Hendon 2-1 Oxford City
Earlsmead Stadium
Att: 197
17/11/13
After the retched disappointment of Halifax the day before, I'd slept and forgiven football. Just as well, as this was one of those hops that reminds me of why I'm what some would call a 'football obsessive.' I was somewhat ignorant in the run up to the game, as I still thought that Hendon were ground sharing at Wembley FC, but thankfully after the vital research I discovered they were playing, even closer to PDM HQ, at Harrow Borough. Initially I had planned to get the train, but on the morning it was decided that the nearby Ikea would be taken advantage of, so I got a lift.
It appears everyone can remember that I'd been to this ground before, except me. The reasoning being that I probably wasn't much older than two years old on my previous visit, meaning in essence this was a new ground for me, even if I have it on 'the list'. Hendon are a team I'm familiar with, watching them numerous times throughout my life, including a game against Aldershot in the FAC 1st round, so I find it a bit sad they play so far away from home now. Indeed Claremont Road held some of my earliest football memories, before they left in 2008, after enjoying 81 years at the ground.
All said, I can't knock Earlsmead in the slightest, as it has everything you'd want from a Ryman League ground. Opened in 1934, it has a current capacity of just over 3,000, which I personally think is a little low. The turnstiles are in one corner of the ground, meaning you head straight towards the main covered terrace, three steps high, running the length of the pitch. Either end are uncovered terraces of the same height. The focal point of the ground, in my opinion, is the small stand, seating 350, that straddles either side of the half way line. The views afforded from this are relatively decent, with it being slightly elevated and having no supporting pillars. Either side are covered terraces, with the club shop built into the one nearest the terrace.
The game was neither here nor there, while it wasn't entirely end to end it can't be described as boring either. The first half went by with neither team able to make the difference, until right before half time when the visitors took the lead. The Oxford City player found himself clear on goal, with his shot beating the keeper, but it rebounded off the post only for Declan Benamin to slot the ball into the back of the net. The Second half was better, with Hendon grabbing their equaliser in the 66th minute, with an equaliser from the edge of the area from Carl McCluskey. Hendon took the lead in the 72nd minute, when Jefferson Louis (apparently at his 31st club), placed a cross that was fired in by Anthony Thomas. There was drama right at the death, when the visitors were awarded a penalty. The keeper guessed the right way, sending the home team through to the last 64 of the competition.
It appears everyone can remember that I'd been to this ground before, except me. The reasoning being that I probably wasn't much older than two years old on my previous visit, meaning in essence this was a new ground for me, even if I have it on 'the list'. Hendon are a team I'm familiar with, watching them numerous times throughout my life, including a game against Aldershot in the FAC 1st round, so I find it a bit sad they play so far away from home now. Indeed Claremont Road held some of my earliest football memories, before they left in 2008, after enjoying 81 years at the ground.
All said, I can't knock Earlsmead in the slightest, as it has everything you'd want from a Ryman League ground. Opened in 1934, it has a current capacity of just over 3,000, which I personally think is a little low. The turnstiles are in one corner of the ground, meaning you head straight towards the main covered terrace, three steps high, running the length of the pitch. Either end are uncovered terraces of the same height. The focal point of the ground, in my opinion, is the small stand, seating 350, that straddles either side of the half way line. The views afforded from this are relatively decent, with it being slightly elevated and having no supporting pillars. Either side are covered terraces, with the club shop built into the one nearest the terrace.
The game was neither here nor there, while it wasn't entirely end to end it can't be described as boring either. The first half went by with neither team able to make the difference, until right before half time when the visitors took the lead. The Oxford City player found himself clear on goal, with his shot beating the keeper, but it rebounded off the post only for Declan Benamin to slot the ball into the back of the net. The Second half was better, with Hendon grabbing their equaliser in the 66th minute, with an equaliser from the edge of the area from Carl McCluskey. Hendon took the lead in the 72nd minute, when Jefferson Louis (apparently at his 31st club), placed a cross that was fired in by Anthony Thomas. There was drama right at the death, when the visitors were awarded a penalty. The keeper guessed the right way, sending the home team through to the last 64 of the competition.