Match Report

Hendon
2
Hemel Hempstead Town
1
Date:
Tuesday 12 July 2016
Competition:
Friendly
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
TBA

Match Report

Hendon opened up their 2016–17 preseason campaign with the visit of Hemel Hempstead Town, members of the Vanarama National League South Division, and managed by Dean Brennan, who spent a short spell on loan at Hendon in 2003-04.

Both teams used the game to play 20 outfield players. The only difference was that Hendon changed nine out of ten (plus Brendan Norris taking over Berkeley Laurencin) at half-time. After an hour, the 10 Hemel outfielders (and Aaron Morgan) were all substituted.

It took just two minutes for older Hendon fans to have their memories jogged in a happy, nostalgic way. Dale Binns, one of Gary McCann's offseason signings, and making his first appearance since a friendly at Berkhamsted on 27 July 2004, made an incisive run down the left wing.

His cross into the box was well directed, ideal for the returning Morgan to meet. The first effort was blocked, but the rebound went straight back to Morgan, who made no mistake with his second attempt.

The Tudors bounced back and started to ask questions of the Hendon defence. They were all answered until the 20th minute, when Lewis Taaffe ran clear of the Hendon defence and beat Berkeley Laurencin with a neat, curling shot.

Hendon had an escape when a Hemel effort came off the crossbar and bounced away to safety. But they rode the storm and then, just before the interval, took the lead for the second time.

Keagan Cole, one day before his 17th birthday, collected the ball on the halfway line and ran with purpose towards the Hemel penalty area. Intelligent runs from Morgan and Karl Oliyide distracted the Tudors' rearguard, so Cole continued forward and then drilled a superb shot into the net off the post.

The second half was quite even. Before he went off, Morgan had a chance to get a second goal, but the Tudors goalkeeper made a good save. At the other end, Brendan Norris made a couple of good saves.

Despite the best efforts of both teams' attacks, in a still-entertaining second half, it was the two defences which were on top and there were no more goals.

Report by David Ballheimer

Hendon

1
Berkley Laurencin
2
Luke Tingey
3
Arthur Lee
4
Spencer McCall
5
Casey Maclaren
6
Keagan Cole
7
Omar Vassell
8
Mahrez Bettache
9
Aaron Morgan
10
Karl Oliyide
11
Dale Binns
12
Chris Seeby
13
Scott Cousins
14
Dave Diedhiou
15
Sam Murphy
16
Brendan Norris
17
Khale Da Costa
18
Mayowa Balogun
19
Finbarr Robins
20
Omar Mohammed
21
Tony Taggart
22
Niko Muir

Match Events

2''
Aaron Morgan
45''
Keagan Cole
46''
Scott Cousins replaced Arthur Lee
46''
Dave Diedhiou replaced Casey Maclaren
46''
Brendan Norris replaced Berkley Laurencin
46''
Mayowa Balogun replaced Mahrez Bettache
46''
Sam Murphy replaced Spencer McCall
46''
Chris Seeby replaced Luke Tingey
46''
Khale Da Costa replaced Omar Vassell
46''
Omar Mohammed replaced Keagan Cole
46''
Tony Taggart replaced Karl Oliyide
46''
Finbarr Robins replaced Dale Binns
60''
Niko Muir replaced Aaron Morgan

Hemel Hempstead Town

Squad unknown