Under 14s News, 2007/2008

Sunday 13 April - Hendon 2 Charville Athletic 3

Hendon Under-14s will not qualify for the knock-out stages of the Harrow Youth League Supplementary Cup after they went down 3-2 at home to Charville Athletic at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday morning. Hendon did take the lead after 15 minutes, Abdul Nazim heading home after Ruben Pinto had knocked the ball goalwards. But Hendon couldn't hold onto their lead were pegged back after 29 minutes. Four minutes into the second half, Charville took the lead, and they stretched that advantage with a third goal after 52 minutes. With eight minutes remaining, Hendon cut the deficit to a single goal when Luke Azumah scored, but the young Greens could not find an equaliser. "We had only nine men today," said manager Ben Schiffer-Harte. "We battled hard but could not get an equaliser. My man of the match was Max Douglas-Knight."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 09 March - Greenford Celtic A 6 Hendon 2

Hendon Under-14s problems with player availability continued, but those that were available did well to hold Greenford Celtic A to a 6-2 win in the Supplementary Cup Group stage. Both goals came from Abdul Nazim, one a superb lob after four minutes of the second half.

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 17 February - Hendon 2 LNER 12

Hendon Under-14s faced a sudden problem with player unavailability and took to the field against LNER Under-14s with just eight players. In the first half, they battled magnificently, falling behind after 15 minutes, but drawing level through Luke Azumah on 23. A minute later LNER regained the initiative, but it lasted just 60 seconds. This time it was Abdul Nazim who got his name on the scoresheet. It might have been very different if Hendon had been able to hold to parity until half-time, but it was not to be as LNER grabbed a third goal in the final minute of the half. After the interval, Hendon rather fell apart and conceded goals after 38, 39, 50, 52, 59, 61, 63, 65 and 67 minutes for a very heavy defeat. "I don't know what to say," said a very despondent manager Ben Schiffer-Harte. "We didn't do as we talked about and didn't try to play the way I suggested. The one exception was my man of the match, Luke Azumah, who was the only player who was focused."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 10 February - Hendon 6 Ruislip Town 4

Hendon Under-14s produced a quite remarkable comeback to down Ruislip Town in this Harrow Youth League Division Three fixture at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday morning. Comfortably in mid-table with two games left to play, Hendon could have thrown in the towel when they trailed by three goals with 30 minutes remaining. Instead they scored five teams to register a magnificent victory. Even more unusual was the fact that six different players got on the scoresheet. It had all started so well as Luke Azumah gave Hendon a tenth-minute lead. Ten minutes later, Ruislip Town were level and after a further five minutes they took the lead. Ruislip stretched their lead with two goals in five minutes early in the second half. After 50 minutes, the fightback started with Abdul Nazim scoring. Three minutes later, Reuben Pinto scored his first goal for the club and, a minute later, Raj Singh levelled the scores. It set up a frantic final 15 or so minutes, but it was Hendon who proved stronger, regaining the lead through Jordan Hornblow on the hour mark. With two minutes left, Kazim Eiwazali ensured the points were Hendon's with the sixth of the morning. "We battled well and fought back superbly," said manager Ben Schiffer-Harte. Even at 4-1 down I had confidence in my team. My man of the match was Abdul Nazim. Not only did he get the goal that started the comeback, but he played well all over the field."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 27 January - LNER 5 Hendon 1

Hendon Under-14s knew they were in for a tough morning against the leaders of their Harrow Youth League division, but they gave them a real game with only two goals in the last seven minutes giving the result its lopsided look. LNER raced into a 2-0 half-time lead, but Hendon fought back at the start of the second period. Luke Azumah scored and LNER became distinctly uncomfortable for the next ten minutes. However, when LNER made it 3-1 after 49 minutes, they began to breathe more easily and they ran away with the game, adding two further goals in the final seven minutes. "We battled very hard against the league leaders today, said manager Ben Schiffer-Harte. "They are a strong team throughout their line-up, but we never gave up. My man of the match today was Jordan Hornblow. He was everywhere helping out."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 06 January - Actual Soccer 10 Hendon 1

A disastrous lunchtime match for Hendon’s Under-14s at Actual Soccer ended in a 10–1 defeat in the Harrow Youth League. The match was decided in the opening half as Actual Soccer struck six times. Luke Azumha pulled a goal pack five minutes after the restart but Actual Soccer responded with four further goals to complete the rout. "We had only the bare 11 players because of holidays and a couple of no-shows this morning," said manager Ben Schiffer-Harte, "so we were struggling from the beginning. My man of the match was Mohammad Khan; he kept his chin up, switched positions and did his best throughout."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 16 December - Hendon 6 Hayes Gate 4

Hendon Under-14s completed their pre-Christmas schedule with a stunning victory over Hayes Gate in the Harrow Youth League at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday morning. There was no hint of the drama to come in the first half as Hendon more or less had their way with Hayes Gate, running in three goals without reply. Luke Azumah got things started in the first minute and Kazem Eiwazali grabbed a quick brace after 19 and 27 minutes. There was no further scoring in the first half after Eiwazali's second, but Hayes Gate wiped out the deficit in 11 minutes of the second half, scoring after 40, 43 and 51 minutes. Oliver Lattuca restored Hendon's lead after 53 minutes, but was injured and had to go to hospital after a collision with a defender in the act of scoring. Ten minutes later, Hayes Gate equalised again, but Hendon didn’t give up and went in chase of another lead. They got it with just three minutes to go, Eiwazali completing his hat-trick. And, just to make sure, Hendon added a sixth goal in the final seconds, Jordan Hornblow finding the target. "It was a really tense game in the second half, but we found a way to win," said manager Ben Schiffer-Harte. My man of the match was Max Dougan-Knight, who did helped us out by playing at right back and he had a really good game."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 09 December - Hendon 3 Pitshanger B 3

Hendon Under-14s came from a goal behind at half-time to lead early in the second half, but they were pegged back in the last minute to share the spoils with Pitshanger's B squad at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday morning. Hendon trailed to a goal after 27 minutes, but two minutes later, Oisín McGettigan let fly with a 30-yard special that flew into the net. Pitshanger restored their lead three minutes before half-time and turned around with that narrow advantage. It didn't last long. With the wind and rain at their backs, Hendon scored twice in the opening three minutes to take the lead. First Kazim Eiwazali scored with a magnificent 30-yard lob, then Luke Azumah made it 3-2. It looked like it would be enough to take all three points until the final minute when a shot stuck in the mud and before a Hendon player could clear, a Pitshanger player bundled the ball over the goalline. "If ever there was a game of two halves," said manager Ben Schiffer-Harte, "this was it. We did very well to come back, but I am disappointed we couldn’t hang on for the victory."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 25 November - Hendon 1 Actual Soccer 4

Hendon Under-14s slipped to another defeat, this time in the Harrow Youth League at Copthall Playing fields. They trailed to a goal after six minutes, but were level in the 11th minute, when Wes Azumah was on target. Hendon battled hard against the team third in the division and looked as if they might even hang on for a point. But it was not to be as, seven minutes from full-time, Actual Soccer made it 2-1. Chasing the game, Hendon left holes in their defence and Actual Soccer took full toll scoring twice in the final three minutes to give a totally unfair reflection to the final score. "We battled very hard today, but came up just short," said manager Ben Schiffer-Harte. "I thought we might just have got a draw, but once they regained the lead, we went for an equaliser and they made us pay. My man of the match was Jordan Hornblow. He played really well today."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 11 November - Pitshanger B 1 Hendon 2

Hendon Under-14s bounced back from the shock of conceding a goal in the opening four minutes to run out narrow 2-1 winners in this Harrow Youth League match on Sunday afternoon. The Greens equaliser came just three minutes after the start of the second half and it came from Mohammed Khan. The game was then even for the next 20-odd minutes, but it was Hendon who made the decisive strike with eight minutes left on the clock. Henry Donaghey scored the decisive goal to give Hendon their second win of the season. "I am delighted with the win," said manager Ben Schiffer-Harte. "We had to battle back and did so very well. My man of the match was Oisin McGettian, who has only just started playing for us. He made some valuable contributions from full-back."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 04 November - Hendon 2 Haringey Borough 7

Hendon Under-14s, due to a mixture of illness, injuries and absenteeism, were forced to take the field with only nine players against Haringey Borough at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday morning. They battled really hard and kept the score down in the first half, Michael Acheampong scoring to make it 2-1. In the second half, however, they ran out of steam and conceded five more goals Jordan Hornblow netted a late consolation to make the final score 7-2. "The boys who played deserve lots of credit for the way that they battled. In the end they simply couldn’t cope with extra men they had and when we tired they hit us. All the players deserve the man of the match award," said assistant manager Nick McMullen.

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 28 October - Hendon 4 Headstone Manor B 6

Hendon Under-14s suffered the disappointment of being surprise Harrow Youth League Cup losers against Headstone Manor’s "B" squad on Sunday morning. Hendon took the lead after just two minutes through Oliver Lattuca, but four goals in 13 minutes left the Greens with a mountain to climb. Kazem Eiwazali reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time and, two minutes after the restart, Eiwazali scored again, this time from the penalty spot to make it 4-3. Unfortunately for Hendon a fifth goal came for Headstone Manor before Luke Azumah snatched a fourth for the home team. And, with ten minutes, remaining, Headstone Manor made sure of their victory by adding a sixth goal. "We are disappointed to lose," said manager Ben Schiffer-Harte, "especially after fighting back from 4-1 down. But we couldn’t quite get back on level terms and their last goal was too much for us. My man of the match was Ignacio Esquerro, who has come on an awful lot in the last few weeks."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 21 October - Hendon 3 Parkfield 5

Hendon Under-14s - ripped apart by unavailability over half-term - more than held their own against Parkfield before slipping out of the Middlesex Youth Cup at Copthall on Sunday morning. The ten men took the lead after 23 minutes when Rajinder Singh found the target. Seven minutes later Singh was on target again and Hendon began to entertain thoughts of a famous victory, but they were undone by five goals in 20 minutes, the first coming just before he break. In the second half Parkfield ran away the match, scoring after 37, 43, 49 and 58 minutes. Kazem Eiwazali did pull a goal back after 62 minutes, but it was too little too late. "We couldn’t overcome being a man short for the full 70 minutes," said manager Ben Schiffer-Harte, "but we were ahead or level for almost two-thirds of the match. My man of the match was Ravinder Singh, who led the line very well."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 14 October - Wealdstone 2 Hendon 1

Hendon Under-14s were very unlucky not to collect at least a point from their Harrow Youth League fixture against Wealdstone on Sunday morning. Luke Azumah gave Hendon the perfect start, scoring after just ten minutes and Hendon were comfortable as they reached the break holding that advantage. Wealdstone, however, equalised after 50 minutes and it looked as if the game was going to end all-square. Then, in the last minute of normal time, a ball was played into the Hendon penalty area. The assistant referee waved for offside; his flag was spotted by the referee, who loudly shouted, "Play on," only for a Hendon defender to pick up the ball and place it on the ground for a free-kick. The match official had little alternative but to award a penalty which was duly converted. A shocked Hendon manager Ben Schiffer-Harte was philosophical after the game, saying, "The referee had no alternative but to award the penalty. Everyone heard the call of 'play on'. My man of the match was goalkeeper Charlie Osborne who was brilliant and made a number of excellent saves."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 07 October - Princes Park B 4 Hendon 5

Hendon Under-14s enjoyed this age-group's first ever victory in a Cup competition as they survived a late rally to overcome Princes Park B on Sunday lunchtime. Both teams enjoyed three-minute leads in the first half, Kyode Smith giving Hendon a lead which lasted three minutes until a defensive error resulted in an own goal. After 15 minutes Princes Park took the lead, but this goal was cancelled out by Smith's second score of the match. Hendon regained the lead 15 minutes into the second half with a goal from Ravinder Singh, and this time they made sure of victory by adding further tallies by Kazem Eiwazali, after 60 minutes, and Michael Acheampong, two minutes later. However, there was a nasty twist to this tale as Park hit back with two late goals to make it 5-4 and, in the dying seconds, they hit the woodwork too. "I am so pleased we have finally won a cup-tie," said manager Ben Schiffer-Harte. “We had to work very hard for it and then had to do some desperate defending. My man of the match was Abdul Nazim."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 30 September - Hayes Gate 5 Hendon 4

Hendon Under-14s left themselves just too much to do against Hayes Gate in the Harrow Youth League and ended up losing by the odd goal in nine on Sunday morning. It was Hendon who opened the scoring, after 25 minutes, through Luke Azumah, but Hayes Gate finished the first half very strongly, equalising after 28 minutes and taking the lead a minute before the interval. Two minutes after the restart Hayes extended their lead, only for Azumah to score his second a couple of minutes after that. However, Hayes Gate scored the next two goals, after 46 and 63 minutes. Kazem Eiwazali made it 5-3 with five minutes to go, setting up a grandstand finish and although Eiwazali grabbed his second goal, there were only seconds remaining when he did so and Hayes Gate hung on. "We couldn't quite come back today," said manager Ben Schiffer-Harte. "My man of the match was Kazem Eiwazali. He never stopped working and trying to get the most of out the team."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 23 September - Hendon 4 Wealdstone 3

Hendon Under-14s, much closer to full-strength, were too good for Wealdstone in a typically tough and competitive Harrow Youth League derby game. Kazim Eiwazali opened the scoring after four minutes, but Wealdstone hit back and drew level after 21 minutes. Five minutes later, they took the lead, but it didn't last long as Jordan Hornblow struck an equaliser for Hendon less than 60 seconds later. Two minutes into the second half, Hendon regained the lead, Oliver Lattuca scoring his first goal for the club. Midway through the period, Hendon won a penalty, which Eiwazali converted to give the Greens a two-goal advantage. It didn't last long because, after 62 minutes, Wealdstone reduced the arrears. This set up a frantic final few minutes, but the Hendon defence resolutely held out to take the victory. "We had to work hard for the win," said manager Ben Schiffer-Harte, "and it got a bit tight at the end. But I am pleased we were able to hang on. My man of the match was Mohammad Ahamed. He was excellent today."

Posted at 19:00

Sunday 16 September - Ruislip Rangers 6 Hendon 1

Hendon Under-14s went into their opening match of the season with only ten players as unavailability left them short-handed. The ten men worked their socks off and, in the first half at least, matched their opponents. After the break, however, it was a different matter and four goals in the space of eight minutes took the game away from Hendon. Ruislip Rangers scored after 39, 41, 45 and 47 minutes to lead 4-0. Kazem Mohsin pulled a goal back after 49 minutes and the game resumed its earlier, more even nature. However, as Hendon tired in the final ten minutes they conceded two more goals to lose 6–1. "The team showed a lot of grit and determination," said manager Ben Schiffer-Harte, "especially in the first half, but we couldn't keep it up. My man of the match was captain Kazem Mohsin. He was excellent."

Posted at 19:00