Dumped out of the Trophy

We exit the FA Trophy after a defeat to Hendon

It was a disappointing afternoon for the Yellows, as we fell to another cup defeat. As the Wembley Arch looked over us, there was very little to shout about throughout the first half, a very even start, with Hendon controlling more of the ball, but neither ‘keeper being troubled. The closest either side went in the first half was when Reuben Swann had a go from outside the penalty area, but it was deflected over the bar, it looked like it was going to go flying into the back of the net.

In the second half, it was a horrible start. Two minutes in, Blaise Riley-Snow ran through the heart of midfield, no meaningful challenges put in, before he continued his run right through the middle of defence and slotted past Bradbrook. 10 minutes later, Hendon doubled their lead. David Diedhiou lost his man and ran parallel with the front post near the edge of the area and hit his effort, first time, into the bottom corner. With half an hour remaining, it was a big moment for the academy. Jamie Bennett, Billy Walsh and most notably Alfie Lambert who came on for his Yellow first team debut, a well-deserved introduction. Those substitutes brought a bit more urgency to the side and five minutes after the changes Romario lashed a fine effort into the back of the Hendon net following a left wing corner routine, his second goal in a week! Right after that we were nearly level, Billy Walsh couldn’t quite turn a close-range effort in, lots of bodies in the way and there might have been a push on him. Unfortunately, with two minutes of the 90 left, Niko Muir slotted into the Sudbury net after a run by Adam Laaref, who wasn’t closed down, very similar run to the opening goal but this time down our right hand side.

So, our attention now turns solely to our league campaign. You never know, it might be a blessing in disguise to be in just one competition. See you at Halesowen, Yellows.
UP THE SUDS
By Isaac Mennie