Leatherhead 2 Hendon 2 (Hendon win 4-3 on penalties)
Leatherhead bowed out of the Velocity Cup with a quarter final defeat against
Hendon at Fetcham Grove on Tuesday.
With the scores level at 2-2 after ninety minutes, Hendon advanced to the semi-finals
winning the penalty shootout 4-3.
Without a win in 14 matches, the Isthmian Premier Division visitors made the perfect
start with an opening goal on nine minutes.
The Tanners defence failed to close down Dons striker Olusanya Fadahunsi in a wide
position in their penalty area, but he nevertheless stunned everyone with a superb
strike to beat goalkeeper Sonny Wheeler.
Hendon’s lead only lasted five minutes as Tanners equalised through Ty Butler. The
Leatherhead striker latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the visitors’ area, firing a
low shot through the legs of goalkeeper Erfan Tavasoli that rolled into the net.
Play was held up briefly following a clash of heads between Leatherhead’s Cameron
Black and Hendon’s Aderi Arthurdede, but both players were able to continue after
receiving attention on the pitch.
Tanners missed a chance to take the lead at the end of the first half. A poorly judged
clearance from a Hendon defender fell invitingly for Ty Butler, but his long-range
effort went wide of the post.
Hendon almost restored their advantage on 56 minutes, as Fadahunsi strode past his
marker before forcing an excellent one-handed save from Wheeler.
With Hendon pressing forward, Tanners took the lead with thunderous shot from
Nyren Butler. The Leatherhead centre back advanced into the visitors’ half and struck
a powerful goal of the season contender from thirty yards out.
But the Dons struck back to level on 75 minutes. Once again, the Tanners defence
allowed a Hendon player room to manoeuvre in their penalty area, as Billie Busari ran
clear of his marker before firing a fierce shot past Wheeler.
Leatherhead almost restored their lead four minutes later after Maro Haigh was
bundled off the ball just outside the Dons penalty area. Kenny Beaney lined up a
Tanners free kick but curled his effort over the bar.
Neither side could find a winner in the tension packed closing minutes which meant
the tie had to be decided by penalties.
Tanners took the first. The first four spot kicks all found their mark, making the score
two apiece. Leatherhead’s third penalty from Haigh was well saved by Tavasoli.
Fadahunsi scored Hendon’s third to give them the lead. Niran Butler levelled for
Tanners before Busari restored the visitors’ advantage for a 4-3 lead.
That left Kane Fitzgerald to line up Leatherhead fifth spot kick to give them any
chance of progressing. But the Tanners skipper made a complete hash of an attempted
Panenka, with his spot kick barely reaching the keeper.
Tavasoli gathered up the ball with ease as Hendon celebrated their advance to the
semi-finals, where they will face an away trip to Chatham Town.
Leatherhead return to action on Saturday when they visit league leaders Farnham
Town. Kick-off is at 3.00pm.
Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, Marco Haigh, Kelvin Massango (Kenny Beaney 59),
Alex Pearce (George Hedley 46), Niran Butler, Cameron Black, Alfie Huckle, Kane
Fitzgerald, Anuar Ceesay, Kareem Akinnibi (Adam Morley 59), Ty Butler
Hendon: Erfan Tavasoli, Khalil Kirwan-Meade (Niko Muir 90), Stafan Ilic, Kombe
Kawimbe, Nikolai Krokhin, Henry Curtis, Olusanya Fadahunsi, Lonit Talla, Aderi
Arthurdede, Ronny Mfinda (Youel Emmanuel 53) Billie Busari