FULL-TIME: Hendon 2 Tooting & Mitcham 3
First published Tuesday 22 April 2008 in News by Paul Wreyford

Below-par Hendon lost their second cup final of the season at Imber Court this evening.The Greens, who suffered Middlesex Senior Cup heartbreak over Easter, were again second best in the London Senior Cup against a spirited Tooting side. Gary McCann's troops can have few complaints. Tooting were the better side and wanted it more. However, Hendon almost forced extra time, the Greens hitting the post in stoppage time. But that would have been tough on the Terrors, who fully deserved their win against higher-league opponents.Tooting had the first chance of the game, Jon Henry-Haden firing just wide from the edge of the box after two minutes. The Ryman League Division One South outfit started the better, with Allan McLeod also just off target with a volley, the ball teed up nicely for him.Hendon's first shot came from Lubomir Guentchev, but it was a speculative effort from distance and well wide.Tooting's bright start was rewarded on 12 minutes. The ball was lofted into the box where Oliver Hunt headed down. Keeper Richard Wilmot pushed the ball out, but only into the path of Henry-Haden who bundled it home from close range. On 21 minutes, Hendon were awarded a free-kick in a good position, but Marc Leach's effort was well over. The Greens were struggling to get going, Tooting looking the livelier of the two teams.But, on 24 minutes, Hendon were level, Belal Aiteouakrim laying the ball out to Danny Dyer who hit it low into the far corner, ex-Hendon keeper Dave King rooted to the spot.Within two minutes, Henry-Haden was freed and he drilled the ball past Wilmot to restore the lead.The Greens were at least now starting to make a game of it and they almost equalised again soon after, Davis Haule hitting the side netting from a tight angle after brother Brian had challenged King at the near post.

Hendon continued to struggle to stamp their authority on the game and Henry-Haden might have sealed his hat-trick if he had kept a header down two minutes before the interval.On 36 minutes, McLeod fired a first-time volley just wide, the Terrors looking to extend their lead before the break.There was a chance for Jack Page in first-half stoppage time, but his shot was almost a pass to King, summing up a disappointing 45 minutes for Gary McCann's troops.Hendon had the first opening of the second half. Guentchev's corner fell at the feet of Davis Haule, but the ball got stuck between his feet and he was unable to get a shot in, the Tooting defenders quickly surrounding him.At the other end, Wilmot had to be alert to deny Henry-Haden again. The Greens' task became even tougher on 55 minutes, when Henry-Haden crossed for Paul Vines at the far post. He beat Wilmot to the ball to head home number three.On the hour, Guentchev was unlucky with a header, King tipping over his effort, as Hendon looked for a way back.Vines was put through for Tooting midway through the half, but he shot straight at Wilmot after bringing the ball on to his favoured left foot.The Greens seemed incapable of raising their game, the Terrors still looking the hungrier, and not content to sit on their two-goal advantage.A Jack Page free kick went straight to King on 74 minutes, before the Greens were handed a lifeline with eight minutes to go, King bringing down Lubomir Guentchev as the Hendon player tried to round him.Brian Haule stepped up to tuck the penalty in the corner, the ball grazing the post on its way in.King then fumbled a James Parker header from a corner, as things started to get tense, the Greens pushing forward in search of an equaliser.But Tooting almost sealed it in the final minute of normal time, Vines heading across the face of the goal.Deep into stoppage time, a Hendon corner fell to Rakatahr Hudson and his volley struck the post, much to the relief of the Tooting faithful.

HENDON: Wilmot, Parker, Burgess, Leach, S Page (Hudell 66), Dyer (Hudson 66), L Guentchev, D Haule (I Guentchev 70), B Haule, Aiteouakrim, J Page. Subs not used: Blackmore, Hyatt.

Last edited by endofthelane (07/5/2015 2:15 pm)