Hendon Under-15s went out of the Harrow Youth League Supplementary Cup with a defeat away to London Tigers on Sunday afternoon. It was a game they certainly had chances to win, but they weren't taken and four goals near the end turn a close encounter into a rather one-sided looking result. Hendon actually led twice, through David Paice after 3 minutes and Mike Baende, 20 minutes, But London Tigers hit back quickly on both occasions and the scores were levelled after 8 and 23 minutes. Tigers hit the front for the first time after 45 minutes, but the turning point was possibly Will Mabbutt's missed penalty after 51 minutes. Two minutes later it was 4-2, and three more goals followed in fairly quick succession. "I thought we had a chance to win the game," admitted joint manager Graham Bourne, "but they are a very good team. My man of the match was Tom IANELLO."

Hendon Under-15s ended their Harrow Youth League Division Three campaign with another victory, one that may leave them with a share of third place in the table, after overcoming St Joseph’s B squad 6-2. Matthew Hornblow, the team's top scorer this season, added to his tally with the opener after nine minutes. An own goal after 22 minutes and a great strike from Will Mabbutt, on the half-hour, gave Hendon a three-goal half-time cushion. After Mike Baende had extended the advantage, St Joseph's came back into the game with two goals in three minutes. The nerves were eased by Akeem Nicol after 62 minutes and victory made certain when Emmanuel Ofosu got number six with three minutes to go. "We played very well today and worked hard to get the right result," said joint-manager Graham Bourne. "My man of the match was Carl Ciagoro, who was outstanding on the right of midfield and he set up four of the six goals."

Hendon Under-15s opened their Harrow Youth League Supplementary Cup campaign with a 3–0 defeat of St Joseph’s "A" squad at Claremont Road on Sunday morning. Making their first appearance on the main pitch, they got off to a great start with a goal from Matthew Hornblow after just five minutes. Will Mabbutt doubled the advantage on the half-hour mark and victory was confirmed ten minute from the final whistle when Emmanuel Ofosu made it 3-0. With the third in Hendon's mini-group pulling out, it means a last 16 place is almost certain unless they are given and lose a fixture against another rival. "It was really hard to give a man of the match award today," said a delighted joint manager Graham Bourne. "Every one of the players did very well, but I suppose Youssef Ali just about shaded it. It was a superb all-round performance from the team."

Hendon Under-15s did their best to hold up Pinner Albion A's title claims on Sunday, but eventually succumbed to the defeat which gave their hosts the crown. With the wind at their backs in the first half Hendon raced to a quick 2-0 lead. After five minutes a Will Mabbutt corner was curled directly into the net. And, eight minutes later, Charlie Benson rose to head home goal number two. Pinner Albion pulled a goal back after 30 minutes and they got the equaliser 12 minutes into the second half. But Hendon were determined to keep battling and they hit the frame of the goal twice in three minutes. After 60 minutes it was Mike Likosso who hit a post, then Mabbutt hit the bar. In the last five minutes, Pinner scored twice more to win the game and to get the point they needed to secure the Harrow Youth League Division Three title. "This was probably the best match we’ve had all season," said joint-manager Graham Bourne. "We gave it our best shot, but they were simply a little better than us. Some times you just have to hold your hands up. Man of the match, for the second game running was Charlie Benson."

Hendon Under-15s, playing just their second match in six weeks, had to work very hard to get all three points from their victory against St Josephs' B squad. Matthew Hornblow's 18th-minute opener was cancelled out by St Joe's just ten minutes later. That was the way it stayed until the break, and ten minutes after it. Then, after 50 minutes, Carl Ciagoro restored Hendon's lead. A couple of minutes later, Frankie Henao was introduced as a substitute and he had only been on the pitch for a couple of minutes when he, too, found the target. But St Joseph's came back and reduced their arrears to a single goal with eight minutes to go. Hendon were able to hang on for the victory. "We were a little bit rusty, having played just once in six weeks," said manager Graeme Bourne, "but a win's a win and we'll take that. My man of the match was Charlie Benson who was excellent in midfield."

Hendon Under-15s were finally overrun by an excellent Princes Park "B" squad at Copthall Playing Fields on Sunday morning. The final score of 7-4 probably reflects Park's domination, but Hendon will be disappointed, if only because they were still leading with 15 minutes to go - albeit against the run of play. Princes Park took the lead after three minutes, but Matt Hornblow equalised four minutes later. After 16 minutes, Park regained the lead, only for Carl Ciagoro to equalise within 60 seconds. Hendon took the lead for the first time eight minutes before half-time when Mike Davis opened his Hendon account and they held it until the break. Neither team could add to their tally in the opening 20 minutes of the second half, before crucially, Hornblow failed to score from the penalty spot. Ciagoro did make it 4-2 after 64 minutes, but Princes Park immediately hit back, making it 4-3 within a couple of minutes. Growing in confidence, they sensed Hendon's desperation and took full toll scoring four times in six minutes, after 73, 74, 78 and 79 minutes to run out convincing winners. "The better team won," admitted joint manager Graham Bourne. "Even when we were 4-2 up, we were struggling and we were under pressure for almost the whole game. My man of the match was Tom Ianello."

Hendon Under-15s showed super resilience in coming back from two goals down in the final ten minutes to snatch a point. Pinner took the lead after 14 minutes, but Carl Ciagoro equalised six minutes before half-time. The second half saw Pinner again start the stronger and they jumped to a 2-1 lead after 47 minutes. They then failed to convert a penalty after 51 minutes before making it 3-1 with 12 minutes to go. This was the signal for the Hendon fightback to start. In the 71st minutes, Ciagoro bagged his second of the day and the equaliser arrived with just four minutes on the clock and it was Akeem Nicol who claimed it, his first of the season. "We escaped with a point," admitted joint-manager Graham Bourne, "especially as we were 3-1 down with nine minutes to go. My man of the match was David Paice, who was excellent."

Hendon Under-15s made it six wins in a row with an excellent victory over Headstone Manor's B squad at Copthall on Sunday morning. But they were made to work very hard for the spoils in this one, especially after falling behind in just the second minute. Matty Hornblow grabbed an equaliser after 12 minutes and Hornblow quickly made it a double with his second, two minutes later. Shane Deery converted a penalty after 22 minutes, and Hornblow completed an 18-minute hat-trick when he found the net again after half an hour. Two minutes later Headstone Manor pulled a goal back, but Hendon were quick to restore their three goal advantage when Carl Ciagoro converted the Greens' second penalty of the half. However, on the stroke of half-time, Headstone Manor scored again to make it 5-3 at the break. Hendon pulled away in the second half, adding two more goals, through substitute Frankie Henao after 47 minutes and Hornblow, his fourth, with 12 minutes to go. "I am really pleased with the win," said joint-manager Graham Bourne. "We've now won six in a row, but we have to keep going to the end of the season. My man of the match was skipper Will Mabbutt, who was excellent, but I also want to mention Matty Hornblow, who has now scored 32 goals in 13 games."

Hendon Under-15s got something of a rocket from joint manager Eamonn Finn at half-time of their match at Pinner Albion's B team on Sunday morning. They had trailed by a goal to nil – and goalkeeper Joe Maloney had saved his second penalty of the season - before Carl Ciagoro had equalised just before the break. The team also made a substitution with Will Mabbutt coming on. It took 15 minutes for the pep-talk and change to work, but once Emmanuel Ofosu had given Hendon the lead after 55 minutes, the result was never in doubt. Five more goals followed, at roughly five-minute intervals thereafter, from Ciagoro, Mabbutt, Ofosu and Matthew Hornblow (twice). Hornblow's second came in the last couple of minutes and it showed his quick reaction, because Joe O'Driscoll had failed with a penalty and the ball rebounded towards him. Man of the match was skipper for the day Charlie Benson.

Hendon Under-15s encountered more problems with the horrible pitch and weather conditions than they did with the opposition put up by Ruislip Town on a grisly Sunday afternoon. Cruising at 4-0 to the good at halftime, the Hendon youngsters added another half-dozen after the break to reach double figures. Matt Hornblow got things started with the first of his personal five-timer after just four four minutes. Will Mabbutt doubled the advantage in the 11th minute and debutant Emmanuel Ofosu added number three at the half-hour mark. Two minutes later Mabbutt got his second of the afternoon. Hendon added three more in the first 15 minutes of the second half, through a Hornblow penalty and regulation finishes from Frankie Henao and Carl Chiagoro. Hornblow completed his hat-trick after an hour and he made it a four-timer two minutes later. With three minutes to go Hornblow completed the rout, but he didn't get man of the match plaudits. That, according to joint-manager Graham Bourne went to Shane Deery. "Shane has been out injured for six weeks," he explained, "but he came back today and was excellent."

Hendon bounced back from conceding an early goal, and an equaliser midway through the first half, to run riot, scoring nine times in 49 minutes against Harlington on Sunday morning. Harlington opened the scoring after eight minutes and held the lead until the 18th minute, when Carl Ciagoro got Hendon's leveller. Matthew Hornblow made it 2-1 a couple of minutes later, only for Harlington to get their second after a further two minutes. Hendon raced away with the game in an eight-minute spell as Ciagoro, Will Mabbutt and Hornblow all scored, and Ciagoro completed his hat-trick just before half-time. The second half was an even affair, with Harlington scoring first and last. In between Frankie Henao cancelled out the first Harlington goal and Hornblow completed his hat-trick doing likewise with Harlington's fourth. Hornblow completed his four-timer after 67 minutes and the only other goal of the final quarter was Harlington's fifth. Hendon's man of he match was Tom Ianello, who was forced into the centre-half role by a late injury and was superb.

Hendon Under-15s, who went through November without a victory, got back to winning ways and avenged the previous week's heart-breaking defeat as they overcame Lancaster Diamonds at Copthall on Sunday morning. The Harrow Youth League Division Three game kicked off half an hour late, but Hendon were quickly into their stride, Will Mabbutt converting a 12th minute penalty. Ten minutes later, Matthew Hornblow made it 2–0 and Hornblow got another goal just before half-time. Eight minutes into the second half, Hendon got another penalty, and this time it was goalkeeper Joe Maloney who took it and scored. This was not showing disrespect to the opposition: the importance of goalkeepers taking penalties was shown last season, when the Under-18s keeper took the decisive spot-kick to win a cup final shoot-out. Carl Ciagoro made it 5–0 after 53 minutes, before Hornblow completed his hat-trick after 65 minutes. Lancaster hit back to score twice in three minutes, before Hornblow made it a four-timer in the last couple of minutes. “We turned around last week’s result,” said a happy joint manager Graham Bourne. “It is nice to win a game and get back that winning feeling. My man of the match was Matty Hornblow, who was excellent as well as scoring four times.”

The under 15s lost out in controversial circumstances yesterday with a 6-5 defeat at Lancaster Diamonds. After taking the lead through Frankie Heno, the Greens slipped to a 3-1 deficit by half time as the Diamonds took control of the game. Hendon then made a great comeback with three goals in 14 minutes courtesy of Charlie Benson, Will Mabbutt and Matthew Hornblow to regain the lead. Lancaster equalised with twelve minutes to go before John O'Driscoll restored Hendon's lead almost immediately. With five minutes to go Lancaster scored a dubious equaliser and then two minutes into stoppage time they scored the winner from a controversial free kick much to the disappointment of joint-manager Graham Bourne who said "I think we were robbed today. My man of the match was Carl Chiagoro."

Hendon Under-15s suffered another big defeat in a cup tie, this time falling heavily to Headstone Manor's A team in the Middlesex Youth Cup at Copthall on Sunday morning. Problems before the match led to a less than ideal preparation and that was proved in the opening half when Manor scored four times without reply. Unable to use substitutes, the youngsters were run off their feet in the second period and leaked another eight goals to give the visitors a round dozen. Man of the match was golkeeper Joe Maloney, whose heroics, according to joint manager Eamonn Finn, kept the score to 12 and not 21.

Hendon Under-15s learned a hard lesson on Sunday morning as they lost concentration after conceding against table-toppers Pinner Albion A in the Harrow Youth League at Copthall on Sunday morning. Hendon had the better of the game's opening quarter, but were caught out and conceded the opening goal. Buoyed by taking the lead against the run of play, Pinner quickly made sure they rammed home their advantage, adding four goals before a shell-shocked Hendon could regroup at half-time. Changes were made and Hendon reduced the arrears after 48 minutes with another goal from Matthew Hornblow, but Pinner upped their work-rate again and added three more goals before the final whistle. Joint manager Graham Bourne said, "I honestly believe we could have beaten them, but we didn’t know how to do it. They have been together for many years and their teamwork showed how much they have gained from this. My man of the match was David Paice, who had an excellent game in difficult circumstances."

Hendon Under-15s knew that they stood little chance of advancing in this competition when paired with a team of the calibre of South Ruislip Rangers so the management team took the decision to give the fringe and squad players the chance to see what they were made of. The result was never in doubt as South Ruislip scored five times in the opening quarter of an hour. Hendon then made a change in goal, only for that to backfire with the substitute keeper picking an injury which required his replacement too. Things only got worse after the break and Rangers added another nine goals in the final 40 minutes to end a thoroughly unsatisfactory tie. Unfortunately in a competition with a such big differences in quality, results such as these are always likely to happen and there is little to be gained by either team from mismatches.

Hendon Under-15s continued their winning run with a hard-fought victory over Princes Park on Sunday morning. They got off to a great start when Will Mabbutt fired them ahead after just four minutes. In the 15th minute, Matty Hornblow made it 2–0 with a stunning 25-yard drive. However, Princes Park came back into the game and made it 2-1 midway through the elongated opening period. Hornblow's second of the afternoon, after 29 minutes, restored Hendon's two-goal cushion, but they lost it in a bizarre spell before the interval. Without there having been a single injury stoppage, the referee added seven minutes to the first half, during which time Princes Park scored twice. The second half was a very tense affair, but it was decided in the 55th minute, when Hornblow completed his hat-trick. "That’s four wins on the bounce," said a delighted joint manager Graham Bourne. "All the boys' heads are up right now and they all want to play every week. Earlier in the season, if we had conceded a couple of goal just before half-time, we would have been beaten by four or five goals in the second half. But we’re a different team now. My man of the match was Matty Hornblow."

Hendon Under-15s enjoyed their third consecutive thumping victory on Sunday morning, this time at the expense of Headstone Manor’s "B" squad. But they were also indebted to goalkeeper Joe Maloney, who claimed man of the match honours. It took Jamie Beagley all of five minutes to get the opening goal. This was followed by a pair of goals from Matthew Hornblow. Hornblow scored after 14 and 21 minutes and Hendon pretty much put the game out of reach before half-time as Milo, after 30 minutes, and Beagley, again, just before the whistle added to the tally. Beagley completed his hat-trick seven minutes into the second half, before Headstone Manor hit back with a couple of goals. Milo grabbed his second of the afternoon to make it 7–2 with ten minutes remaining and although Headstone Manor grabbed a third goal near the end the result was never in doubt. "We are getting better and better," said a happy joint manager Graham Bourne. "We have now scored 22 goals in our last three matches, after scoring just one in our first two. Joe Maloney got the man of the match award because Headstone Manor had about seven one-on-ones and he saved all of them. We could have lost today."

Hendon Under-15s began their competitive life in mid-September with a 5–2 defeat at home to Kodak. Four weeks later, the reverse fixture came up and it gave joint managers Eamonn Finn and Graeme Bourne the chance to see just how far they have advanced. Even they must have been delighted to see the measure of their progress because they won this encounter 8-3 and totally dominated it. Charlie Benson sent Hendon on their way with his first goal after four minutes. Although Kodak equalised three minutes later, a magnificent effort from Will Mabbutt restored the advantage after 13 minutes. Mabbutt picked up the ball just inside his own half, took a few strides forward and unleashed a stunning long range drive that gave the goalkeeper no chance. Hendon pressed home their advantage later in the first half, with goals from Matthew Hornblow, Benson and Mabbutt, the latter two completing their doubles. Turning around with a 5–1 lead, Hendon set about extending it quickly and Milo did just that, after 47 minutes. Kodak did cut into their deficit after 50 minutes, but Hendon would not be denied. Benson completed his hat-trick after 61 minutes and Hornblow made his a double after 73. Five minutes from time, Kodak did get a third goal, but it was a scant consolation. "For two weeks running we have been outstanding," said a happy Mr Bourne. "The boys listened to what we said two weeks ago at Harlington and have really turned things around. We’ve scored 15 goals in the last two weeks and conceded only three. My man of the match was Charlie BENSON; he was magnificent in midfield again."

Hendon Under-15s recorded their first victory together as they routed Ruislip Town in the Harrow Youth League at Copthall on Sunday morning. They got off to a great start when Matthew Hornblow scored in the fifth minute. Five minutes later, the lead was doubled when a Ruislip Town player put the ball his goalkeeeper for an own goal. Hornblow grabbed his second just before half-time and a few minutes into the seond half, Charlie Benson got number four. In the 52nd minute, Jamie Beagley got in on the act, followed, nine minutes later, by Hornblow's hat-trick goal. The scoring was completed by Milo in the last ten minutes. "This was an outstanding performance," enthused joint manager Graeme Bourne. "The boys really took to heart what happened last week and what we said to them in the dressing room. Despite scoring a hat-trick, Matthew Hornblow did not pick up man of the match award. It was given to Will Mabbutt, who was absolutely brilliant in midfield."

Hendon Under-15s may not have been unlucky to lose their Harrow Youth League match against Harlington at Copthall on Sunday, but there is no doubting that the margin of defeat was utterly undeserved and, with just a little bit of composure in the first half, a shock victory would not have been impossible. Three times, Hendon forced one-on-one situations, but on each occasion, the striker failed to hit the target and the escapes gave Harlington extra confidence. They opened the scoring with a quick-fire counter-attack after 20 minutes and they were relieved to go into the break with this narrow lead. It all went wrong for Hendon after the break, when they fell to the sucker-punch of three goals in four minutes. Harlington scored after 45, 48 and 49 minutes and stretched their advantage in the 62nd minute. However, Matthew Hornblow, who had been playing a year above himself in recent years, reduced the arrears with 10 minutes to go. Harlington hit back with two more goals in the last five minutes to give the final scoreline its unflattering look. Joint manager Graham Bourne said, "We should never have been behind at half-time. We were completely on top but didn’t take our chances. When they scored early in the second half, we fell apart a bit. In the second half, we had five players doing the work of 11. But it must be remembered we are in our first season together and some of the teams we are facing have been together for many years. Eamonn Finn and I know what we must do to turn things around and this will start straight away. My man of the match was centre-half Akeem Nicoll, who had a tremendous game."

Hendon Under-15s first-ever competitive match together ended in a defeat against Kodak's squad at Claremont Road on Sunday. Kodak scored twice in the first quarter, but Hendon pulled a goal back through skipper Charlie Benson after 24 minutes. A goal six minutes before half-time for Kodak was cancelled out by a strike from Yemi Shodipo and Hendon almost drew level when they hit a post. But after Kodak had made it 4-2, Hendon’s last chance of getting something from the game disappeared with a penalty miss by Benson. In the last five minutes, Kodak got a fifth goal, but it was harsh on a Hendon team that had battled valiantly. Joint-manager Graham Bourne said, "I feel as if we were robbed today. We had no luck at all and with a larger squad I am sure we would have got something today. There were only 11 players available and they just ran out of steam late on. I am proud of the way we played. My man of the match was Will Mabbutt."

We are delighted to announce that Graeme Bourne and Eamonn Finn have agreed to run our new Under 15s team this season.