Classy Supporters Hammer Hendon

FCBFCSA 9 – 1 HST

On Saturday, the Supporters Association team won its first match of the season, and of the John Hunt era, in convincing fashion against a plucky Hendon outfit.

The Bees started well, keeping the ball and buccaneering left back Jamie Loveday broke into the box and shot just wide in the game’s opening chance after 4 minutes. The scoring was opened two minutes later when ace marksman Tony Fenton broke the offside trap and slotted the ball calmly home. He soon doubled the score, put through by Silvio, a debutant, displaying silky skills akin to his brother in law, Barnet star Grazioli.

Barnet continued to press and were rewarded when Tony again got clear and this time squared to powerful strike partner Craig Clayton, who hammered in with a superb outside of the boot shot from the edge of the area. SA Chairman Keith Doe decided to get in on the act, his delicate chip across goal hitting the bar. (What is it with Supporters’ Group Chairmen and crossbars?)

The game began to calm down, but after 23 minutes, a weak goal kick allowed Tony to slam in for his hat-trick from 20 yards. With the situation looking bleak for Hendon, they fought well to stem the tide and began to create chances with Ryan in goal pulling off some smart saves in goal, one from a Nicky Bailey look alike (in appearance and attitude).

Some strong defending from Captain Gerry and Andy kept Hendon at bay until half time, with the score still at 4-0 to the SA.

At half time, the manager called for focus to keep a clean sheet. So naturally the Nicky Bailey Hendon version powered in a shot from 16 yards just 3 minutes after the break to reduce the deficit. The re-introduction of Tony and Ben Kentish, a product of the SA youth system soon got the Bees going again and Ben showed classy touches in midfield, despite some heavy tackling.

The Bees were soon left screaming for a penalty as TANK went over in the box, creating a crater to match another one he had formed at the opposite end in the first half! Ben and Tony then linked up with a 1-2 to set up Dave Kirby to score a cracking curler from the edge of the box into the far corner for the best team goal of the match. TANK’s direct approach continued to pay dividends as he had a shot on target from 18 yards, before Tony scored a superb spiralling lob from fully 30 yards.

Dave Kirby then went in goal, to allow Ryan a Schmeichel-esque go outfield for the last 20 minutes. These minutes belonged to Craig, allowed back up front having spent much of the game offering a dominant presence in central midfield. Firstly, he knocked in an excellent volley from a corner. Two minutes after this, with ten to go, he bustled past two defenders and poked the ball past the keeper to complete a fine hat trick. To round off the scoring, Tony played the ball into the box, TANK flicked it on and Craig nodded the ball over the keeper and into the net.

Attempts for double figures by Ollie Deed and Ryan were denied, and this was deserved, for Hendon put up a brave fight against superior opposition, and managed to get on the scoresheet. Despite this, it was a dominant and deserved victory for the SA, with 4 goal heroes Craig and Tony being edged out for man of the match by Gerry, who played superbly at centre back to snuff out most attacks with ease. Manager John, resplendent in his suit, told me that ‘the boys done well, 5 more minutes and it would have been double figures, got to be happy with that’. It was an assessment that a crowd of over 40 would have agreed with, after a clinical and creative performance which bodes well for the season ahead.