On the face of it, this result in the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League Supplementary Cup was a slaughter. The reality was very different. Hendon found themselves 3 goals down inside 10 minutes, but they turned things around as the half progressed and came back into the match with one goal. Unfortunately, things went wrong in the second half when Hendon were reduced by injuries to 9 men, including the goalkeeper. The problem was made worse by the match referee who refused to allow Hendon players to receive treatment for obvious head injuries. With 7 under-16s on the pitch at the end, Ware proved just too strong and added 4 late goals.

Hendon Under-18s went out of the Brian Hitchings Cup (Southern Counties Youth League Cup) when Waltham Abbey recorded a 1-0 victory at LOOT Stadium.

Hendon Youth slumped to another disappointing defeat when Berkhamsted Town avenged their reverse at LOOT Stadium on Wednesday night. With a number of players out injured, Hendon coach Steve Neville brought in another player from the Under-16s squad - Andrew Freeman, who joined Daniel Hilton-Owen and Ben Bouchnak and he was far from disgraced. Berko scored twice in a 5-minute period in the middle of the first half and it was enough to bring them the three Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League points, despite a 75th-minute goal from Patrick CRONIN, which gave Hendon a glimmer of hope.

Hendon Youth continue to find life in the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League a chastening experience. Manager Steve Neville has tinkered with a variety of line-ups and brought in both youth and experience as well as making changes to his back-room staff, but nothing appears to have worked in terms of results. Wednesday night saw another Under-16s player, Ben Bouchnak making his debut, but he could not reverse the decline. An even first half saw few good chances and only one goal, scored by Kingsbury after 17 minutes, when a cross from the left wing eluded the first Hendon defender and was rapped into the net by a Kingsbury player who had far too much room to manouvre that close to goal. The second half was a different matter with Kingsbury adding goals with metronomic symmetry. After a barren 12 minutes, Kingsbury scored after 57, 64, 71 and 78 minutes, before going 12 goalless mintues at the end.

Hendon Under-18s went out of the Middlesex Youth Cup at the first hurdle last week when 4 goals in the 19 minutes saw favoured Edgware Town snatch the initiative. In the 20th minute, Kevin KNAPPER gave Hendon the lead, only for Edgware to equalise 5 minutes before half-time. Parity lasted just 4 minutes, because Patrick CRONIN restored Hendon's lead before the interval. Eleven minutes after the break, CRONIN bagged his 2nd of the game and it began to look as if Hendon might just cause an upset. It was not to be. In the 71st minute, sloppy defending at a throw-in gifted Edgware a second goal. Four minutes later, Lee DUARTE limped off and his absence unbalanced the side. In the 80th minute, Edgware equalised and after that they took control and won the game with 86th and 89th minute strikes. Manager Steve Neville said, "We got overrun in the last 20 minutes, but we are getting there."

Hendon Under-18s travelled to Potters Bar, trying to emulate Bristol City, who had recorded a 3-0 FA Youth Cup victory at The Walk a week earlier. Unfortnately for Steve Neville's boys, the 3-0 scoreline was repeated, but in favour of the home team. It could have been so much worse, however, all the scoring came in a 6-minute spell before a dozen minutes had elapsed. Having scored after 5, 6 and 11 minutes, Potters Bar must have been looking a filling their boots, but it didn't work that way. Hendon stiffened their resolve and were able to hold out until half-time. A few choice words from Mr Neville seemed to have the desired effect in the second period as Hendon gave as good as they got. They were unable to take any of the chances that came their way, however, but at least they kept a clean sheet too. "I am very pleased with the commitment we showed in the second half," Mr Neville said. "They are the best team in the Division and have conceded only 5 goals this season, but we created a number of chances."

Hendon Under-18s suffered a big reverse on Wednesday night, but the final score in no way reflected the way the game had gone. Hemel Hempstead took a 1-0 lead after 18 minutes, but Hendon - 6-0 losers in the reverse fixture at Adeyfield - had their own chances in both halves. Two outstanding save from Hemel's goalkeeper in the second half kept his team's lead intact, while Hendon were rarely troubled, until the final 10 minutes. Then it all went wrong. A brilliant save from Daniel Anfossy denied Hemel a goal in the 80th minute, but from the corner, they did score. Then, as Hendon looked to get back into the game, they conceded further goals in the 86th, 89th and 90th minutes.

Hendon Under-18s travelled to Colney Heath buoyed by the previous week's victory over Berkhamsted Town, but their confidence was quickly shaken by eager opponents who never game Steve Neville's boys a chance to settle. Some sloppy defending saw Colney Heath take the lead after 15 minutes. More poor work at the back allowed two more goals to be conceded before 35 minutes had elapsed. After 41 minutes, Leon STEELE - who played for Hendon Youth as a 14-year-old but endured a long time out of football with knee trouble - reduced the arrears and the half-time score of 3-1 was not as bad as it might have been. Midway through the second half, Kevin KNAPPER rose high to head home a cross to make it 3-2. The equaliser arrived 10 minutes later when Brian HAULE scored. Both teams had valid penalty claims turned down and the match ended with honours even. Manager Mr Neville said, "We were very sloppy and gave away three bad goals. However, I was very pleased with the character we showed in the second half. I brought on Adrian Tuitt from our Under-16s and I was delighted with his performance."

Hendon Under-18s recorded their overdue first win of the season on Wednesday night when Berkhamsted Town were well beaten at LOOT Stadium. Almost all of Hendon's opponents so far have been second year youth teams, i.e. under-18s - unlike Steve Neville's boys who are predominantly an under-17s squad - Berkhamsted's team was a first-year squad. Hendon got off to a perfect start when Steve RUDDY opened the scoring in the 3rd minute. Ruddy and Bryan Haule - brother of first-teamer Davis - gave the Berkhamsted a difficult evening and, a few minutes later, a mazy run from HAULE resulted in a second goal. Berkhamsted were not without chances, but Daniel ANFOSSY was in superb for Hendon, making a number of excellent saves. On the stroke of half-time, a corner from Lee DUARTE was curling in just under the crossbar and the visiting goalkeeper could only help the ball over the line. Ten minutes into the second half, an underhit clearance from the Berko goalkeeper fell to Patrick Cronin 40 yards from goal. Controlling the ball well, CRONIN looked up and, with a measured strike, lifted the ball into the unguarded net. Hendon made some changes as the game went on and Berkhamsted got some reward with a pair of late goals, but the result had long since ceased to be at issue. "I'm pleased to get the first win under our belts," said manager Steve Neville. "We played very well tonight."

Hendon have been handed a very tough draw in the first round, as they travel to holders Edgware Town.

Hendon Under-18s continue to look for their first victory of the season, and although they came close on a number of occasions, Wingate & Finchley were just too savvy to fall. Hendon had a great chance to open the scoring after 10 minutes, when Alfred Ekpenyong was tripped in the penalty area. Unfortunately the spot-kick from Zach Torgerson was hit too close to the goalkeeper, who made a fine save. Ten minutes later, Daniel GIEMAJNER opened the scoring and, from then on, Hendon were chasing the game. The early part of the second half held some hope for Hendon, but sloppy defending gifted a second goal to GIEMAJNER after 52 minutes. In the 58th minute, substitute Andrew Bell forced the Wingate goalkeeper into making a brilliant parry from a rasping 20-yarder, but Ekpenyong was more unfortunate as his shot beat the 'keeper but not the post. Although Hendon gave as good as they got in terms of attacking - Ekpenyong appeared to be tripped in the penalty area again, but this time was penalised for another offence - the difference came in the quality of defending. In the 73rd minute Sammy LIEBERMANN made it 3-0 and, 5 minutes from time, Ainsley GASPER got No. 4, both goals again being gifted by sloppy defending.

Hendon Under-18s' preparations for this game were badly hampered by the horrendous traffic jams that clogged up North-west London on Wednesday evening, but that can be little excuse for the schoolboy errors which gifted high-flying Edgware Town a handful of goals at the White Lion ground. Losing 2-0 at half-time, Hendon conceded two more in the first half hour of the second period before Pat CRONIN reduced the arrears. Another defensive gaffe allowed Edgware to add another goal before the final whistle, prompting manager Steve Neville to say, "We made errors I would be unhappy if a schoolboy team made. We are going to have to make some changes."

Last nights game against Berkhamsted Town was called off to protect the pitch to try and ensure that we don't suffer the same pitch problems again this season.

The inexperience of the Under 18's showed again tonight as they were soundly beaten 6-0 by a far better Hemel side. The hosts were 2-0 up at half time, although Steve Ruddy came close just on half time. Hendon started brightly in the second half, but Hemel came back and scored four more goals during the second half. The best chance in the second half fell to Kevin Knapper, but his shot was smothered by the keeper.

Hendon Under-18s are still looking for their first win after going down to a 3-1 defeat at home to an older and more experienced Potters Bar team at LOOT Stadium on Wednesday evening. A goal down at the break, Hendon found themselves further in arrears before Zach TORGERSON scored to make it 2-1 after 67 minutes. The young Greens were right back in the game, but almost immediately they showed their naïvety with some slack defending and conceded a third and decisive goal.

The Under 18's got off the mark in the league last night with a 2-2 draw against Colney Heath. Steve Ruddy put the Greens ahead in the 2nd minute, a lead that they held onto until the equaliser came early in the second half. Colney Heath took the lead in the 63rd minute, but Brian Haule popped up to score the equaliser in the 85th minute, and consequently earn Steve Neville's side their first point of the season.

Despite taking a two goal lead, the Under 18's lost 3-2 to Kingsbury Town tonight. Patrick Cronin scored both goals, but Kingsbury were level by half time. Early in the second half Bryan Haule missed a penalty for Hendon, before Kingsbury scored a superb goal to win the game with about 15 minutes to go.

In their first run out of the season, just three days before the first competitive fixture, the Under 18's earnt a creditable 4-4 draw against a Wealdstone side who have been training for most of the summer, and already had some match practice.

Wealdstone took an early lead before Anthony Olagundoye equalised. Steve Ruddy put Hendon ahead, only for Wealdstone to equalise shortly afterwards. Goals from Adam White and Daniel Henderson put Hendon 4-2 ahead with 5 minutes to go, but a late comeback from Wealdstone saw them take a share of the spoils

Manager Steve Neville will have many positives to take away from the game, and hopefully a successful season lies ahead for the Under 18s in the Allied Counties League.

The first three fixtures have been released as the club rejoins the Southern Counties Youth League this season, and open with a trip to Kingsbury Town on Monday 20th August. However, before that on Friday night, the youth team travel to Wealdstone for a friendly. This game takes place at Broadfields Sports Club in Harrow Weald and kicks off at 6.30pm.

The new Under 18s section will be updated regularly throughout the new season with the latest news, match reports, fixtures and tables from Hendon FC's youth team.