Hendon 4 Blues 1

You have to go back to 2010 for the Blues last involvement in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup and this stat never looked like changing barely a minute into the game. The Blues conceded a 40 second opening goal and never recovered, falling to a heavy defeat against a slick, well organised and hard working Hendon side. Manager Steve Ball had a selection headache with a very strong squad travelling to Earlsmead Stadium for the second time in a week. The visitors arrived earlier than usual and on the back of a very fine performance last time out at Tonbridge. But all those good preparations were undone within seconds as Andre Da Costa set up the in-form Leon Smith who lashed his shot into the net via the bar with 40 seconds on the clock. The visitors were shell shocked and took an age to come to terms to the goal and when they had could have been three goals down. Danny Gay made a super double save to keep out Andre Da Costa and then Chris Seeby and then excelled further to keep out Casey Maclaren after some poor defending allowed him the opening. The Blues could only muster a Craig Parker effort that was wide. It looked as though a difficult first half was going to end with just the single goal deficit but two minutes before the break Hendon doubled their lead. Some sloppy defending saw the ball fall to Andre Da Costa who made no mistake with a curling effort. The Blues were shell shocked again and were grateful for the half time whistle.

Manager Steve Ball made two changes at the break in an attempt to get back into the game with Leon Ottley-Gooch and Jack Simmons replacing Stuart Boardley and Adam Tann. But the second half got off to a bad start when Manager Steve Ball was sent to the stands after exchanging words with the Referee and visiting bench. The first real chance of the second half fell to the Blues with Ben McNamara finally called into action, saving well from Nnamdi Nwachuku. The visitors had started better this half but just after the hour mark the game was all but over as clever improvisation from David Diedhiou somehow allowed him to send a shot across Danny Gay from a deep cross. Home keeper Ben McNamara made another good save to keep out Leon Ottley-Gooch before the Blues pulled a goal back six minutes from time. Tom Bullard reacting quickest in the box to head home Danny Gay’s long free kick. But the chances of an unlikely fight back were remote and despite some concerted pressure Hendon wrapped up the scoring deep into injury time as substitute Kezie Ibe showed great composure to net following a swift counter attack.

FT – Hendon 4 Leiston 1

Blues line up – Gay, Saker, Boardley (Simmons 45 mins), Tann (Ottley-Gooch 45 mins), Bullard, Jefford, Bullard, M Brothers, Heath, Nwachuku (Mitchell 63 mins), Parker, P Brothers. Subs not used - Francis and Rossis.

Goals – Smith 1 min, Da Costa 43 mins, Diedhiou 65 mins, Ibe 90+4 mins (Hendon). Bullard 84 mins (Leiston)

Yellow cards – Bullard & M Brothers (Leiston)

Man of the Match – Danny Gay