Hendon’s visit to Beaconsfield Town on Monday evening to play Shepherd’s Bush was rather like a meeting of the clans. Shepherd’s Bush, who are ground sharing at Holloways Park this season, were formed by ex-Green Aaron Morgan in 2021, and their squad included more former Greens in strikers Leon Smith and Anthony Thomas; furthermore, a certain B. Bubb scored for the Bush in a 5-4 win at North Greenford United last Friday – whether this was Byron or Bradley or another member of the family is unknown.

With the exception of the goalkeepers, both teams played the ‘numbers game’ – “pick a shirt, any shirt, doesn’t matter what the number is”, which, added to the fact that both teams changed shirts at half-time, made it difficult to put together a coherent squad list to follow this report. The Shepherd’s Bush squad is not known, but the four numbers given were used in the second half by the three Hendon alumni and a goalscorer.

On to the match. Hendon largely controlled the first 15 minutes, although Ta’shae Andall-Gibbons didn’t last that long before having to be replaced as a precaution following an injury. Shepherd’s Bush grew into the match as the half went on, and they caused the visiting defence some problems. There was no score until the half-hour mark, when DION MIFTARI, who was playing wide right although he is predominantly left-footed, cut in from his wing and unleashed a cross-shot which gave the goalkeeper no chance and put Hendon in front. The lead was extended in first-half stoppage time by a trialist who has worn the #9 shirt in the first half of both games played so far, so Hendon led 2-0 at the break.

It must be said that Shepherd’s Bush were far more attack-minded than were Edgware & Kingsbury on Saturday, and they were slightly unfortunate not to open their account in the first half.

After the change of shirts and on-field personnel by both clubs, the lead was deservedly reduced four minutes after the restart, when a long ball out of the Bush defence towards the left wing saw the #4 break away, cut in from the wing and finish clinically, giving Josh Strizovic no chance.

Hendon applied a lot of pressure second half, but some effective goalkeeping and defensive work kept them out until a trialist, who scored twice on Saturday, added the visitors’ third with a quarter of an hour to go. Within ten more minutes Hendon were 5-2 ahead, two goals from another trialist sandwiching a goal for the Bush from LEON SMITH, who lobbed Josh’s replacement from about twenty-five yards. There was still time for Club captain DAVE DIEDHIOU to put the icing on the cake with Hendon’s last goal, making the final score a 6-2 win for the Greens.

Having played two matches against clubs in the Combined Counties Division One for this season, it appears that Shepherd’s Bush is likely to have a better time in the league than Edgware & Kingsbury, given those clubs’ performances in these first two matches. However, it’s very early days, and time will tell.