Greens down, but not out

Greensnet Editor
Tue 18 Mar 2003, 23:00

Hendon lost 4-2 at Canvey Island this evening in the first leg of their Bryco Cup semi final, but will go into the second leg with reasonable hope thanks to the two away goals. The Gulls struck first, Lee Protheroe firing home a free-kick from the right in the 36th minute. It took seven minutes for the Greens to reply with a good move. Iain Duncan recieved the ball from David Hook and played it on to Lee Endersby. The former international in turn knocked the ball onto Ricci Crace who found himself in space around 25 yards out, and spotting Harrison off his line, the youngster lobbed the 'keeper. Canvey, however, remained in pole position, as Neil Gregory volleyed home in the 58th minute to put the Islanders back in front. Binns almost equalised for the Greens again, although his goal was contraversially disallowed for offside.

Canvey then went further in front in the 67th minute through Bertie Brayle, who headed home a corner kick. The Dons refused to accept defeat, and Martin Randall struck deep into stoppage time to peg Canvey's lead back. However, the good work was soon undone when Hollingdale conceeded a free kick on the left from the kick off, Micky Bennett heading home the ball into the box. The Greens go into the second leg of the tie two goals down, but still with a decent chance of progressing to the final. The second leg will be played at Claremont Road next Tuesday, kicking off at 7.45.