HENDON 1 HORNCHURCH 2
There is something about the Isthmian League in March – no home matches for a start. But you go to Wealdstone and end up at Ruislip, got to Maidstone and end up at Sittingbourne, go to Hendon on a Saturday and end up at Brent Cross, go the next day and end up at Wembley. When you get to the Vale Farm complex, you find a large car park and a completely locked ground to the rear. Amble around the complex, head back to the main road, follow a sign that reads Vale Farm Nursery, and suddenly you are confronted with a sign that says Wembley FC , and in you go. Could someone put some proper signs up please?

No Elliot, no Kris, both out injured. Mark Goodfellow and Frankie Curley came back into the starting line up. No tannoy either. Despite there being a match at Wembley yesterday the pitch was in very good condition, and when Hendon moved to Wembley they left their slope behind at Claremont Road – along with most of their supporters, who were heavily outnumbered by followers of the real HFC, plus quite a lot of groundhoppers, (people who go to a ground once only and then spend half the time looking at railway and bus timetables, and the rest of the time talking about where they were last week.) And of course Peter Butcher was there. The away section of the directors’ box was markedly different, and the word AWAY had been put on back to front and read YAWA. Peter Butcher assures us that it does not stand for the Young Asian Womens Association.

Hendon began well, kicking what would have been down the slope had it been at Claremont Road, and Jim McFarlane had to clear a dangerous looking cross by Collins in the first few seconds, which was followed by an exchange of passes between Hunt and Collins, which Donny Barnard broke up. A good pass by Frank Curley went nowhere as the flag went up for offside, and a Mark Goodfellow ball almost put Simon Parker through, Simon made ground on the right and crossed, and keeper Viner cleared upfield. The ball waas promptly won by Dean Green, who played it though to SIMON PARKER, who beat Viner to the ball and Urchins were one up after nine minutes. Simon opened up the defence three minutes later with a good run, which won a corner, and Viner held Tomlinson’s swerving kick. Viner, in good form, saved from Mark Janney, before Hendon began to press forward again.

Darren Behcet did well to hold a deep cross from the right by Dean, the ball dipping dangerously towards the far post, John Purdie headed away a Dean free kick, and a long pass from Vargas found Hunt, who turned sharply and hit the ball inches wide of the post. Billy Coyne came to the rescue when a swerving left wing cross appeared to be heading into the goal and from the corner McFarlane hammered the ball away.

Urchins then came forward, Coyne to Parker, a jinking run past two defenders and a shot which Viner turned out for a corner. Viner caught Tomlinson’s corner, but Barnard intercepted the clearance, raced down the right, but put his centre too far forward and it dropped behind the goal. Hendon surged back, and Behcet mistimed his catch when Collins floated a corner over, the ball bobbing away to the left where it was returned into the goalmouth, and Kirby’s header was goalbound until Behcet dived across to save at full stretch, for another corner, which Dean took and put the ball behind the goal for a goal kick. Urchins could have scored in the last minute of the first half when Goodfellow found Green, who slotted the ball through to Simon Parker. Simon ran in towards goal and although his shot beat Viner, the ball skimmed wide of the far post.

Second half and the sun is shining, but Hendon start strongly and win a corner. MacLaren floated the ball across, the ball was part cleared by Curley and returned to Collins, who hit his shot wide. Five minutes into the second half, and BILLY COYNE made ground on the left, looked up, and then pumped the ball deep into a packed goalmouth, where both Parker and Green were waiting, as were James Parker and MARK KIRBY, whose attempt at keeping the ball out only helped it into the net. Hendon continued to come forward, Collins saw his shot bobble wide, and at the other end Dean Green almost found the net, only for Viner to save at his feet. Collins again went close, with a shot from the edge of the area, and Urchins looked dangerous when Curley found Parker, who send Barnard away, before Vargas cleared. Hendon brought on two substitutes, and within seconds had pulled a goal back when BRIAN HAULE finished off what was becoming something of a goalmouth scramble after a free kick had not been cleared properly. Hendon went close when Hunt ran through, and Behcet saved and it was Behcet again, saving well from Busby. Michael Spencer came on, with Billy Coyne moving over to the right side, and Ross Wall replaced Simon Parker up front. Behcet dealt with another corner, and Dean Green neatly slid a pass out to Mark Janney, and ran through and saw his goalbound shot blocked by a defender. Tomlinson then combined with Ross Wall , and Ross did well to take the ball around two defenders, and his shot was turned around the post by Viner. Janney took the corner but the ball was cleared comfortably. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, a Hendon player (anonymity respected to save acute embarrassment) headed high over an open goal and in the final final minute, keeper Viner came up for a corner, which Darren Behcet promptly caught, but could not get the required power and direction to pump it back towards the totally empty Hendon goal.