TOP GREENS STUN LATICS
Nico nets last-gasp clincher
SOUTHERN League Premier South outfit Hendon stunned National League’s Oldham Athletic to reach the last 16 of the FA Trophy thanks to Niko Muir’s 96th-minute strike.
Muir bundled home the last-gasp winner just minutes after James Norwood cancelled out Joe White’s opener from the penalty shoot-out in the third minute of stoppage time.
“It’s a fantastic result and I am delighted everyone at the football club,” beamed Greens boss Lee Allinson.
“On a personal level, this is my best ever result as a manager, but it is down to the players. We have a fantastic bunch of lads.
“When they equalised deep in injury time, I thought it was so harsh on the boys and I was fearing the worst, especially as the game would have gone straight to penalties.
“We had 161 fans there today and they were absolutely fantastic. We could not have done it without them.”
Hendon had the ball in the back of the net inside five minutes in following a Hamza Bin-Semakula corner but referee, and Latics namesake, James Oldham had blown for a foul.
That set the tone for an end-to-end cup tie but it was Oldham creating the better opportunities – Liam Hogan squandering the best of them, firing over from close range.
Hendon keeper Bradley House was then forced into a smart save from Ethan Walker after another Oldham set-piece.
Walker was a threat down the left side all game and early in the second half he cut the ball back for Hallam Hope, who found room in Hendon’s box but could only fire a shot straight at House.
Hendon’s keeper was then forced off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury but that only spurred his teammates on further and on 67 minutes, the visitors broke the deadlock. A long hopeful ball was pumped forward and sailed over two Oldham heads for Kai Brosnan to latch onto it and skilfully pull back for captain White to place it beyond Magnus Norman.
Hendon then should have doubled their lead on 80 minutes when Muir found himself free in Oldham’s area and he cut it back for Ethan Light, who could only blaze over the bar.
But just as all looked lost for the home side, Walker beat Bin-Semakula in the box and was brought down by the Hendon man, earning a penalty.
Substitute Norwood stepped up and fired into the top left corner fvor his 15th goal of the season to the relief of the home crowd.
But with the game destined to go to penalties, Hendon had one last attack as White was slipped through and rounded Norman but his shot was cleared off the line magnificently by Charlie Raglan.
From the resulting corner, Norman made a point-blank stop to keep out a headed effort but could only parry to Muir, who bundled the ball home to spark joyous scenes from the travelling fans..