Report by Rod Ellis
Leatherhead 2 Hendon 2
Leatherhead salvaged a point against Hendon in a hard fought 2-2 draw at Fetcham Grove on Saturday.
The visitors produced a severe test for Ian Selley’s table-toppers with Nathan Hogan scoring an injury time leveller for Tanners.
Hendon grabbed the lead just before half time with a super strike from Keagan Cole. Tanners hit back with a Hogan penalty midway through the second half, before the visitors restored their advantage through a late spot kick.
Leatherhead’s unbeaten start to their league campaign looked to be in jeopardy until Hogan’s equaliser in the 91st minute.
And there was still time for hearts in mouths as Cole struck the foot of the post for the visitors with a free kick in the fifth minute of added time.
Leatherhead quickly discovered Hendon would be no easy pushovers. In the fifth minute Cole broke clear of his marker, with Tanners keeper Sonny Wheeler making a fine save to turn a stinging shot away for a corner.
Hendon continued to look dangerous on the break with Bradley Dixon-Smith hitting a fierce effort straight to Wheeler on 20 minutes.
Midway through the opening half Leatherhead created two good chances in front of goal. On both occasions Anas Igozouln delivered probing crosses into heart of the penalty area, only for Hogan to fire wide.
Hendon’s Niko Muir hit a long range effort over the bar before Cole opened the scoring for the visitors in first half added time. The former Northwood and Harrow Borough striker received the ball with his back to goal, before skilfully turning and firing a low shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the box.
Kareem Akinnibi replaced Lukas Franzen-Jones for Leatherhead on 59 minutes and the substitution played a key part in Tanners equaliser five minutes later. Akinnibi shook off two Hendon defenders as he powered his way into the visitors’ box from the by-line.
But while preparing to shoot, Akinnibi was bundled off the ball for a Tanners penalty.Hogan made no mistake with the spot kick, drilling the ball low past goalkeeper Joshua Strizovic into the corner of the net.
Hendon restored their lead with a penalty awarded on 80 minutes after Zak Joseph was brought down in the box. Muir confidently drilled the ball past Wheeler to set up a nail biting finish.
With five minutes remaining, Leatherhead’s Louie Paget got on the end of a Jacob Breckon flick on. But the Tanners wing-back’s goal-bound effort was deflected widefor a corner.
With the clock moving into added time, Leatherhead snatched a second equaliser. A cross into the visitors’ box was headed clear by Hendon defender Tariq Straker. Butthe ball travelled only as far as Hogan, who struck a fine volley into the corner of the net from twelve yards.
Hendon almost nabbed a late winner when Rohdell Gordon went down thirty yards in front of Leatherhead’s goal following a challenge from Akinnibi. Cole stepped forward and fired a low free kick that came back off the foot of the post.
The result ends Leatherhead’s one hundred per cent start to the new season after sixmatches. But with five wins and a draw Tanners maintain a healthy four point lead at the top of the table ahead of Raynes Park Vale and Harrow Borough, although both those sides have a game in hand.
Leatherhead are back in league action on Tuesday when they host Hartley Wintney at Fetcham Grove. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, Niran Butler, Cameron Black, Mark Waters, Lukas Franzen-Jones (Kareem Akinnibi 59), Seb Tauta-Caballero, Kelvin Massango, Nathan Hogan, Louie Paget, Anas Igozouln (Ty Butler 75), Jacob Breckon
Hendon: Joshua Strizovic, Javon Marquis (Richie Mbele 75), Tariq Straker, Rohdell Gordon, Dave Diedhiou. Nikolai Krohkin, Keagan Cole, Jordan Umana-Grey, Tobi Adaje (Zak Joseph 62), Niko Muir, Bradley Dixon-Smith
