Hendon 0-1 Margate, Ryman League Premier play-off final
'I p***ed the bed last night'**
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| Welcome to ............ |
With the Ryman League Premier play-off semi finals held up by the expulsion of Enfield (deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player), I was able to sneak in a cheeky extra fixture. 3rd placed Hendon, victorious over the Metropolitan Police had home advantage (albeit as tenants at Harrow Borough) over Margate, victors over Dulwich Hamlet in their semi. Makes a change – the seasiders coming to London for the day! Myself, the match was just reward for earlier clothes shopping in Oxford St. In fact, who knew you could get a tube direct from Oxford Circus to Harrow? (Well, Northolt. My geographical knowledge of north-west London is a bit iffy; Do Harrow not even play in Harrow?) I’d have timed it nice as well, if the tube turned up quicker, or it was a shorter walk to the ground. Still, it was a fine day and there was no rush to see kick-off. There was no queue, save for a father and his pushchair. No problem – just open the main gate.
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| The final league table, handwritten (not inc. pts deduction). |
The match was interesting, but awful. How can anyone play football on a pitch completely made up of bobbles? It was no wonder the sides elected to hit it long. Then, after 20 minutes, Hendon had a player sent off for a bad challenge. A few around me thought it was a yellow card at best and I was a bit surprised too, given the ref let an earlier one go. That was it, for the rest of the half Hendon retreated while Margate always had a spare man able to loft the ball in.
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| The Hendon Massive |
Still, Margate were restricted to long shots and the Hendon keeper made several good saves before the breakthrough came. A run down the left resulted in a low cross which was scuffed home. 0-1 half time and I changed ends, firmly expecting a Margate onslaught 2nd half. Instead, I don’t remember anything happening. Hendon didn’t really gamble, and Margate wasted several chances to make chances. Their fans still made plenty of noise though (a few hundred) while baiting the home fans with ‘Your support is f***ing s***’ (which it was).
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| Margate celebrate the opener. |
Afterwards, there was a presentation of the trophy and medals, which the unfortunate Hendon players had to stay and watch. I think they expected to be given losers medals, but this isn’t the FA Cup Final, so they got nowt.
All in all, another thoroughly agreeable time at a non-league ground. If I had one complaint it’s that the clubhouse, large as it is, has the tiniest of bars and the queue was far too long. Anyone I saw coming out with a beer missed at least 10 minutes of the second half. I was though able to buy a postcard of a non-league ground (not even Harrow Borough) at the club shed. Maybe it was Hendon’s old ground, I dunno.
Attendance: 1,228
The Damage:
£10 ent
£2 prog
£0.50 postcard
** I bumped into an away fan in the toilets. Why would ANYONE admit to having wet the bed last night, let alone to a complete stranger? Well, he did and he did.
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| The back of the stand. Fans' frustration? |
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| The car park end. |
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| Margate's #1 fan. |
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| The Main Stand. |
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| The Margate Team |
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| Gutted. A Hendon player reacts to full time. |
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| The team tunnel. |
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| Margate fans celebrate promotion. |
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| Not the busiest press box... |
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| Or else! |
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| I love the homemade sign. |
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| Old and unwanted. Shame. |
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