Hendon 3 Magpies 1 25/09/21 [Match report now added ]

Graham Dunn's report of the game:-

Hendon 3 Wimborne Town 1 - 25 Sept 2021
Wimborne's run of three successive wins on the road came to an abrupt end in North London.
Callum Chugg's header gave the Magpies the lead on 28 minutes, but for the fourth time this
season a poor second half performance let the points slip away.

With Charlie Gunson, Jamie Henry, Mark Jamison and Connal Morrison all unavailable, manager
James Stokoe restored Scott Arnold to central defence, moved the versatile Ben Scorey to left
back, and brought the returning Billy Maybury onto the bench.

On an overcast afternoon, the 3G pitch at Silver Jubilee Park had an unusual appearance as it was
covered with small black rubber beads which showered upwards with every bounce of the ball.
Wimborne made a promising start: Dan Strugnell's low cross fell to Harry Morgan whose snap shot
was blocked; Lewis Beale's run down the left wing resulted in a corner; Josh Hanratty's volley was
headed away; Chugg's precise pass down the middle saw home stopper Burbidge save Morgan's
shot; and Chugg's diagonal encouraged Scorey to get forward.

After Wimborne had had the better of the opening quarter hour, Hendon started creating chances.
A through ball found Hamzaemakula one-on-one with Billy Terrell only for the young keeper to
bravely dive at his feet to save. From the resulting corner on the right, Smith's downward header
was spectacularly cleared off the line by Morgan. In their next attack, White headed wide when
well-placed, and skipper Arnold was in the right place to clear left-back Perry's dangerous cross.
Although the Greens were coming more into the game, it was the Magpies who took the lead on 28
minutes. Curtis Young's corner from the right picked out Chugg who had pulled away from his
marker at the far post, and the defender's header rocketed past Burbidge into the net.

The next real chances came at the end of the half. On 43 minutes, Young won the ball in midfield
and sent Beale down the left. The striker cut inside and from the edge of the area beat both keeper
and the far post. At the other end Terrell made a good save from Hamzaemakula's deflected shot,
and in time added on Terrell made a brilliant save low to his left to keep out Smith's thumping
header from a corner.

At the start of the second period, Hendon's Lee Allinson replaced a defender with an attacker, and
his bold move paid off just three minutes later. As Wimborne's defenders appealed for offside, an
innocuous-looking ball down the middle found Brooks in space, and he, in turn, found the net.

Terrell's long clearance left Beale and the last defender to battle for the bouncing ball, and Beale
skipped past the full-back to cross from the left, but these were rare moments of relief for
Wimborne's defence as the momentum was now with the home side. Incisive passing at pace,
particularly involving Hamzaemakula and Clarke, were causing problems.

Wimborne held out until the 75th minute. Substitute Nicholas charged in from the left, played a
one-two, and rifled the ball past Terrell from 10 yards. The same played volleyed over shortly after,
before Hendon sealed the points on 83 minutes. Hamzaemakula seized on a loose ball and coolly
fired past Terrell from 15 yards.

After a decent first-half, Wimborne were unable to muster one attempt on goal in the second, and
now find themselves propping up the embryonic league table. But it's not all doom and gloom. This
is a talented group of young players finding their way at this level. We've seen that they can match
most teams for one half, putting two such halves together is the key - simples!

Wimborne: Terrell, Strugnell, Chugg, Arnold (Carswell 82), Bragg, Scorey, Hanratty (Maybury 62),
Young, Morgan, Sinclair, Beale Unused subs: Langdon (gk), Mason, Gamble
Att: 198
Match stats:
Magpies Greens
Goal attempts on target 2 8
Goal attemps off target 4 6
Corners 5 5
Fouls conceded 11 14
Offside 5 1
Cards 2 Y 2 Y

Something is seriously wrong if you cannot field a team and 5 subs at this level of football, it is totally unacceptable and must be addressed by the BOD.

If actions are not taken soon the season will be over before it has even begun, either the BOD need to back the manager financially, or if they do not have confidence in the management team, they must make the change now....

Unless of course they are accepting that we cannot financially compete / operate in this league and are happy to see the club return to a lower league.

I don't think any surporter genuinely expects the club to be challenging for the title or even the play offs, however if the club wishes to encourage more fans to attend games it must at least be capable of fielding a team which is competitive.

I see that Poole had trouble putting a team together for their game at Kings Langley yesterday.
No Burbidge, Lee or Whisken.
Just 4 subs - one was a g/k, another was Assistant Manager Micky Hubbard.
To add to their problems, Corby Moore was sent off.
Tuesday week's league cup game against the Dolphins could see interesting team selections, as both teams have games this mid-week (we're at Gosport, Poole at Salisbury), and games on Saturday.
If you still have a pair of boots, it might be an idea to put some dubbin on them in case you're needed 

I think Graham's mention of Poole Town was relevant. Kings Langley winning 3-0 was a shock and so to hear about Poole's woes I realise why they lost. Also KL winning was one reason why we are bottom - not to mention us not winning. I'm looking forward to hearing that Yazz song on the PA at the next home game - The Only Way is Up !