Hendon Under-16s showed how much they have advanced since last season by being desperately disappointed to have lost to Headstone Manor's squad at Copthall Playing Fields in the Harrow Youth League Division Three on Sunday morning. Last season, at Under-15s level, the same opposition inflicted 12-1 and 5-0 defeats on Hendon, but this time they were delighted to hear the final whistle and claim all three points.

Hendon took the lead after 18 minutes when Michael Adeyemi set up Tang Nguyen. However, Manor hit back very quickly and were level two minutes later. The winning goal came with just eight minutes to go, but Hendon launched a furious rally in the dying moments forcing a succession of corners. From the last of these, a brilliant save by the visiting goalkeeper saw him tip the ball wide of the post to deny the Greens a deserved equaliser.

"On the one hand, I am very disappointed to have lost the game today," said manager Paul McGreal, "but, on the other hand, I am delighted that we gave a team that hammered us twice last season such a good game. I knew this would be a far sterner and more realistic test than the match last week. My man of the match was Michael Adeyemi, who displayed fantastic work=rate and commitment for the full 80 minutes."