Hendon 0 Lowestoft Town 1

Att 183

Teams:-
Hendon: McDonald, Seeby, Wharton, Casey Maclaren, Flegg (Figura 88 mins), Kevin Maclaren, O'Leary, Wallace (Smith 84 mins), Nkumu (Thomas 74 mins), Bennett
Subs; Murray, Thomas, Diedhiou, Smith, Figura

Lowestoft Town: Jones, Jack Ainsley, Gleeson, Gaughran, Stuart Ainsley (Haynes-Brown 72 mins), Henderson, Jarvis, Fisk, Eagle (Smith 79 mins), Frew (Okay 63 mins), Reed
Subs; Okay, Smith, Haynes-Brown

In a very tight match, Jack Ainsley scores a late penalty for Lowestoft Town in a 1-0 away win against in form Hendon, to move up to fourth in the table.

With both sides having played on Saturday and the order of the day of late being heavy pitches, stamina was going to be the key between these two in form teams.
Hendon started with their goal scorers Smith and Thomas on the bench. While Lowestoft were missing Williams through illness, as Frew returned to the squad and the starting line-up after missing Saturdays game with a virus.

The match got underway on a pretty good surface with a bit of give in it but the first ten minutes was mainly confined to the centre of the pitch with both sides playing a fairly direct game. Henderson was uncharacteristically putting a few passes astray for Lowestoft early on with the game being played at a pretty fast tempo. There was nothing between the two sides though and little in the way of action in the final third.
Both sides were playing route one football for the most part and it nearly came off for Hendon with Seeby playing a good ball down the right channel and round the back but Jones was fast out of his goal to claim before a green attacking shirt could get on the end.
Both sides were trying to find that decisive ball in the final third but with half hour gone it had been a pretty tight and uneventful affair.
As half time started to approach the home side were now seeing more of the ball in the Lowestoft half and were getting into the corners but a solid Lowestoft defence were cutting out and aptly dealing with any balls that were going into the box.
Following a Gaughran foul on the edge of the area, Hendon were presented with a dangerous free-kick opportunity just before the break but it was smashed into the wall and even though the home side had seen the majority of possession in the first half, the teams trudged off at the break goalless.

The second half started with Gaughran trying one from distance as both sides looked to settle into the half. However, with ten minutes of the second half soon passing by, the game was taking on a similar course to the first half.
The wide men were looking dangerous for Hendon when getting down the channels and in the corners but Hendon didn't have much to show for their possession and the Lowestoft defence was showing exactly why they've kept so many clean sheets this season.
As the twenty minute mark of the second half approached, the pitch was visibly cutting up more and this wasn't helping either side in trying to get a firm foothold in the game.
Most of the play for Hendon was going through their impressive number 7, Bryan, who was looking like he could be the one to unlock something but as of yet neither side had mustered an effort on goal.
Lowestoft were first to turn to the bench with Okay replacing Frew. Reed was now a lone figure up front but Henderson was floated in the hole and Lowestoft were now flooding the midfield more, to try grapple possession back from the home side.
Jarvis and Fisk had been working hard all game and with Okay coming on to support, Lowestoft started to see more of the ball. A determined Jack Ainsley came in from the right corner and got past two green shirts, before laying the ball back but shots from Okay and then Fisk were both blocked, before Henderson dragged one wide.
Just under twenty minutes were left now and Lowestoft introduced more fresh legs with Haynes-Brown replacing Stuart Ainsley. Minutes later Hendon then made their first change with Thomas replacing Nkumu.
Both teams were impressively showing no signs of tiredness after having played on Saturday but with Lowestoft introducing Smith in place of Eagle, the fitness of Lowestoft started to shine through, as the home side started to look a little leggy with ten minutes of the match remaining.
It was a game that had been so tight, that it was only going to be won by that one chance coming along and being taken. That chance then arrived for Lowestoft, as Jack Ainsley
sent a tempting free kick right across the face of goal and with Henderson getting on the end of it at the far post it looked as if the deadlock was about to be broken but the keeper saved with his feet and Hendon survived. Hendon then made their second change to try and react to the strong finish by Lowestoft, as Smith replaced Wallace up front.
It was a change that had little effect though as Lowestoft continued to draw on their energy reserves and apply some late pressure. That late pressure finally took its toll on Hendon with just two minutes of regular time remaining. Following some good build up play by Lowestoft, involving the substitutes and others; Okay was found in a crowded area and with a flailing leg bringing him down, the referee pointed to the spot. Jack Ainsley put himself forward to take the crucial spot kick and on the sound of the whistle he calmly converted and put Lowestoft into a 1-0 lead (86 mins).
Hendon could only react by throwing on their final substitute as Figura replaced Flegg but it was all too late and Lowestoft saw the match out to register a huge three points, their fifth straight win and their nineteenth clean sheet.

It had been a tight match with little in the way of chances and even though the home side probably edged the possession, Lowestoft had defended really well yet again and had converted the opportunity to win when it came their way.
The Lowestoft rearguard were in no mood to be beaten but in a game that needed every ounce of stamina to be summoned, the midfield were solid and played a crucial part. Jarvis is showing a great level of consistency now but tonight he was pipped to the Man of the Match honours by the reliable and always impressive Fisk.

The team will now enjoy a much deserved few days of rest before turning their attentions to Saturday, when they welcome Lewes to the Crown Meadow.

Let's make it a bumper crowd and get right behind our team!!

Terry Bullen