JIMMY IS RELIEVED AS SMITH DELIVERS
Hendon forced to fight
HENDON picked up three crucial points in their battle to avoid relegation, adding to Basingstoke’s woes.
Charlie Smith’s 32ndminute winner seperated the sides, but the home side were forced to see out a nervous finale after missing a number of chances.
“Relief is my main emotion,” said Greens boss Jimmy Gray. “We created plenty of chances. There was lots to like about the performance but there was a little I didn’t like.”
How different the game might have been if, in the opening seconds, Sam Smart, when clean through on goal, had been able to beat Andrew McCorkell, but the goalkeeper made a fine save with his legs.
Barely two minutes later, at the other end, Tom McGill did equally well to deny Bayley Brown, who would almost certainly have scored had his first touch been truer. Smart had another chance after 22 minutes, but again McCorkell came out on top.
Just past the half-hour mark, Lewis Toomey saw his header from a corner tipped over the bar by McGill.
This corner led to the only goal, Charlie Smith, coming in from beyond the back post and drilling a shot which, Ben Wright, under the shadow of the crossbar, could only help over the line.
Kraig Noel-McLeod set up the chance of an instant response, but Sam Deadfield shot wastefully over the bar from 10 yards out. Dean Stow then fired wide of McCorkell’s far post.
At the other end, Matty Harriott should have made it
in first-half stoppage time but he, too, failed to hit the target.
For the first 30 minutes of the second half, Hendon dominated, but were wasteful in front of goal.
A brave defensive scramble kept out one Hendon attack and Jacob GardinerSmith hit the crossbar with an angled drive.
For Basingstoke, Wright had a chance to equalise but snatched his shot badly.
Sub Zidan Akers came on and made a big difference to the Greens, while Romario Jonas blocked a goalbound shot from Sam Deadfield with McCorkell beaten.
The keeper also made three excellent saves as the game wound down to pre2-0 serve the Greens’ victory.
Basingstoke boss Martin Kuhl added. “I knew they were good at set pieces. We didn’t do our job, someone switched off and they scored. Our biggest thing has been the two boxes. Our approach play was very good.” STAR MAN: Matty Harriott (Hendon) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★