Hendon drew 2-2 with Chippenham Town in a proverbial game of two halves in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup, setting up a replay on Tuesday.

After a scrappy first five minutes, Chippenham gained control, not allowing Hendon’s players any time on the ball with constant shouts from their goalkeeper to keep a high line.

And in the ninth minute, a cross came in from Jordan Young which was headed home by Craig Fasanmade to put the away side 1-0 up.

Six minutes later, Young picked up a free-kick on the right side of the Hendon penalty area, and with a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner, doubled Chippenham’s lead.

Young, arguably his side's best player on the day, posed a large threat from set-pieces, providing multiple goalscoring opportunities throughout the game.

The visiting fans could’ve seen their side 3-0 up at the break, with many of them thinking a penalty should’ve been awarded when Harvey Greenslade went down in the box.

Fortunately for Hendon, this decision went their way, but they too were denied a golden opportunity when striker Liam Brooks was denied a 1v1 chance by the referee, who stopped play with a Hendon teammate down injured.

After a lack of possession, the home defenders started playing more long balls for their forward men to chase, increasing pressure on the Chippenham defence with Hendon looking the better side going into half-time.

Soon after the second half started, a clumsy foul gave a penalty to The Greens, which was slotted home by Brooks to claw a goal back.

Hendon’s momentum increased following the goal, and seven minutes later, they equalised through a well taken volley by Brooks, following a free-kick that deflected off the post.

The Bluebirds then pushed on to regain their lead, coming close in the 70th minute when they hit the woodwork twice in the space of a few seconds.


Hendon had a chance to win it in the second minute of injury time, when Will Richards was sent off for bringing a home player down in the box, with Brooks aspiring to complete a terrific hat-trick.

But as many of the 435 supporters in attendance waited to celebrate, Brooks’ penalty was saved by the opposition keeper, with the full time whistle being blown soon after.

Greens boss Lee Allinson stated his side need to go into the next game 'big and strong', aiming to play 'really direct' football. He also emphasised that he felt his side 'need to fight'.

“We didn’t fight first half and we laid down and let them run all over us,” he said.

“On another day we could’ve won that, on another day we could’ve lost it comfortably, but to have the fight, the spirit, that’s what we’re about at this football club.”