With A.Heath, B.Gillatt, I.Redman, A.Morris, L.Frame & M.Nicholson all with Peterlee. A.Place, G.Lisle (Working) , M.Woodward, M.Swindle (Injured) G.Butts, Captain M.Noble & K.Johnson not sober enough, Farra had a crisis on their hands. G.Barnfather, J.Shickle & T.Smurfwaite were drafted in from the cold to be in the 14 man squad that had Carter, Frost & Spence back in the starting 11.The 5th meeting of the season for the top two teams in the combination premier league, the previous four being tight games with the dolphin edging all four, and another hard game it turned out to be, The Hendon boys as expected came out at a fierce pace and the dolphin were struggling to cope with the 5 man midfield, the dolphin though did have some good chances in the first half, Dale spence was denied a clear penalty, Gary barnfather volleyed over from 10 yards, Marc stephenson had a 20 yard drive well saved.Martin Hope failed to convert his chance when played in brilliantly by Marc stephenson. At the other end jackson saved well from a 18 yard strike and the grange put a good chance over from 12 yards. The GRANGE did take the lead on the half hour when a swinging cross from the right was headed home from 6 yards by 16yr old Glyn Lamb. The dolphin came in at half time and it was imperative that they got an early response and within one minute the dolphin broke, dale spence cut in from the left wing and sped into the box only to be hauled down, a easy decision for the ref... PENALTY, regular penalty taker Andrew Place missing, Martin'GANDHI'Hope stepped up and cooly placed the ball in the keepers bottom right corner. The Dolphin were now on Top, Farron POPE moved into cenre mid with kris Johnson and marc stephenson back to left back, AND the change nearly paid off immediately POPE broke from midfield skipped a couple of challenges and was one on one with the keeper, with all the time in the world Farron went for the bottom corner but his effort trickled past the post. Dale Spence had a great chance with minutes remaining he rounded the goalkeeper and with an empty net to aim at he hit the side netting. Extra time, not many chances, Tom Smurthwaite was in the right place at the right time when he cleared off the line, The Dolphin took the lead with a minute to go in first half off extra time, Kris Johnson done superbly down the right he cut inside and drove to the by line, he cut the ball back to the on rushing Farron Pope who coolly stroked the ball into the bottom corner. eXTRA TIME 2ND HALF, and the grange nearly equalised straight away the dolphin sloppy at the back gave the ball away in there own half the ball was crossed and Sean Metcalf crashed the ball of the cross bar, from the rebound the grange smashed the ball against the post, the dolphin should have killed the game off when farron pope once again broke down the left his cross to the back post had alittle two much pace for Martin Hope to connect properly and the effort went wide, with the clock ticking Marc Stephenson broke from defence and played a great ball to Martin Hope on the half way line, he rode one challenge and found a great burst of energy and outpaced Hendons last man with nthe keeper to beat he rounded the goalkeeper and killed the game. Well done Hendon Grange another Cracking game. good luck next week in the Hendon Derby.
