We apologise for the lack of coverage of the youth teams this season. We will endeavour to return to the full service again next season.

Hendon's under 16s had a disappointing morning as they went down 2-0 at Actual Soccer, a team they had beaten twice last season. The first goal came in the 16th minute when the Hendon defence failed to clear a corner, and just eight minutes later the lead was doubled following a second uncharacteristic lapse in defence. After that Hendon woke up and improved their performance and their best chance came in the 71st minute when they hit the post. Manager Mark Crawford spoke after the game and said "I'm very disappointed today, we defended badly in the first 25 minutes and were made to pay. However, all credit to our opponents, they were the better team on the day and deserved the win. It was probably our worst performance of the season."

Hendon Under-16s went out of the Middlesex Youth Cup on Sunday morning, going down 2-1, after extra time, against South Ruislip Rangers. The Hendon youngsters dominated the first half, but failed to take a number of chances. Early in the second period, Mo LIBAN scored with a magnificent chipped volley to give Hendon the lead. A defensive blunder, in the 73rd minute, resulted in a penalty for South Ruislip, which was duly converted. It set up extra time and, 5 minutes from the end of the first period, South Ruislip snatched the winning goal. "We have to look at ourselves today," admitted a very despondent manager Mark Crawford. "We should have won it in normal time, but we missed too many chances in the first half, then conceded a needless penalty. My man of the match, for the third straight week was Matthew PEART."

Hendon Under-16s continued their recent run of improved form with a 3-0 victory at the Watling Club on Sunday morning. Abdullah AKHAZZAN opened the scoring in the 21st minute and Hendon held the lead until the interval. Eleven minutes after the break, AKHAZZAN bagged his and Hendon's second and the result was put beyond doubt by John CONWAY, in the 63rd minute. "We scored three cracking goals today," said happy manager Mark Crawford. We played very well. Tactically, we got it right. If we keep this up, then we've got half a chance. My men of the match were Abdullah AKHAZZAN and Matthew PEART."

Hendon Under-16s completed a Harrow Youth League double over Hillingdon Borough with a 2-1 win at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday morning. With the weather at its worst, squally showers being particularly unpleasant, it was unsurprising that little of note happened in the first half. After the break, Hillingdon were desperately unlucky not to take the lead. In the 54th minute a long-range shot beat Siki Kabila. The ball struck one upright, ran along the goalline, hit the other post and bounced back into the field of play. Seven minutes later, Hendon took the lead when Matthew PEART got on the end of a corner and scrambled home the ball. In the 67th minute, another corner brought reward, this time PEART thumping a header into the net. With 12 minutes to go, Hillingdon did score, but the Hendon defence held out. "It was a very scrappy game," admitted manager Mark Crawford, "but the conditions were awful. Our corner routines seem to be working as we scored from two of them, Matthew PEART was my man of the match."

Hendon Under-16s reached the next round of the Middlesex Youth Cup with a comfortable 8-0 defeat of Real Shepperton at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday morning. Last season, the same match resulted in an 11-0 victory, but this win was very comfortable, especially after Tyrone WALKER opened the scoring in the first minute. WALKER grabbed his second 10 minutes later, before Louis PARKER (22 minutes) and Matthew PEART (35) got their names on the scoresheet. WALKER completed his hat-trick in the 58th minute, before Mo LIBAN started a run of 3 goals in 4 minutes. Tony "TJ" GRAHAM got number 7 and John CONWAY completed the scoring in the 71st minute. In addition to the goals, Hendon hit the post or crossbar half a dozen times. "We are chugging along nicely," said manager Mark Crawford, "but there is still room for improvement. The goals are beginning to flow. This was a team performance so everybody gets the Man of the Match award."

Hendon Under-16s reached the next round of the Middlesex Youth Cup with a comfortable 8-0 defeat of Real Shepperton at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday morning. Last season, the same match resulted in an 11-0 victory, but this win was very comfortable, especially after Tyrone WALKER opened the scoring in the first minute. WALKER grabbed his second 10 minutes later, before Louis PARKER (22 minutes) and Matthew PEART (35) got their names on the scoresheet. WALKER completed his hat-trick in the 58th minute, before Mo LIBAN started a run of 3 goals in 4 minutes. Tony "TJ" GRAHAM got number 7 and John CONWAY completed the scoring in the 71st minute. In addition to the goals, Hendon hit the post or crossbar half a dozen times. "We are chugging along nicely," said manager Mark Crawford, "but there is still room for improvement. The goals are beginning to flow. This was a team performance so everybody gets the Man of the Match award."

Hendon advanced to the next round of the Harrow Youth League Cup with a comfortable 8-0 victory over St Josephs' B squad on Sunday morning. In the 11th minute Tyrone WALKER opened the scoring and WALKER made it 2-0 five minutes later. Midway through the half, Matthew PARET stretched the lead further, before WALKER completed a first-half hat-trick in 36th minute. Eight minutes into the second half, WALKER got his 4th and Hendon's 5th of the day, before David GHANSAH got on the scoresheet in the 57th minute. Ten minutes from time WALKER completed his nap hand, before the rout was completed by Tony Graham. "We played much better today," said manager Mark Crawford, "but there were still things I wasn't happy with. We have plenty of work to do. Two players share my man of the match award, Tyrone WALKER and Tony GRAHAM."

Our Under-16's are finding life in the top division a much tougher proposition than they expected and they slipped to a second consecutive 2-0 defeat, this time at the hands of South Ruislip Rangers. Although they played some pretty football, Hendon were far too intricate and lacked a cutting edge up front. They were made to pay just before half-time when a free-kick was deflected into the Hendon goal for Ruislip's opener. The second half followed a similar pattern but the hosts were comfortable in keeping out Hendon's forwards and midfielders. Twelve minutes from time South Ruislip wrapped up the win with a second goal. "At this level, we are punished for our mistakes and we have to learn to play against teams of a higher calibre," said manager Mark Crawford.

The Under 16's failed to build on their opening day win as they were beaten 2-0 by Edgware Town at Copthall. The Edgware goals came in the 30th and 68th minutes, as Hendon put in a performance that was described by manager Mark Crawford as "poor, terrible and dismal. Life is certainly harder in the Premier Division." Other than the goals, Edgware rarely threatened the Greens, but the football from the home side never flowed and very little was created, although one chance was cleared off the line and another effort was headed just wide of the goal.

Hendon Under-16s got their season off to a winning start at Hilingdon Borough. In the 21st minute, Matthew PEART opened the scoring with an screamer from the angle of the penalty area. Ten minutes later Hillingdon equalised, a bad goal defensively, but Hendon got a bit of luck when the Hillingdon goalkeeper had a communication breakdown with a defender, who glanced a header into his own net. Turning around with a 2-1 advantage, Hendon quickly extended their lead with another special goal. Tyrone WALKER controlled the ball out on the wing, cut inside a pair of defenders and released a spectacular shot into the top corner. Hillingdon bounced back and applied a lot of pressure. In 74th minute, Borough scored their second goal. Undaunted, Hendon bounced back and sealed the points when WALKER scored his second goal in the 88th minute, another fine effort. "I have two men of the match today," said manager Mark Crawford. "Tyrone WALKER and Louis PARKER were exceptional, but everyone played well today. Both players were making their debuts."

The Under 16s side will be looking to build on the success of their Harrow Youth League Division One championship title from last season, and to make an impact on the Premier Division. The team will be continuing under Mark Crawford as the senior side in our youth structure, with no Under 17s or 18s running this season following the retirement of prospective Under 17s manager Lou Llewellyn, and potential fixture clashes for an Under 18s side on the stadium pitch.