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Eight Goal Cracker It was an evening of excess at Park Lane tonight. Eight goals, two sendings off, the woodwork hit on five occasions, a penalty and a game of football so fast and furious, everybody ought to have gone home completely satisfied. Such a pity that the Gulls attack seems to have hit form at last but the overall performance was let down by far too many gaping holes at the back. The action started from the off and both sides came close with early promises. Fans soon realised that goals might be on their way when Lee Protheroe let loose a 20yd volley after only four minutes that dipped at the last moment, almost catching experienced 'keeper David Hook off his guard. Only a minute later John Kennedy was unlucky to see a neat header go just wide. These chances were just reward for free-flowing football that was a delight to watch. Lee Protheroe caused the visitors another scare on 13 minutes when, following Neil Gregory being brought down just outside the penalty area, his free-kick, from just outside the area, smacked against the upright and bounced to safety. But Hendon were going to be no push-over. They were very quick on the break and some dreadful Canvey mistakes and uncertainties at the back almost let them in on more than one occasion. One particular long volley from 30yds forced Ashley Harrison to make a spectacular one-handed clearance. But on 19 minutes Canvey conceded a free-kick 30yds out on the right and fans around me were fearing the worst. Canvey always look vulnerable in these set-piece situations and just as fans predicted, the ball came sailing over to the far post and the goal was an easy one for Ricci Crace. It might have been against the run of play, but it counted all the same. Then, to make matters worse Paul Yates was on hand to punish Ollie Adedeji when he slipped up in his own half, lost possession and nobody could get back to cover in time. Two goals in two minutes for the visitors. Being two - nil down so early on, It looked like curtains for Canvey. Playing some desperate football, Canvey decided to put the ball into the air. They went onto the back foot and it looked like desperate stuff. The game might have disintegrated but then Greggers won another free-kick on the edge of the Hendon box and once again Lee Protheroe came to do his stuff. He hit the ball true and hard and Hook stood no chance as it sailed past him into the corner of the net. Canvey suddenly got into their stride. They started to create chances again and this, in turn, lifted their game. They were back in the game; so much so that the second goal was only 60 seconds in coming. Canvey's equaliser came about following a mis-kick by Harrison at the back. But in spite of this the ball found its way to Minton and Forbes who worked their magic down the left flank. Eventually the ball crossed to the right where Chris Duffy teed it up beautifully for JK to slot home from 6 yds. Things looked to be going Canvey's way at last. Disaster struck just before half-time when Adedeji, instead of allowing a simple ball to run out for a throw near his own back line, decided to surprise everyone by sending it back to 'keeper Harrison, across the path of Ben Chenery. Nobody was more surprised by this move than Chenners himself who, instead of helping the ball reach Ash, compounded the error by being easily dispossessed by Randall who had little difficulty in scoring the visitors third goal of the evening. Canvey were once again under the cosh and the pressure at the back was mounting. Lee Protheroe was guilty of kicking the ball at the assistant referee following a silly foul committed by Scott Forbes and was shown a red card for his efforts. The result was an early bath for Canvey free-kick specialist. (Thanks to Steve Rogers of the Hendon website for clearing up exactly what happened) Half time Canvey 2 Hendon 3 If the first half was evenly matched, the second was total Canvey. They clicked their game up by at least a couple of notches and mounted attack after attack on the visitors goal. There were more near misses than you could shake a stick at with the upright, the crossbar, defenders' hands, the keeper's knees and a defender's backside all getting in the way of the ball to thwart the dynamic Canvey attack. One spectacular bicycle kick by Brayley was only just pushed away by Hook. It was now Hendon who were scrabbling around at the back but whether it was bad luck or lack of opportunism, Canvey just didn't seem to be getting the 'rub of the green'. The ball didn't seem to bounce their way and they just couldn't get to the 50/50 balls. Jeff Minton's in-swinging corners were causing lots of headaches and he found the head of Neil Gregory on a couple of occasions. The Hendon defence stood up to the onslaught well, but they did seem to have a fair degree of good fortune on their side. But Minton did get his reward with a 65th minute corner that Hook could only assist into his own goal, although he did appeal to the referee that he was impeded by Gregory. *[Following the game, the club affirmed that the goal was actually scored by Neil Gregory. Our records have now been amended to reflect this - Merv] Hendon eventually got back into their stride and following an uncharacteristic error by Steve Ward when he gave the ball away in midfield, the visiting attack were given an opportunity to break away against a stretched defence. Credit to the Hendon boys. When they were given half a chance, they took it and goal number four was a neat piece of passing and a cracking good shot from Yates that Ash couldn't get anywhere near. But on this second half showing, how could Canvey be losing? They were terrific! Home fans would claim that justice was done when they were awarded a 79th minute penalty after Cooper was caught tugging at an attackers shirt in his own penalty area. With all the pressure on him, Greggers made no mistake with the resulting spot kick and, at four goals each, the result stayed level until the final whistle and the honours were even, although it was a close run thing. There was more drama when Hendon's Crace sent off for a second yellow card ten minutes from time, but this seems more of a comment on the standard of the referee than of the players. This was not a 'dirty' game but some of the referee's decisions left fans (and players) somewhat confused. Why so many yellow cards? How do you award a Canvey corner when Ben Chenery blasts over from 10yds? How could you miss Butler's elbow in Gregory's face in the first half? But in spite of all that, the general consensus was that it was a cracking good game with loads of action and drama. Hendon put up a good defence against a second half attack that seemed to be on fire. But somehow Canvey must shore up some of the gaping holes at the back. And they must defend that far post! Match Report by Merv. Teams
Weather Conditions: Dry, warm evening. What did you think of
today's match?
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