Match Report

Folkestone Invicta
0
Hendon
1
Date:
Tuesday 12 October 2004
Competition:
Isthmian League Premier Division
Attendance:
328
Venue:
TBA

Match Report

Hendon carried out a very successful smash and grab raid on the Westbourne Stadium, Folkestone, on Tuesday night and returned to North London with three points following the 1-0 victory over Folkestone Invicta. The result lifted the Greens back to fourth in the Ryman League Premier Division, five points behind joint leaders Yeading and Cheshunt.

Manager Tony Choules had the luxury of naming an unchanged 16 for a second straight game, but the early portents weren't good. Folkestone had both the blustery wind and sloping pitch in their favour in the first half and they almos used them to perfect effect in the opening two minutes.

A low cross from Simon Glover was met by Mark Munday on the half-volley, six yards out. His shot, however, crashed off the outside of the near post and bounced away to safety. Hendon could barely escape their own half in the opening quarter of an hour and Dave King produced a couple of fine saves to keep the game scoreless.

Once Hendon had ventured downfield, they found the home defence in accommodating mood. A 17th minute shot from John Frendo was pushed away by veteran Invicta goalkeeper Mo Munden - his non-league debut having come before the Hendon striker's birth.

Three minutes later, Munden sprawled to deflect a low, driven cross by Danny Julienne. The ball was collected by Mark Burgess, who tried to set up Mark Nicholls, but Adam Flanagan got his foot in first to hammer the ball clear.

Folkestone regained the initiative and King produced a couple of excellent blocks while both Burgess and Danny Butler rescued the goalkeeper with goalline clearances.

Hendon showed Invicta how to use the pitch and weather conditions in the opening ten minutes of the second half. After 52 minutes, Frendo ghosted behind the Folkestone defence and was all alone as he received a diagonal pass from Richard McDonagh. His fierce shot was again parried by Munden. The goalkeeper was, however, helpless three minutes later as the move of the match provided the game's only score.

It started with Dave Sargent, on the edge of his own penalty area. He carried the ball 15 yards forward before sending an inch-perfect pass into the path of Nicholls. The skipper ran at the ragged Folkestone defence with Julienne out to his left screaming for a pass.

Nicholls had spotted Frendo in an even better position and the pass was inch-perfect. FRENDO had no defender within hailing distance as he controlled the ball with his first touch and blasted a 15-yard shot into the roof of the net with his second.

In the 60th minute, René Street headed just over the bar after outjumping John Guest to reach a Sargent corner. Moments later, Guest was all alone in the other penalty area as he met a corner from Martin Chandler, but his free header - a much easier chance - also failed to hit the target.

The game became very stretched and both goalkeepers were required to make saves from strikers who had lost their markers. Hendon were the more inventive of the two teams. Wayne Carter and McDonagh kept finding Nicholls, Julienne and Dave Nolan in space, although the final balls just lacked the incisiveness to stretch the Hendon lead.

King had to be alert to save a dipping shot from James Dryden and then needed two goes to block a skidding free-kick from Chandler. Munden was equally busy, palming away a Frendo drive and one from Julienne. An outstretched leg from Paul Lamb denied Nicholls.

The referee somehow found six minutes of stoppage time, during which time Folkestone wasted two free-kicks. His final whistle was greeted with loud cheers from the dozen or so hardy Hendon fans who braved the squally conditions and 140-mile midweek journey.

"I am delighted with the victory," enthused Mr Choules. "I thought we deserved it for our second half performance."

Report by David Ballheimer

Hendon

1
Dave King
2
Mark Burgess
3
Dave Sargent
4
Wayne Carter
5
Rene Street
6
Danny Butler
7
Danny Julienne
8
Richard McDonagh
9
John Frendo
10
Mark Nicholls
11
Dave Nolan
12
Anthony Robinson
14
Usif Bangura
15
Dave Hunt
16
James Burgess
17
Martin Vrhovski

Match Events

55''
John Frendo
Luke Coleman replaced Mark Munday
83''
85''
Martin Vrhovski replaced Danny Julienne
90''
Usif Bangura replaced John Frendo

Folkestone Invicta

1
Maurice Munden
2
Drew Watkins
3
Paul Lamb
4
Adam Flanagan
5
John Guest
6
Scott Lindsey
7
Martin Chandler
8
Mark Munday
9
James Dryden
10
Andrew Burke
11
Simon Glover
12
Luke Coleman
14
Michael Everitt
15
John Walker
16
Lee Dyson
17
Tony Kessell