Match Report

Wingate & Finchley
1
Hendon
1
Date:
Monday 28 March 2016
Competition:
Isthmian League Premier Division
Attendance:
340
Venue:
TBA

Match Report

Hendon's unbeaten run reached double figures in games when they held Wingate & Finchley to a 1–1 at the Harry Abrahams Stadium on Easter Monday.

Sam Murphy and Brandon Adams came into the Hendon starting line-up, with Addison Garnett and Maz Bettache dropping to the bench. They were joined by the other replacments Ben Pattie, Oliver Achille and Charlie Kuehn.

With the Greens all but safe from the spectre of relegation and the Blues rather out of the playoff picture, this game could have been a tired, end-of-season, fairly meaningless contest. But, being a local derby, there is always a little more at stake and even if the quality of football was not the greatest, there was still a contest to be won.

Wingate & Finchley took the lead within 40 seconds of the kick-off. From a Leon Fisher's corner, the ball arrived to Billy Healey at the far post, and he made no mistake from close range.

With Hendon rocking, Rob Laney then had his overhead kick blocked by Dave Diedhiou inside the area, after a great cross from Alex Addai.

Wingate used their wing presence extremely well, and Fisher fed a lovely pass into the path of Alfie Bartram, who had his dangerous near post cross looking for Healey just cut out by Luke Tingey.

Karl Oliyide, on the other flank, drifted past Oliver Sprague before his cross looking for Healey was also cut out - this time by Diedhiou. Oliyide again caused more problems out on the right, before his cross was headed away but only as far as Bartram, who arrowed his effort just wide.

Hendon themselves had a great chance of drawing level inside 20 minutes. Sam Murphy's floated cross evaded everyone inside the area, except for Sam Flegg, who headed inches past the post.

However, with 21 minutes on the clock, it was level. Murphy's corner arrived at the head of Diedhiou who powered his effort into the back of the net, leaving the Wingate defence frustrated.

Soon after, an intelligent quick taken free-kick from Fisher played Oliyide away who attempted to find Healey, though Sprague again made a vital clearance.

Just before half-time, two great chances fell for either side. First, Brandon Adams forced a close range save from Charlie Crowley inside the area. At the other end, Addai powered his way past Sprague, prior to finding Laney at the near post, but he dallied and the danger was cleared.

Soon after half-time, Joe Foley made a tantalising run through the centre though could only place his attempt over the bar. Addai then fed a pass into Mark Goodman, who cut inside before unleashing a strike which sailed over Joe Wright's right hand post.

Addai again floated in a superb deep ball to the far post which found Oliyide who got his head to the ball, but lacked the power as it came easily to Wright. Minutes later, the hosts almost took the lead. Fisher drove through the middle before playing a cutting pass into Rob Laney, who also placed his effort inches past the post.

Intricate passing between Read, Addai and Fisher saw the latter play the former in on goal, who just couldn't get enough power behind his effort from six yards.

Hendon then came close to snatching all three points. With the game drawing to a close, Goodman did well to track Ben Pattie all the way, before getting a vital touch to clear the danger.

From clearance, Goodman was again the hero. Following that clearance, stayed with Brandon Adams, before making a last ditch header at the far post to deny the forward.

A double chance arrived in injury time. Oliyide played a pass to Read who floated into the box, as his close-range effort was blocked. Then Goodman, on the follow-up, fired over from long-range.

Report by Khalid Karimullah & David Ballheimer

Hendon

1
Joe Wright
2
Luke Tingey
3
Oliver Sprague
4
Dave Diedhiou
5
Sam Flegg
6
Sam Murphy
7
Carl McCluskey
8
Keagan Cole
9
Kezie Ibe
10
Brandon Adams
11
Tony Taggart
12
Addison Garnett
13
Mahrez Bettache
14
Charlie Kuehn
15
Ben Pattie
16
Oliver Achille

Match Events

Billy Healey
1''
21''
Dave Diedhiou
Joe Foley replaced Alfie Bartram
45''
46''
Mahrez Bettache replaced Tony Taggart
Jack Read replaced Rob Laney
67''
76''
Addison Garnett replaced Oliver Sprague
80''
Ben Pattie replaced Keagan Cole

Wingate & Finchley

1
Charlie Crowley
2
Mark Goodman
3
Tommy Cummings
4
Ahmet Rifat
5
Marc Weatherstone
6
Leon Fisher
7
Alex Addai
8
Alfie Bartram
9
Billy Healey
10
Rob Laney
11
Karl Oliyide
12
Jack Read
14
Karl Stevenson
15
Joe Foley
16
Joe Sharpe