DOCKERS HAVE THE FINAL SAY
Callender nets last Griffin goal
WHO scored the last senior goal at Brentford’s Griffin Park? Erith Town’s Steadman Callender!
The 26-year-old forward could be the answer to quiz questions of the future after netting the Dockers’ third goal in their 6-3 defeat against Brentford B in the London Senior Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.
The west London club are leaving their beloved Griffin Park behind after more than a century to move to a new stadium and bowed out with a goal bonanza against the Southern Counties East League Premier Division outfit.
While the Bees’ slick play proved too much, the visitors got on the scoreboard through an own goal, a Taylor McDonagh header – and that delightful 78th-minute lob from Callender.
“It’s always good if you can score the last goal at a stadium of more than 100 years!” the attacker told The NLP.
“It’s definitely a memory to keep hold of and it’s great to have that bit of history.” Dockers boss Adam Woodward was also mighty proud of his team’s efforts in an entertaining affair played behind closed doors. “It was a nice occasion for the club and players to experience the last game at Griffin Park,” he said. “Brentford were really good to us and the surface was in tip-top condition. “Our gameplan went out of the window when they scored after three minutes and the goals they scored were top quality. We couldn’t really do more on the night.
Exciting
“It was nice to give two of our 16-year-old academy lads, Alfie Eldridge and Tom Ash, a run-out. Five or six of them have played for the first team in pre-season and haven’t looked out of place. It’s exciting for the club.”
The Brentford match was a good warm-up for the Dockers as they prepare for the new season. They visit Tunbridge Wells in the FA Cup extra preliminary round on Tuesday and launch their league campaign at home against Sheppey United on Saturday. The youth team, meanwhile, host Sevenoaks Town in the FA Youth Cup preliminary round on Wednesday, September 9.
Brentford B will face Hendon in the final, which is due to be played on September 16 at a venue to be decided.
The Greens beat Wingate & Finchley 3-1 after extra-time on Tuesday to book their place. Eddie Oshodi, Liam Brooks and Samrai Gebrai were on target.