Hendon 2-0 Cray Wanderers - Jenkins not concerned with poor timekeeping

Sunday 20th September 2009

HENDON 2-0 CRAY WANDERERES
Ryman Premier League
Sunday 20th September 2009
Stephen McCartney reports from Vale Farm

CRAY WANDERERS boss Ian Jenkins refused to blame getting to Wembley’s Vale Farm ground with only twenty minutes before the scheduled one o’clock kick-off as to the reasons behind his side remaining in the Ryman Premier League drop zone after eight games.

The Wands face a fine for handing in their team-sheet at 12:50pm as all but five of their players (assistant manager Joe Francis who lives in Ashford was the first to arrive from the Cray camp after noon) turned up with just twenty minutes before the scheduled kick-off.

“We turned up a little bit late but I think on the performance it doesn’t make any difference what time you turn up for a game,” Jenkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“If the players have got it in their heads, it’s a game of football at the end of the day.”

He added: “It’s just one of those things. We’re playing non-league level, we’re coming over here on a Sunday afternoon. We’re doing them a favour a little bit.

“I’m not bothered what time we get here at the end of the day. You prepare when you like, ten to three, get there, get on that pitch and play football.

“All that about turning up late, It don’t matter. If people make that an excuse they shouldn’t be involved in football.

“We met at the Cons (Conservative Club, Oxford Road, Sidcup) today at 10:30, we left there at 10:35, so we’ve given ourselves enough time to get over here. It’s one of those things. It happens!”

Hendon got the game underway only four minutes late on the day that marked the first anniversary of their sudden departure from their former Claremont Road home.

And in front of their lowest crowd of the season, Gary McCann’s side climbed up to seventh place in the table with a 2-0 victory, which leaves the Wands in the bottom three.

The north Londoners claimed the three points, however, had Cray taken their many first half chances before the home side broke the deadlock, then it would certainly have been a different story.

Despite their late arrival, it was Cray who were the better team during the first half, although Jenkins’ men went in at the break a goal-down.

Cray, who were without the influential Scott Kinch who was serving a one-match ban, started well and their first chance arrived inside the opening four minutes.

Ross Lover got the ball from under his feet on the edge of the Hendon penalty area and carved open a chance for striker Tommy Tyne, but his rolling shot was pushed away by the diving James Reading and Lover blasted the rebound over the bar.

Having taken a 19th minute corner himself, the impressive Peter Dean whipped in a cross from the left and striker Yacine Hamada, with his back to goal, cut the ball back to James Bent but the Hendon winger saw his fierce drive deflect past the post.

As the first half entered the half-way mark, Cray squandered yet another chance as striker Leigh Bremner pounced on some hesitant goalkeeping by Reading, although the striker blasted a right-footed shot over the bar when put through.

But despite their dominance, Cray Wanderers fell behind to a 43rd minute opener, as Hendon grabbed the lead against the run of play.

The impressive Dean released Lubomir Guentchev down the left and his low centre found Hamada unmarked at the far post and he slid the ball into the bottom far corner, despite the sliding Steve Aris trying to clear the ball off the line.

The opening goal inspired Hendon and visiting goalkeeper Jack Smelt - a recent capture from Merstham - denied both Hamada and Bent just before the half-time whistle.

Cray did have the ball in the back of the Hendon net inside the opening two minutes of the second half but Tyne, who slammed the ball into the roof of the net, was flagged for offside.

With the Wembley Arch in the skyline behind the main stand at Vale Farm, Hendon’s second in the 54th minute would have been more suited to over the road.

Central midfielder Jamie Busby picked the ball up following a two-man move down the right and cracked a stunning right-footed drive from 30-yards which rocketed into the far corner past Smelt’s despairing dive.

That goal knocked the stuffing out of Cray Wanderers and it was Hendon that finished the game the stronger side as they attacked down the left on many occasions.

Dean was played in behind the Cray defence (aided by an incorrect offside decision) but his angled left-footed drive brought a low diving save out of Smelt.

At the other end, Luckett floated in a cross from the left but Tyrone Sterling planted a towering header agonisingly wide.

A marvellous piece of skill from Hamada almost made it three in the 67th minute - but he was denied by the foot of the far post.

Hendon played the ball down the left again and Busby cut the ball back to Dean and his first time cross was met by an acrobatic overhead kick from Hamada, but with Smelt beaten, the ball looped towards goal but the woodwork came to the Kent side’s rescue.

Jenkins made a brave desperate attempt to fight his way back into the game as he replaced Tyne, Bremner and Sterling with three strikers in the shape of Lewis Wood, Richmond Kissi and George Porter.

And Wood almost made an instant impression on the game when he was released through on goal in the 75th minute, but he lashed a fierce drive which smacked against the angle of crossbar and near post.

But despite their fifth league defeat, Jenkins remained positive.

He said: “I thought we done well, started off really bright, had a load of chances first half, could have been out of sight. On another day maybe it would’ve been different.

“Had we put the ball into the back of the net we’ve won the game on another day, but other than that I was happy how we played.”

The long-serving Jenkins added, “I thought we deserved a bit more out of the game today.”

But Jenkins refused to blame his miss-firing players for today’s defeat.

“We’ve had good, good opportunities today,” he said. “I’ve played and miss a few of them during my time.

“We’ll be missing a few more during the season, that’s why we’re playing at this sort of level. That’s the difference at the end of the day.”

Hendon: James Reading, Dave Diedhiou, Craig Vargas, James Kirby, James Parker, Kevin Maclaren, James Bent, Yacine Hamada (Glenn Garner 72), Peter Dean (Casey Maclaren 86), Jamie Busby (Wayne O‘Sullivan 80), Lubomir Guentchev.

Subs: Jamie Burgess, Harry Hunt.

Goals: Yacine Hamada 43, Jamie Busby 54

Booked: Kevin Maclaren 61, Glenn Garner 87

Cray Wanderers: Jack Smelt, Steve Aris, Colin Luckett, Stanley Muguo, Mark Willy, Aaron Day, Ross Lover, Rob Quinn, Tommy Tyne (Lewis Wood 74), Leigh Bremner (George Porter 74), Tyrone Sterling (Richmond Kissi 74).

Subs: Tommy Osborne, Pat Brennan.

Attendance: 138

Referee: Mr Alfonzo Field (Chesham, Buckinghamshire)

Assistants: Mr Reuben Simon & Mr Robert Hey (Widmer End, Buckinghamshire)