Match Report

Hendon
1
Bedford Town
2
Date:
Tuesday 11 September 2001
Competition:
Isthmian League Premier Division
Attendance:
285
Venue:
TBA

Match Report

Hendon slipped to a second consecutive defeat against a Bedford Town side who had previously failed to pick up a point in their seven games so far this season. The Hendon line up showed two changes with Paul Johnson replacing the injured Simon Clarke, and Dale Binns returning to the line up replacing Lee O'Donnell, who dropped back to the bench joining Ross Pickett and Paul Yates.

Hendon's first chance came in the 16th minute when Bedford Town keeper James Heeps flapped at a Paul Johnson corner, and Jon-Barrie Bates saw his shot saved by Heeps. Hendon had more possession in the first half, earning several corners but without creating the Bedford defence too many big problems. In the 25th minute Ricci Crace broke into the box and passed to Marvyn Watson, whose cross came to nothing.

Just a minute later Dale Binns made an excellent tackle when Kevin Slinn broke clear for Bedford Town, and two minutes later Carl Adams was flagged just offside after Mark Paul sent him through with an excellent ball, although Johnson was in close attendance. In the 36th minute Bedford earnt a free kick just outside the area which was taken by Nando Perna, but Adams saw his shot blocked by a Hendon defender.

Hendon took the lead in the 40th minute when Paul Johnson delivered an excellent corner which Paul TOWLER headed home off the bar. Bedford Town looked for an equaliser before half time, but Mark Paul saw his shot blocked, and David Hook also made a good save.

The turning point of the game probably came after 11 minutes of the second half, when James Heeps made an excellent save from a 25 yard Davis Haule drive which was destined for the far corner of the net. Bedford then began to get more into the game, and after Hendon made two substitutions the equaliser came.

In the 72nd minute, a foul was needlessly given away, and from the resulting free kick, Lee O'DONNELL deflected the ball into his own net, having only been on the pitch for a few minutes. Bedford had the best of the closing exchanges, and deep into injury time they won the game when Nando PERNA broke clear of the offside trap and slotted the ball calmly past David Hook into the net.

Chris Sparks was sent off following the goal for something he said to the linesman to compound Hendon's misery, and the final whistle was blown by referee Mr G Russell, who had a good game, a few seconds later. The red card means that Hendon have had three players sent off in as many games.

Speaking after the game, a very disappointed Dave Anderson said "At 1-0 we were not playing well and needed a second goal to try and make the game safe. The excellent save from Davis Haule's shot in the second half was the turning point of the game. We are capable of playing good football as we showed against Sutton, but we must also show the right attitude when the going gets tough."

Report by Steve Rogers

Hendon

1
David Hook
2
Michael Woolner
3
Paul Johnson
4
Marvyn Watson
5
Paul Towler
6
Rene Street
7
Ricci Crace
8
Jon-Barrie Bates
9
Davis Haule
10
Chris Sparks
11
Dale Binns
12
Ross Pickett
14
Paul Yates
15
Lee O'Donnell

Match Events

40''
Paul Towler
64''
Ross Pickett replaced Ricci Crace
67''
Lee O'Donnell replaced Paul Johnson
James Heeps
72''
Delton Francis replaced Kevin Slinn
80''
90''
Chris Sparks
Nando Perna
90''

Bedford Town

1
James Heeps
2
Lee Harvey
3
Paul Wilson
4
Paul Covington
5
Gary Williams
6
Nando Perna
7
Rob Miller
8
Carl Adams
9
Kevin Slinn
10
Mark Paul
11
Eddie Lawley
12
Delton Francis
13
Mark Tucker
14
Steve Jackman