Greens lose on penalties

Greensnet Editor
Wed 03 Dec 2003, 02:45

The FA Trophy replay at Kettering last night went all the way, with Hendon losing 5-4 in a penalty shoot out after the game ended 2-2 after extra time. In a pulsating cup tie Kettering took the lead in the 6th minute courtesy of Andy Lodge, but within two minutes Hendon had equalised with Ricci Crace hitting the back of the net. Hendon took the lead in the 28th minute thanks to a deft lob by Eugene Ofori and before half time Crace hit the woodwork as he tried to extend the lead. Both sides had chances in the second half, but it was a sucker punch for Hendon as with literally seconds to go in normal time former loanee striker Paul Fewings bundled the ball home from a corner. Extra time came and went with again both sides having chances to score, and so it was to the penalty shoot out. Both teams one of their first five penalties, but in the first round of sudden death, Richard Graham scored for the Poppies, leaving all the pressure on Andy Cook who was unable to convert his spot kick and so Kettering will go on to play Woking in the next round of the competition.