Under 13s News, 2008/2009

Sunday 21 December - Hendon 3 Pinner United 8

Hendon Under-13s were on the wrong end of another lopsided scoreline, but, again, they were much better than the 8-3 defeat they suffered at the hands of Pinner United in the Harrow Youth League at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday morning. A number of good chances came Hendon's way in the early going but they weren't taken and by the time Thomas Kingsley did score, the Greens were already one goal down. Two goals in quick succession for Pinner just before the break meant that Hendon had a mountain to climb to get back into the match. Things didn't improve after the restart and although Kayode Smith did pull a goal back, Pinner had already added to their lead. Smith did score again near the end, but this was little more than a consolation. "They put their hearts into it," said manager Leo Gerald, "and they worked really hard. Unfortunately we missed a number of chances and they made us pay for it. My man of the match was Shakaine Dwyer, who played really well."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 07 December - Pinner United 5 Hendon 2

Hendon Under-13s are getting ever closer that elusive first win and they had a great chance to achieve it against Pinner United in the Harrow Youth League on Sunday morning. A 30-yard screamer from Ademola Alese gave them the lead and they went into half-time with that advantage, but having missed a number of excellent opportunities. Pinner United did equalise early in the second half, but this time there was no dropping of heads. Instead Hendon redoubled their efforts and regained the lead with a goal from Shakaine Dwyer. But the missed chances came back to haunt them as four goals from Pinner eventually made all the difference. "We completely dominated the first half," admitted manager Leo Gerald, "but we didn't take our chances. And it was the same in the second half. They showed us how important it was to take chances. My man of the match was goalkeeper Jack Dawson; he made some great saves."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 30 November - Hendon 2 Greenford Celtic 12

Hendon Under-13s suffered a disappointing defeat in the Harrow Youth League Under-13s Division Two at home to Greenford Celtic's B squad, going down 12-2 at Copthall Playing Fields. Greenford relished the conditions and were already three goals to the good when Ademola Alese scored Hendon's first after ten minutes. Improving as the half went on, Hendon conceded only two more goals before the interval. However, the second half was a different and Devron Martin's goal after 60 minutes was a rare moment of success in a period when Hendon let in nine more goals. "The players hated the weather and the conditions," said manager Leo Gerald. "They had beaten themselves even before they kicked off, but they did try their hardest. My man of the match was Jack Dawson, who worked hardest of all."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 23 November - Hendon 7 Lyndhurst 8

Hendon Under-13s came so close to winning their first ever game, but eventually lost 8-7 at home to Lyndhurst in the Harrow Youth League on Sunday morning. In horrible conditions, Ademola Alese scored a hat-trick, Noah Yosief got 2 and there were other goals from Adam Chowdury and Hoti Daors. "We didn't take our chances today," said manager Leo Gerald. "We had 17 chances to their ten. My man of the match was Ademola Alese."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 16 November - Northolt Eagles 9 Hendon 6

Hendon Under-13s produced far and away their best performance of the season against Northolt Eagles, leading at half-time, but they still came out on the wrong end of a 15-goal thriller in the Harrow Youth League Division Two on Sunday afternoon. The Eagles took the lead, before Hendon equalised through Ademola Olalese. Parity didn�t last long as the hosts regained their advantage and then added to it, but Hendon hit back brilliantly and not only equalised, but also took the lead before the break, Olalese, Shakaine Dwyer and Adam Chowdhury scoring. The game turned early in the second half as Northolt scored three times without reply to take another two-goal lead. Ardnur Bequiri reduced the arrears to make it 6-5 and it was definitely game on. However, two more goals for the Eagles meant that when Olalese completed his hat-trick, Hendon still trailed by two goals, and Northolt added another just before full-time to complete the 9-6 scoreline. "This was our best performance yet," said manager Leo Gerald. "For the first time the players did as we talked about and the played out of their socks. My man of the match was the hat-trick hero Ademola Olalese."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 09 November - Hendon 1 Hampstead B 7

Hendon Under-13s were undone as much by a heavy pitch as they were by Hampstead's B squad. Trailing 4-0 at the interval, Hendon finally got a goal with ten minutes of the match remaining, Ademola Olalese scoring. Manager Leo Gerald said, "It was an average performance, but the conditions really affected us. It was very muddy and it stuck to our players boots, making it very difficult for them. Our passing wasn't very crisp, also because of the mud. My man of the match was our goalkeeper Jack Dawson."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 26 October - St Josephs B 13 Hendon 1

Hendon Under-13s' difficult start to the season continues after they suffered another heavy loss in the Harrow Youth Football League Division Two on Sunday morning. St Joseph's, who have been together as a squad for significantly longer than Hendon were already six goals to the good when the Greens pulled one back courtesy of Ademola Alese five minutes before half-time. In the second half the beat went on and St Joe's added a further seven goals to run out 13-1 winners. Manager Leo Gerald said, "We are learning, but it is very tough. My man of the match was goalkeeper Jack Dawson who had an excellent game."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 12 October - Hendon 2 Acton Ealing Whistlers A 12

Hendon Under-13s went out of the Harrow Youth League Cup against Acton Ealing Whistlers' A squad at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday and there was no disgrace about falling to a team from Division One, a level higher than the inexperienced Greens. And there were real signs of encouragement after they lost the second half, with a new formation, 3-2, having trailed 9-0 at the interval. Aaron Kwaceng scored Hendon's first after 50 minutes and, ten minutes later Ademola Alese got the second. AEW only scored their third of the half in the final minute. "In the first half we weren't in it," was the frank assessment of Leo Gerald, the Under-13s' manager. "But we changed things around for the second half, put in a different formation and something clicked. We suddenly looked like a team and played really well. My man of the match was Noah Yosies."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 28 September - Hendon 1 Forest United 6

Hendon Under-13s continue to receive harsh lessons in the Harrow Youth Football League as they lost their Division Two clash against Forest United 6-1 at Copthall Playing Fields. A goal down at half-time, things went from bad to worse as defensive lapses kept being punished. Hendon's only goal came from Ademola Alese. "It was a very tough lesson," said manager Leo Gerald.

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 14 September - Hampstead B 11 Hendon 2

The under-13s were given a rude awakening to the task ahead in their first competitive game together.

Posted at 19:00