26^th August 2019) Southern League Premier Division South (att: 313)

It was a sweltering Bank Holiday afternoon with temperatures in the mid thirties. I was shattered from doing nights and ended up getting a cab to the game. I was rewarded with a decent game and a really good Dons performance.

Tahjae Anderson made his first start up front as manager Gray rang the changes. The move worked when Anderson controlled, cut inside his man before firing a superb left foot shot past keeper Ben Goode eight minutes before the break.

United piled on the pressure after half time in a decent high tempo encounter. The Hendon management made their substitutions at a vital time and got them spot on. Ryan Hope saw his shot come back off the post for Connor Calcutt to tap home on seventy two minutes.

Former Dons forward Karl Oliyidi came off the bench and looked lively before narrowing the deficit with a near post header when unmarked from a corner. Any home fans fears were extinguished thanks to a sublime Charlie Smith free kick as the game entered stoppage time.

Hendon 1 Cockfosters 1; Hendon won 2-0 on pens (Tuesday 10^th September 2019) London Senior Cup (att: 99)

Cockfosters took the lead when Cekyan Karahozlu capitalised on a defensive error to break through and score past Tyla Dickinson. Hendon huffed and puffed before increasing the pace after the break before equalising through a Josh Yoane own goal.

Fosters continued to try and grab a winner while Hendon missed chances. It wasn’t a bad game. With no extra time, it was onto penalties, where Dickinson saved the first three Cockfosters attempts. Howard Hall and Kam English scored for Dons before Valentine scuffed his attempt.

The fourth visitors’ spot kick hit the post meaning a win for the hosts. It was a nice enough evening out in the usual good company after completing gate duties.

Hendon 1 Dorchester Town 3 (Saturday 14^th September 2019) Southern League Premier Division South (att: 195)

This would have made good entertainment for a neutral or visiting fan, but it was murder for those cheering on the boys in green. Chris Grace kept out an early penalty from Town’s Charlie Davis before Matty Harriott put the Dons ahead.

By half time the score could have easily read 4-4 if not for top goalkeeping from Grace and Shane Murphy, but it was a different story after the break. Dorchester’s forwards led by Jack Hoey were quick and smart with their movement throughout.

Hoey helped himself to an excellent hat trick in the second half as Hendon capitulated and made some horrendous errors with Grace keeping the score below a real hiding with some great stops. It was a real car crash for home fans on a beautifully sunny day.

Hendon 2 Walton Casuals 0 (Tuesday 22nd October 2019) Southern League Premier Division South (att: 154)

Hendon came into the game with manager Jimmy Gray under pressure with the team in the relegation places. More changes had been made to the squad due to departures, injuries and unavailability. The team were not to let him or the fans down.

It was an excellent first half display from the Dons, full of pressing and pace leading to some fine football and goals from Tre Charles and Reece Mitchell. The only disappointment was that the score wasn’t added to.

Walton had more play after the break, but the Hendon defence held firm, with a bit of overdue luck along the way. It was a happy bar after the game; which made a pleasant change.

Hendon 1 Leyton Orient 0 (Tuesday 12^th November 2019) London Senior Cup Round Two (att: 157)

New Dons boss Lee Allinson was gradually putting a team together. This was an encouraging performance against a young O’s side, with the club dumped out of the FA Cup by Maldon & Tiptree a few days earlier.

The only goal of the game came before the break via a fine Tingey pass to Reece Mitchell who played in centre forward Calcutt. His first touch was excellent before he finished with aplomb. He big man had a good game throughout.

Both sides worked hard. Hendon had the better of the few chances; one of which forced keeper Arthur Janata into a good save from Ryan Hope. It’d been a good night out in which I enjoyed pre match grub with Jeff Cards before meeting up with the usual suspects.

Hendon 0 Harrow Borough 1 (Thursday 26^th December 2019) Southern League Premier Division South (att: 305)

This was right up there with the worst games I’ve ever paid to watch. The conditions were dreadful and matched by most of the players. There was very little subtlety or calmness on the ball. Everything was at high speed and error strewn.

Boro were on a shocking run of form but prevailed owing to a slightly bigger physical presence and a goal tapped home by Marc Charles-Smith following a set piece. Two shots from outside the box from Andronicos Georgiou saved by Luca Ashby-Hammond were the Dons only offering.

Harrow were reduced to ten men by full time as the game became tetchy and a couple of bouts of handbags broke out. They were about as proficient at that as football on the day.

Hendon 4 Weston-super-Mare 0 (Saturday 4^th January 2020) Southern League Premier Division South (att: 214)

All prayers were answered as the Dons made use of a bit of good fortune and the excellent saves of Rihards Matervics to put the Seagulls to the sword with a superb performance full of attacking intent.

Early pressure paid off as Luke Tingey smashed home. Weston missed a glorious opportunity to level just before the break when a Scott Laird penalty was saved by the giant stopper.

Liam Brooks capped off a proper shift with a tremendous finish to double the lead. Substitutes Joe Felix and Sam Corcoran rounded off the scoring. The final goal rolled over the line via a post and the back of the head of the beaten keeper.

It was a tremendous atmosphere in the bar to match the lovely ale as players, officials and fans were as one to celebrate as the New Year Draw commenced.

Oh happy days are here again!

Hendon 2 Yate Town 1 (Saturday 1st February 2020) Southern League Premier Division South (att: 234)

A grand day out and a good football match between two decent sides. Hendon had acquired a class finisher in Joe White. He just did his job with the minimum of fuss. He was the difference between the sides. Yate were young and enthusiastic with some Bristol City youngsters in the side.

Both teams deserved immense credit performing in difficult cross pitch high winds. But my man of the match went to the referee, Mr Craig Pullen. There wasn't an ounce of dissent all afternoon as he expertly controlled the game, playing advantage after foul that led to the first goal but explaining to the fouled player afterwards.

I stoked up for the day with a big brekkie at The Bridge Cafe in West Hampstead before working it off with my excitable 6 year-old Godson round in the bar at Hampstead CC. A couple of perfect pints of Oakham Citra in the Midland Hotel at Hendon station with the Chestnut Ale top notch at SJP.

The trip reversed with more beers in the previous places with a drinking pal after the game finishing in The Railway at West Hampstead and a pizza back home in Kingsbury, waking in the chair at 3am. A proper day out in good company.

Hendon P Hayes & Yeading United P (Saturday 15^th February 2020) Southern League Premier Division South

I’d got out of bed and gone down to SJP in what promised to be stormy conditions to help on car park duties. That task had suddenly got easier since it had been tarmacked and had lines painting on it: or at least a little bit. There was no accounting for some of the parking!

All was going well. Gerry and I had filled all the spaces. My mate went down to the entrance to turn extra vehicles away while I went inside for a pre match pint. The attendance looked promising and the mood was good as I headed outside.

Only to be met by others coming the other way. The referee had postponed the game as the wind had blown over a corner flag and he deemed conditions dangerous. He and his officials hadn’t turned up until after 2pm and I got the immediate impression that they didn’t fancy it from our brief chat as they parked up.

Hendon officials dealt with the situation professionally. Steve Barnes and I got a ride to the Wetherspoons with Lee. We were into our second pint when the full Hayes squad and management came in for a social!

My demeanour was tested further on the following Tuesday as I went on the team coach to Poole Town, only for that game to be called off on our arrival!

Hendon 1 Truro City 4 (Saturday 29^th February 2020) Southern League Premier Division South (att: 304)

My arrival after twenty minutes was due to a colleague not arriving at work, no trains and an expensive and long uber taxi ride from Eastcote. My first impressions were that the visiting White Tigers were a big strong team.

They took the lead when Dons keeper Jonathan North dropped a ball over the line while under pressure from Tyler Harvey. The ref could have given a foul in different circumstances. Shaun Lucien equalised as the hosts had a fine spell.

The game was ni and tuck before a shocking miscommunication outside the box between North and Eddie Oshodi eventually allowed Will Swan to score into an unguarded net. Harlain Mbayo made it 3-1 when heading home from a corner before Swan finished well to round off the scoring.

The scoreline was harsh on Hendon but I was in no doubt that the better side had won on the day; but the Dons offered plenty of optimism. Little did I realise at the time that it would be the last time I saw them in the 2019-20 season owing to the COVID-19 virus.