Hendon opened their pre-season campaign with a win over Edgware & Kingsbury in the annual match for the Jeffrey Over Memorial Cup on Saturday, scoring three times without reply.

Hendon’s squad of 19 included just three players who started last season, namely Josh Strizovic, Dave Diedhiou, and Florian Ada. Four more (Daniel Brobbey, Tyler Notley, Christian Swaby and Ta’shae Andall-Gibbons) ended last season with the Dons, while the remaining 12 included five new signings and seven trialists.

Hendon wore last season’s green kit in the first half, changing to 2024/25’s third shirt (white and black) at the interval, while E&K wore what was assumed to be their change kit of blue and pink quarters, with a dark blue back and pink numbers – both teams normally wear green when at home.

After some pressure, Hendon went ahead after 19 minutes when new signing and centre-back SHAWN JOSEPH netted from a short corner routine on the left. They could have had more goals, but less than clinical finishing coupled with some good E&K defence limited Hendon’s half time lead to one goal.

One substitution was made in the first half, E&K’s goalkeeper receiving an injury when clearing the ball amongst a group of players - this after 39 minutes. He tried to play on but had to be replaced after his next save a few minutes later.

Both teams made a number of changes in personnel at half-time, Hendon also changing their shirts, with a variety of numbers which bore little relationship to numbers 14 to 19 in the squad list below. A second change in personnel occurred around the 70 minute mark, with some of Hendon’s starters who were replaced at half-time returning for the last 20 minutes – the only relevance for the squad list at this time was the change of Hendon goalkeeper.

Hendon scored twice in the second half, the trialist wearing the white #9 shirt (#20 in the squad list) netting both, the first within 30 seconds of the restart with the aid of a deflection, and the other six minutes before the end. Again chances were missed, and E&K’s defence stood up to the almost incessant pressure well with many effective blocks and good goalkeeping.

Over the 90 minutes Edgware & Kingsbury’s attack was almost non-existent, Josh having to make one save early in the second half.

Several of the trialists looked competent enough to be given further appearances.

One hydration break was made during each half.