When the two form teams in the Ryman Premier League meet you would expect an exciting encounter and that's exactly what we got with both the result and passage of play mirroring the earlier League meeting in November.The Blues dominated the second half and but for the heroics of Hendon keeper Ben McNamara and better finishing the result could have been so much different.

Mark Bentley was forced into three changes for this game with James Stevens,Correy Davidson cup tied and Jordan Wilson missing through suspension.

Grays were quickly out of the blocks forcing a corner in the first minute,Manny Parry won the ball knocking it down to GB Dumaka but his shot was blocked by a Hendon leg.Hendon were finding it difficult to get out of their half as the Blues pinned them back with some slick interplay, Joao Carlos and Jey Siva were combining well on the left flank occupying Hendon fullback Diedhiou.

From a Hendon corner Bradley Fortnum-Henderson broke quickly crossing to Harry Agonbar who fired over,Carlos saw then saw his effort turned behind for a corner as Grays continued to ask all the questions,Agonbar should have done better when well placed with a volley which failed to trouble McNamara.Carlos layed the ball into Dumaka but McNamara saved comfortably.

After the early Grays onslaught Hendon began to get back into the game with some quick one touch football using Da Costa as an outlet utilising his pace running at Jay Leader who held his own against the wingman.Hendon appealed for a penalty when Ibie went down from an innocuous challenge referee Norcott turning down their appeals.Hendon started to pressurise the Grays midfield which led to some carelessness on the ball allowing Hendon to push Grays back,Lamar Johnson being called into action saving well from Maclaren.

The Blues forward forays were less frequent but they still looked dangerous on the break Kenny Beaney played a great ball into Carlos but McNamara cleared the ball for a corner.Sean Cronin saw his header from a corner turner over by the Hendon keeper,from the kick Leader headed down to Carlos who saw his shot turned behind.

The game was really opening up with both sides playing some neat football and despite Grays having a number chances it was Hendon who took a somewhat fortuitous lead on 36 minutes,the lively Da Costa fired in a speculative shot which appeared to squirm under Johnson and trickle over the line.The goal led to a deal of Hendon pressure and they increased their advantage with a series of neat interplays moving the ball out wide and the resultant ball into the box was not dealt with by the Grays defence leaving Ibie to crash home Hendon's second in the 41st minute.

A minute later Grays got back into the game Agonbar played a great ball into Tomlinson who made no mistake beating McNamara much to the delight of the large number of vociferous Blues fans.The goal just on halftime was a huge boost for Grays and no more than they deserved in an entertaining opening half

HT 2-1

Hendon claimed a corner at the start of the half dealt with comfortably by the Grays rearguard, Grays then started to search for the equaliser taking the game to Hendon winning a corner Siva played it short to Agonbar but he failed to put in a telling cross.

Egged on by their noisy following the Blues began to dominate proceedings pushing Hendon back,Agonbar's teasing cross just eluded Ferguson,Dumaka then worked an opening only to see his effort fly over.Tomlinson was seeing a lot of the ball as Grays looked to use his pace on the flank,he was unlucky when he cut inside and despite being closed down managed to get a shot off which just cleared the crossbar.

Hendon were now coming under increasing Grays pressure with only the occasional breakaway troubling the Blues defenders,the ever dangerous Da Costa was denied a goal scoring opportunity with a terrific block from Jay Leader at the expense of a corner.Unlike his counterpart Johnson in the Blues goal was largely a spectator fielding the occasional back pass such was the territorial dominance exerted by his team.

Grays continued to lay siege to the Hendon goal moving the ball well but too many times they delayed the final pass allowing Hendon to regroup and block any goal scoring opportunities.Grays were to rue these missed opportunities and it was that man Da Costa who extended his sides lead,receiving the ball out wide he cut inside and unleashed a curling shot passed Johnson on 73 minutes the goal coming against the run of play.

Grays should have scored their second straight from the kick off Carlos found himself in on goal with only McNamara to beat he somehow lifted the ball over the keeper and agonisingly over the bar.Despite this setback the Blues stuck to their task,Ferguson fizzed an effort just wide then Agonbar played in a wicked cross shot which McNamara clawed away for a corner.

Hendon were finding it increasingly difficult to get out of their half as Grays turned up the pressure Leader brought another great save from McNamara who palmed away his rasping drive,Tomlinson then played in Dumaka who saw his shot deflected behind for one of many Grays corners.

Tomlinson who appeared to pick up a knock made way for Glen Little as Grays looked to his experience to try and prise an opening he combined well with Leader as they worked the right flank but the Hendon goal remained intact thanks to McNamara and some last ditch defending.Grays were forcing a number of corners in the dying minutes and from one of these it was Cronin with a fierce near post header that finally beat McNamara.Brian Moses was then introduced in injury time in a last throw of the dice but to no avail as the referee blew his whistle to bring to an end an exciting encounter worthy of a Cup Final.

Bentley's boys came agonisingly close to bringing home the silverware dominating the game for long periods and but for a man of the match performance from Hendon keeper McNamara and as has been said before a more clinical approach in front of goal could well have done so.Mention must be made of the large number of travelling Blues fans who really got behind the team outnumbering Hendon's following.

The sides must do it all again on Saturday at Aveley in what will be without doubt a more important game for both teams with Hendon looking to take the points to pressurise Maidstone and Grays hoping to secure a playoff place.