HENDON’S CHALLENGE IS DENIED BY DUDZINSKI...
INJURY-HIT Hendon were denied by a superb rearguard action from Lowestoft Town as the Trawlerboys earned a draw.
“We were very limited in our offensive options,” Hendon manager Gary McCann told The NLP.
“But we still took the game to Lowestoft and, but for three outstanding saves by Lowestoft’s goalkeeper, we would probably have won the game.”
Lowestoft made a great start and took the lead in the ninth minute when a Hendon corner, cleared to the centre circle, was misplayed by Luke Tingey.
Robert Eagle swooped on the ball and his pass released Jake Reed, who finished confidently past Tom Lovelock.
Niko Muir tried to fashion an immediate response but Sam Murphy was just off target with his shot.
The bad injury news for the Greens – they went into the game with six players out – continued when Ollie Sprague limped off and was replaced by Harold Joseph after 15 minutes.
Hendon began to take control of the game as the first half progressed and a pass from Muir released Zak Joseph, whose 50yard run ended with a shot just wide of the target.
After Eagle had wasted a good opportunity for Lowestoft, shooting straight at Lovelock, Tim Dudzinski produced a superb save to keep out an effort from Dave Diedhiou.
In first-half stoppage time Arthur Lee thought he had equalised but Harry Barker cleared his shot from close to the line.
The leveller finally came after 63 minutes when Joseph rode a couple of challenges, made space for a shot and fired the ball into the bottom corner, giving Dudzinski no chance.
Dudzinski remained the Lowestoft hero, however, as he made a number of outstanding saves. After 67 minutes, he produced another excellent stop to deny Diedhiou.
Six minutes later, he plunged low to push aside a Casey Maclaren shot.
Reed, Eagle and Shaun Bammant all had late chances for Lowestoft – they came in a threeminute period around the 80th.
Lovelock, however, was well positioned to save the first and last and used his legs well to deny Eagle, who really should have done better with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Hendon continued to shoot at goal but there was always a willing blue shirt to throw himself in front of the ball.
And, if no blue shirt could do the job, Dudzinski proved he was more than capable.