Chatham Town continued their fine form in the Velocity Cup as they progressed to the final meaning they have lost only one game in three years in this competition and will now play Billericay in the final on the 9th of April.
They dominated play but made hard work for this win.
The game started quickly for the visitors as Keagan Cole in the 4th minute saw his snapshot pushed away by Henry Molyneux. Chatham then took control of the game without causing Hendon any problems, then in the 23rd minute Freddie Sears put John Ufuah through to run on into the area where his shot was saved by Erfan Tavasoli.
In the 27th minute a Jack Evans free kick into the area saw Simon Cooper’s flicked header go just past the post, two minutes later Jamie Yila was put through but his shot went past the far post.
Chatham finally took the lead in the 35th minute when Harry Webster’s cross seemed to be too close to Tavasoli who for some reason punched it but straight to Sam Sene-Richardson who controlled it and drilled it home from 10 yards.
The lead only lasted three minutes when in a rare attack saw a cross into the area strike Cooper’s hand and a penalty given up stepped skipper Niko Muir who hit it into the bottom left hand corner.
Goals change games and suddenly Hendon came out of their shell but in the 41st minute Webster put Yila through but from 8 yards his shot was saved.
In the 44th minute Muir tried his luck from 20 yards but it went just over the bar, then in the 2nd minute of added on time Chatham could have regained their lead when Ufuah saw his shot go across the area for Yila who saw his shot go back across the goal back to Ufuah who saw his shot from an acute angle cleared off the line.
Half time arrived and both clubs would have different emotions about how the half had gone with Chatham weary that they should have been in front while Hendon would be satisfied they were level without playing well.
The second half took a while to get going as Hendon buoyed by the goal seemed to have a lot more possession while Chatham seemed to be back in the changing room.
In the 61st minute Evans passed through for Ufuah but his shot was easily saved, a minute later Chatham went back in front when Evans put Sene-Richardson in the area and he beat a defender and then from an acute angle chipped over the advancing Tavasoli.
Again Hendon had to come out and in the 67th minute Cole saw his shot from 15 yards go across the goal with no one to knock it in.
In the 73rd minute Kasim Aidoo got to the by-line and his cross fizzed across the 6 yard area for Jordy Mongoy but his shot went over bar.
Chatham should have won the game in the 78th minute when Sears latched onto a loose ball and from 20 yards lobbed Tavasoli but it went over the bar.
The rest of the game saw Chatham see the game out without any chances going Hendon’s way.
CHATHAM TOWN:
- H.MOLYNEUX 2. H.WEBSTER 3. K.AIDOO 5. R.BUTLER 8. J.EVANS (70) 10. F.SEARS (88) 11. J.YILA (67) 12. K.GARLINGE 14. S.SENE-RICHARDSON 15. S.COOPER 20. J.UFUAH (76)
SUBS USED: 17. J.MONGOY (67) 18. L.CHAMBERS (70) 19. T.BRYAN (76) 7. K.ISIAKA (88)
SUBS NOT USED: 16. D.ROMER
BOOKINGS: NONE
HENDON:
- E.TAVASOLI 2. K.KAWIMBE 3. H.CURTIS 4. K.COLE 5. N.KROKHIN 6. A.BANI 7. K.KIRWIN-MEADE 8. L.TALLA 9. R. MFINDA (76) 10. N.MUIR 11. S.ILLIC
SUBS USED: 12. Y EMMANUEL (76)
SUBS NOT USED: 14. D.DIEDHIOU
BOOKINGS: NONE
REFEREE: Mr M.VALKO
ASSISTANTS: Mr L .MORLEY & Mr M.FITZPATRICK
ATTENDANCE: 411