Ryman Premier
Aveley 1 v 7 Hendon
By Andrew Soul
Photograph courtesy of www.amsoul-images.com
AVELEY were thumped 7-1 at home by Hendon in the last game of their torrid Ryman Premier campaign. They suffered a monumental second half collapse as Hendon run rampant in a 17 minute spell in which they scored five goals.
The first half showed no signs of the eventual result, as the relegated home side only went into the half time break 1-0 down, thanks to a somewhat bizarre award of a penalty in the 36th minute. A scramble in the box resulted in a Hendon player going flying and even though Greg Ngoyi seemingly smashed the ball into the net just as, if not before, the referee’s whistle went, the goal was chalked off and a penalty awarded. The aforementioned Ngoyi stepped up and claimed his goal though, although his penalty only just slipped through the grasp of debutant Aveley keeper, Steve Brown. Within a few minutes, play was held up for some five minutes as the referee, Mr Wilde pulled up with an injury and was unable to continue. A replacement Assistant Referee was sought, as one of the original officials stepped up to become the man in charge.
Just five minutes into the second half though, the collapse began as yet another penalty was awarded. A different referee, but once again a soft award, as seemingly ball before man was taking in a scruffy challenge. Scott Shulton was the man who this time stepped up and he sent Brown the wrong way to put Hendon in control. Within three minutes an unbelievably scruffy goal made it 3-0, as Isaiah Rankin, who once played for Arsenal in the Premier League, hit the ball at Brown who made the save only to push the ball on to the shin of Aveley captain Steve Willis and then have to watch it roll towards goal. Willis attempted to make the stop, but unfortunately for the Millers, the replacement Assistant adjudged the ball to cross the line. Just a couple of minutes later, Rankin got his second, this time with a much more clinical finish.
The former Gunner did not have to wait long for his hat trick and dreadful defending from the home side let him in once again and he made no mistake as the faced up one on one with the goalkeeper and slotted it home with consummate ease. In the 67th minute it was six, as a cross from the left found Hendon substitute Darius Charles in acres of space to simply tap home from six yards. Aveley had the chance to pull one back as they were awarded a penalty, but a tame effort from substitute, Kayan Kalipha was easily saved by Hendon goalkeeper Berkley Laurencin.
With eight minutes to go though they did get a consolation when a corner from the right was headed home by right back, Liam Thomas. Unfortunately just a couple of minutes later it was Hendon that completed the scoring with their seventh, making it a debut to forget for Steve Brown and a game to wipe from the memory for Aveley, as yet more generous defending allowed Elliott Godfrey to round Brown and tap home.
It’s been a sorry season for Aveley, but the foundation could be there for a successful one next season.
