Sunday 25 March - Hendon 2 Brunswick 8
Hendon Under-16s couldn't overcome the gap in class between themselves and Premier Divison Brunswick in the League Cup quarter-final at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday morning and although they gave a very good account of themselves, they were on the wrong end of a heavy defeat. Brunswick scored early in the first half and took control, adding two more before the break. A determined Hendon effort in the second half looked like getting no reward as Brunswick added another five goals, but Hendon did hit back late on. Charlie Benson, who stands, in the words of joint manager Eamon Finn, "4ft 6.5in tall" still managed to rise in the penalty area to score with a header from a corner after 75 minutes. Three minutes later Michael Roache added a second for Hendon, but it was far too little, far too late. "I am really proud of my boys," said Mr Finn. "They conducted themselves really well. Charlie Benson was my man of the match. Captain for the day, he may be tiny, but he has the heart of a lion and was captain courageous out there."
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Sunday 18 March - Hendon 3 Princes Park B
Hendon Under-16s’ hope of winning their Harrow Youth League divisional crown suffered a serious blow as they surrendered three leads against Princes Park before succumbing 4-3. With the gale-force wind at their backs in the first half, Hendon really missed out on taking control of the fixture and they had only Will Mabbutt’s superb free kick to show for their efforts in the first 40 minutes. Princes Park equalised early in the second half, only for Carl Ciagoro to resture the Greens’ advantage. But it did not last long and it was 2–2 a few minutes later. Mabbutt’s second goal gave Hendon hope of securing victory, but it was not to be and Princes Park equalised again, before securing victory with a late goal. "The wind was a decisive factor," said joint manager Eamon Finn. "We had the advantage of it at our backs in the first half and didn’t use it well enough. It was always going to be a struggle in the second half and we didn’t have time to come back when they took the lead. My man of the match was Carl Ciagoro."
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Sunday 18 February - St Josephs B 0 Hendon 12
Hendon Under-16s routed St Joseph's B squad on Sunday morning, winning the Harrow Youth League match 12-0. It was a memorable match for a number of the Hendon team, notably Matthew Hornblow, who scored his 100th and 101st goals for Hendon in 81 games since joining the club, and Oliver Sade, who marked his debut with a hat-trick. The game was decided in the first half with Sade and Michael Roache both scoring three times. Hornblow got his two before the break and the ninth goal came from Carl Ciagoro. At half-time, the management team of Eamonn Finn and Graham Bourne introduced Lamal Brown and he responded by scoring twice. The other goal came from skipper Will Mabbutt. Mr Bourne said, "We played really well in the first half and I was delighted with Matthew Hornblow reaching the 100-goal milestone so quickly and Oliver Sade scoring a hat-trick on his debut. My man of the match, however, was Yonni Benari, who was excellent at centre-half. Everything they had to offer he broke down."
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Sunday 04 February - St Josephs B 0 Hendon 12
Hendon advanced to the next round of the Harrow Youth League Cup with a decisive rout of Headstone Manor at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday morning. Incredibly, it took 30 minutes for Hendon to break the deadlock Omar Abdou scoring. Five minutes later, Michael Roache doubled the advantage and, on the stroke of half-time, a third goal was added by Ezekiel Brown. The second half was a true goalfest with 10 goals coming in the 40 minutes. Matt Hornblow and Abdou stretched the advantage further before Headstone Manor pulled a goal back. Undaunted Hendon quickly regained their earlier lead through Carl Ciagoro and then pulled right away as Cyril Wilson scored moments after coming on. WILSON got his second before Hornblow and Roache joined him on the two-goal mark. Hendon's 11th and last goal came from Abdou, completing his hat-trick, but there was still time for Manor to grab one final consolation goal. "This was a very comfortable win today," said joint-manager Graham Bourne. "It took quite a while for us to get the first goal but, once we scored, the result wasn't in doubt. My man of the match was Omar Abdou for scoring the hat-trick."
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Sunday 28 January - Pinner Albion 2 Hendon 6
Hendon Under-16s conceded the first and last goals of their match at Pinner Albion B on Sunday morning, but still ran out 6-2 winners of this Harrow Youth League fixture. After conceding a tenth minute opener, Hendon hit back with four goals in the last 20 minutets of the first half. Will Mabbutt grabbed the equaliser after 20 minutes and, six minutes, later, Mabbutt had his second. Michael Roache extended the lead after 31 minutes and, on the stroke of half-time, Roache, too, completed a double. It took 15 minutes of the second half before Hendon went further ahead, Roache completing his hat-trick and Hendon's scoring was completed by Matthew Hornblow with ten minutes to go. But Pinner Albion didn't give up and they scored a consolation in the dying seconds. Joint manager Graham Bourne said, "This was a very important win for us. It was our first game since 17 December and we were rusty to begin with before getting into the game. It was good to have Will Mabbutt back after he missed the last three months with an injury and he deserved the Man of the Match award too."
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Sunday 10 December - Kensington Dragons 2 Hendon 2
Hendon Under-16s threw away a two-goal lead and had to settle for a point, albeit in a rather controversial finish to their Harrow Youth League match at Kensington Dragons on Sunday morning. Things were looking good when two goals in three minutes midway through the first-half, from Carl Ciagoro and Lamrey Adebiye, put Hendon in control. But in the final minute of the opening period the Dragons halved the arrears and they started the second half well, too, scoring after just five minutes. According to Hendon watches, there were still a couple of minutes to go when the final whistle sounded. This was also just as a cross was picking out a Hendon forward, who headed the ball into the net. Joint manager Graham Bourne said, "There is no doubt the whistle had blown before the ball went into the net, but we thought it was a good two minutes early. Nevertheless we didn’t hold onto our lead and that was due to our mistakes. My man of the match was Ezekiel Brown."
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Sunday 19 November - Princes Park 2 Hendon 3
Hendon Under-16s were too strong for Princes Park in this Sunday afternoon battle of unbeaten Harrow Youth League teams. Princes Park, winners of all seven of their League matches so far this season, took the lead after 13 minutes, but they were pegged by Carl Ciagoro's goal seven minutes later. Seven minutes before half-time Hendon were awarded a penalty, but the Park goalkeeper made a fine save to keep out Ciagoro's spot kick. However, he could do nothing about Lamal Brown's follow-up and Hendon had a narrow interval lead. That last lasted all of three second half minutes before Princes Park equalised. The next goal always looked like it would prove decisive and so it turned out to be. It was a magnificent strike by David Stevenson, after 53 minutes, that finally separated the sides, his 25-yard blistering drive giving the home goalkeeper no chance. "That was a vital victory today," said delighted joint-manager Eamon Finn. "We battled really well and deserved our victory. This was a real team performance and all 11 players can share the man of the match award."
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Sunday 12 November - Hendon 9 Pinner Albion B 0
Hendon Under-16s enjoyed a very comfortable Harrow Youth League victory over Pinner Albion's B squad at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday morning, hitting nine without reply. A first-minute penalty was the perfect start for Hendon, especially as Tristan Thomas made no mistake from the spot. Lamal Brown continued his exceptional goalscoring form with number two, after 15 minutes, the first of his hat-trick. David Stevenson scored his first goal for the club after 28 minutes followed, ten minutes later, by the regular contribution from Matthew Hornblow. As good as Hendon had been in the first half, they were much better after the break. Carl Ciagoro scored his first of the morning two minutes into the period and John Skelly became the sixth different player on the scoresheet six minutes later. In the 50th minute, Lamal Brown got his second and it was something of a surprise that Hendon had to wait more than 20 minutes for their next goal, Brown completing his hat-trick after 72 minutes. Three minutes from time, Ciagoro scored his second goal to complete the job. "We took a bit of time to get going in the first half, but we were superb in the second half," said happy joint manager Graham Bourne. "My man of the match was Michael Roche, who played in a deep-lying centre-forward's role. He didn't score today, but he made probably six of the goals for his team-mates."
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Sunday 05 November - Headstone Manor 2 Hendon 10
Hendon Under-16s made sick joint manager Graeme Bourne feel much better as they routed Headstone Manor in the Harrow Youth League. It was an especially good day for Lamal and Ezekiel Brown, who combined to score six of the ten goals. Will Mabbutt, however, started the show after 15 minutes, before Lamal Brown grabbed his first on 20 minutes. Headstone Manor pulled a goal back almost immediately, but that was as close as they got because Lamal Brown made it 3-1 with his second goal before half-time. Ezekiel Brown scored first, four minutes after the restart, and, six minutes later, Ezekiel Brown had his second. Matthew Hornblow was the next to strike, after 54 minutes. Five minutes later, Headstone Manor made it 6-2, but Hendon regained their five-goal advantage two minutes later, Lamal Brown completing his hat-trick. In the 66th minute, Mabbutt scored the goal of the game, a 30-yard screamer and, four minutes after that, Carl Ciagoro joined the party. The last word belonged to man of the match, Lamal Brown, who made it a personal four-timer with almost the last kick of the match.
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Sunday 29 October - Hendon 6 St Josephs 0
Hendon Under-16s continued their excellent Harrow Youth League form with a 6–0 defeat of St Joseph's on Sunday morning. From the moment Lamre Adebiyi gave Hendon the lead after nine minutes, the result was not in doubt. Cyril Wilson doubled the advantage after 12 minutes and Matthew Hornblow got his customary goal ten minutes before the interval. In the second half, Tom Ianello converted a penalty after barely 60 seconds and Ezekiel Brown scored after 45 minutes. With three minutes to go, Lamal Brown became the sixth different scorer and that was just about that. Joint-manager Graham Bourne was reasonably happy, although he did admit, "We played down to their level a bit. However, at this stage last season we had conceded 36 goals; this year it is only five and that is really pleasing. Once again we kept a clean sheet today. My joined men of the match were Tom Ianello and Omar Abdou."
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Sunday 22 October - Hendon 4 Kensington Dragons 0
Hendon Under-16s won their third consecutive game against a Kensington club, crushing the Dragons 4-0 after winning consecutive games against FC Kensington. The Harrow Youth League game at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday was decided in 16 first-half minutes, when all four goals were scored. Matthew Hornblow was first on the scoresheet, netting after 18 minutes. Three minutes later Lamal Brown got number two and, before the half-hour was up, Carl Ciagoro had added another. Six minutes before half-time Hornblow grabbed his second to complete the scoring. "They're the best side we've met this season," said joint-manager Graham Bourne. "We made a number of changes at half-time with a view to holding onto the win and we did that comfortably. I am delighted with the performance. My man of the match was Charlie Benson, who was outstanding in midfield."
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Sunday 15 October - Hendon 8 FC Kensington 1
Hendon Under-16s complete a quickfire Harrow Youth League double at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday morning with an easy victory over a very physical FC Kensington. It took a while for Hendon to make the breakthrough, but it came from Ezekiel Brown after 20 minutes. Three minutes later Ezekiel Brown had his second of the game, but that was the end of Hendon's joy in the first half. Immediately after the restart, FC Kensington pulled back a goal, but that was the signal for Hendon to step up a gear because they scored four times in eight minutes. Lamel Brown got things started and further goals followed from Carl Ciagoro, Will Mabbutt and Michael Roache. With ten minutes left, sub Lamel BROWN got his second and, in the final minute, Ezekiel Brown completed the scoring with his hat-trick. FC Kensington’s physical play had got them into trouble as two players were cautioned and one was dismissed. "We didn’t play particularly well today," said joint manager Graham Bourne, "but we kept our discipline and eventually won very easily. Ezekiel Brown was my man of the match."
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Sunday 15 October - FC Kensington 0 Hendon 8
Hendon Under-16s were far from their fluid best, but were still too strong for newcomers FC Kensington on Sunday morning. They could not have made a better start, opening the scoring through Triston Thomas after 32 seconds. It took until the 22nd minute for the lead to be doubled, Will Mabbutt the player on target. Minutes either side of half-time saw both teams miss a penalty, Kensington failing to hit the target before the whistle, Thomas Ianello having his effort saved after the break. But Carl Ciagoro did get number three after 45 minutes, after which the floodgates opened. Mabbutt got his second after 50 minutes, followed by Matthew Hornblow's customary strike. Ciagoro made it 6-0 with his second after 62 minutes and went on to complete a hat-trick three minutes later. In the dying seconds, Michael Roache added number eight. "We were very sloppy in the first half," said joint manager Graham Bourne, "but we were better in the second half. We must be more clinical in our approach. My man of the match was David Paice, who was making his first start of the season and he was very solid at centre-half."
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Sunday 01 October - Hendon 12 Harlington 2
Hendon Under-16s followed up their big victory at Harlington last Sunday with an even more comprehensive win at Copthall Playing Fields this Sunday morning. They ran out winners 12-2, a result that could have been even more emphatic had the youngsters not struck either the crossbar or post seven times. Man of the match was Lemal Brown, who bagged six goals, with the others coming from Carl Ciagoro and Matthew Hornblow, both with two, and one each from Thomas Triston and Ezekiel Brown. Joint manager Graham Bourne said, "I am really pleased we didn’t let up after last week. Our attitude was spot on today."
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Sunday 24 September - Harlington 2 Hendon 6
Hendon Under-16s showed just how much they have improved over the past 12 months as they recorded a 6-2 victory at Harlington, a venue they visited last season and came away from on the wrong end of an 8-1 scoreline. Things didn't start well for Hendon as Harlington scored first, after 13 minutes. But Hendon hit back with three goals in ten minutes to take control of the game. In the 20th minute Carl Ciagoro marked his seasonal reappearance with the opener and this goal was followed, three minutes later, by one from the prolific Matthew Hornblow. On the half-hour, Hornblow added his second and Hendon went into the break in a strong position. Hornblow completed his hat-trick after 48 minutes and even the conversion of a rather dubious penalty by Harlington after 55 minutes didn't slow down the team. Five minutes later, Ciagoro grabbed his second and, with five minutes to go Hendon rounded off the scoring with a sixth, from Michael Roache. Joint manager Graham Bourne said, "Last season they beat us 8-1 here and made some rather unpleasant comments about us, so it was a little bit of justice today. My man of the match was Carl Ciagoro, who was superb in his first game of the season."
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Sunday 17 September - Pinnacle 6 Hendon 1
Hendon Under-16s were given a bit of a football lesson by Pinnacle on Sunday morning. But with a little bit of luck and some better finishing, although they were outplayed, Hendon might just have sneaked something. Three goals in the opening 20 minutes was a disastrous start for Hendon, but they did come back into the game after half an hour when Lamal Brown scored to make it 3-1. Crucially, Pinnacle got a fourth goal with almost the last kick of the first half. Maybe that is why they were forced back onto the defensive so much in the first 20 minutes of the second period. Hendon hit the bar a couple of times, had a couple cleared off the line and generally did everything but score. They also were reduced to ten men in the final quarter when, minutes after making their final substitution, skipper Will Mabbutt limped off. With Hendon committed to all-out attack, Pinnacle hit on the break, scoring twice in the final five minutes. Joint manager Graham Bourne said, "The better team won, there’s no denying that. But we really pegged them back for much of the second half, until we were reduced to ten men at the end of the game and they hit us on the break. My man of the match was Omar Abdou."
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Sunday 10 September - Northolt Rangers 0 Hendon 11
Hendon Under-16s took little time to stamp their class on their opening fixture of the new Harrow League season. Travelling to Northolt Rangers, the shooting boots were strapped on from the very start. Matthew Hornblow got things started in some style. Hornblow scored all of the first four goals. John Skelly was next in on the act. Skelly scored numbers five and six, before Will Mabbutt chipped in with a seventh. Before half-time, Skelly completed his hat-trick and Hussein Ali made in 9-0 at the break. In the second half, Michael Roach netted number ten and the rout was completed by Lamal Brown. There was still more than a quarter of the match to be played at this stage, but Hendon eased off. "We were determined to keep a clean sheet today," said happy joint manager Graeme Bourne. "We achieved that, having completely dominated all game long. My man of the match was full-back Tom Ianello."
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