GREENS FOR GO! ALLINSON RELISHES DERBY DINAMIC
LEE ALLINSON says the joy on Hendon faces after they stunned Oldham Athletic will never be forgotten – although the Greens boss would have preferred to have avoided Wealdstone in the last 16!
The Southern League Premier South side caused one of the upsets of the Isuzu FA Trophy fourth round when they beat the National League Latics 2-1 through Niko Muir’s stoppage-time winner.
“Hendon has really found it difficult for a number of years now – especially since they’ve been a supporter-owned club,” Allinson told The NLP. “So to see them happy, to see the chairman Cyrus and the former chairman, Simon, and the happiness in their faces to give the supporters that day out was very special.
“They likened it to when Hendon beat Leyton Orient in the 90s, it was that special for them.
“I think we’ve created history for the football club, which is great. Financially it massively helps because the club are struggling. On the face of it, it looks great. Behind the scenes it’s tough.
“So to see them like that is great. Then the draw is more money in the pot for us – it’s a massive help.
“To give them those moments, that live long in the memory. We’ll always remember that and have those times together which is very special.”
It was a rollercoaster of emotions for the 250-strong travelling fans as they saw the lead given to them by Joe White’s strike cancelled out in stoppage time by James Norwood’s penalty.
Allinson admits he felt sick in his stomach as he weighed up the prospect of a penalty shoot-out – only for Muir to pop up in the dying seconds.
And the former Biggleswade Town boss couldn’t have been prouder of his squad.
“I remember in the summer I was messaging players and a lot didn’t reply to me,” Allinson said. “That’s how bad we were last year.
“So the likes of Joe White, Niko Muir, Dan Matsuzaka and Lucas Perry – to stay with us and believe in what we’re doing was a massive bonus.
Special
“Then the likes of Billy Leonard and Blaise (Riley-Snow), Sauel Adenola and Kai Brosnan coming from Harrow and Ramsgate. They had troubled seasons last year – and we had a troubled season.
“To see the joy on their faces on Saturday will never be forgotten because it was such
a tough season last year.
“These are the moments you have in football. One week you can be really low and another week you’re extremely high. To see them go through that and enjoy that moment – and they did enjoy it – was very special.”
Allinson says the National League Stones, who saw manager Stuart Maynard join Notts County this week, were on a list of clubs he’d have liked to have missed in Monday’s draw given they will fancy their chances of reaching a Wembley final. But it only makes the anticipation for a packed local derby stronger.
“I’ve got many friends at Wealdstone and I’ve had some seriously tough battles over there in the past,” Allinson said. “What I’ve got to make sure my players do is not play the occasion and play the game as normal again.
“There will probably be 1,500-2,000 fans in there that believe they’re going to get to Wembley in three rounds’ time. They can probably walk to Wembley and this is their opportunity.
“We will probably sell-out our end, which will be fantastic for our football club.
“I don’t think there’s any love lost between the sides but I’ve got so much respect for Wealdstone. They’re a good club so we have to go there and give it our best shot.”