Blitz late show stuns Hendon C

Quentin Fox
07729 785955

Barry Green and David Blitz were the goal men as Loughton Orient ran out 2-1 winners over Hendon C in west Hendon.

The opening exchanges of the game were fairly even although Loughton Orient looked slightly more dangerous on the counter-attack. This paid off midway through the first half when Green was put through and used his blistering pace to round the oncoming goalkeeper and coolly slot into an empty net.

Hendon came back at Loughton in search of an equaliser but the Orient back four were keeping them at bay and Marc Jacobs in goal was pulling off some great saves to hold out for half time.

The second half started as the first finished with Hendon putting the pressure on but Loughton Orient looking very dangerous on the break. Then came a true moment of sportsmanship, when Green looked to have been taken down in the box and the ref awarded a Loughton Orient penalty. However, Barry was very honest and told the ref he had slipped and that it wasn't a penalty. A pure Robbie Fowler against Arsenal moment and one which deserves praise for such honesty.

Hendon were still looking for an equaliser and it came with 20 minutes to go when top-scorer Alex Elf broke through and finished nicely.

The game could go either way and with 10 minutes left Silverman won an important flick on from a long throw and the ball broke loose in the Hendon six-yard box. There was a scramble in front of goal and Blitz managed to force it home to restore Orients lead and seal all three points.

Loughton Orient boss Dan Curtis told JC Sport: "It wasn't our greatest performance, but today was all about getting the three points and starting to put a run together. All the boys put 110 per cent in today and it paid off in the end."

Hendon player-manager Craig Miller told JC Sport: "Two defensive mistakes allowed a Loughton smash and grab a win over a weakened Hendon team.

"We were dominant and had hit the woodwork several times and should have put the game to bed in the first half. In the second half Hendon had two clear-cut penalty claims turned down."

Hendon: Shapira, Strom (sub: Stern), Miller, Philips, Caller, Major (sub: Jacobs), Levy, Glekin, Sluckis, David, Elf

DC Prediction: Hendon C 3 Loughton Orient 1