3rd placed Saints versus 4th placed Hendon. The minor placings but plenty of pride at stake, particularly as the 'Dons have games in hand. City will be keen to put the disappointments of the past couple of weeeks behind them. Among the visitors' ranks are former Saints, Steve Butler, Martin Randall, Lee Harvey and Rob Haworth.
Cookie selected Wilmot in goal, 4 at the back: Gledhill, Brown (C), Moran and Naylor; 4 in the middle: Kean, Challinor, Evans and Lodge; and up front: Martin and Crawshaw. On the bench: De Souza, Mackail-Smith, Young, Deacon and White.
A lively start by both sides which quickly faded from memory as the second half was dire. Within the first 10 minutes, Binns hit the post for the visitors and City stretched the Don's keeper more than once before Hendon opened the scoring with a close range prod from Butler following a goal-mouth scramble. 0-1. Within minutes it was level as Martin scored with a close range header from a Lodge cross. Honours even for the rest of the half although Hendon were showing more enterprise through the midfield. H.T. 1-1.
The injured Brown was replaced at half time by De Souza who looked un-natural at centre-back and received a yellow card within seconds of the kick-off. City never really started the second half and Hendon went ahead within 10 minutes with Crace tapping home from a corner. 1-2. The visitors took control and the threats from the home side were rare. Young replaced Evans and Mackail-Smith came on for Martin. Hendon scored 2 more late goals. A penalty was dispatched by Binns following a foul on Crace by Kean and in the last few moments, Naylor brought down the same player on the edge of the box and received a red card for his trouble. Randall sent the free-kick through the wall and past Wilmot. 1-4. F.T.
Hendon are a workmanlike side with quality in Dale Binns but, quite simply, they were 'up' for this one and City weren't. This was another poor performance by Saints who seem to have lost their work ethic, team-work and ball control over the last few weeks. City have conceded 17 goals in the last 4 games and in two of those, Wilmot has been in the running for Man of the Match. City drop to 4th place in the table, their lowest position since 3 o'clock on the opening day of the season. A disappointing crowd of perhaps 250 with very few up from Hendon.
Entertainment: 3/10. Atmosphere 4/10. Technical Merit 3/10. Refere 5/10.
Report by Homer |
