Grays Athletic 2-3 Hendon

From Church Road

Ryman League Cup final

 

A MAN OF THE MATCH performance from Andre Da Costa downed Grays Athletic in the Ryman League Cup final.

Two goals and an assist for the striker condemned Blues to defeat after Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson had pulled one back just before half-time.

An injury time header from Sean Cronin came too little too late.

Both sides came into the match on the back of strong runs of form, with Grays unbeaten in 11 of the last 12 matches and Hendon unbeaten in their last 18 games.

But it was Grays who made all the early running. The lively Joao Carlos was causing Hendon's back four all sorts of problems as he found space behind the midfield.

But it was the combination of Fortnam-Tomlinson and Harry Agombar that combined to create the first opening.

The former crossed for Agombar but the marauding midfielder struck wildly over on the volley.

Dumebi Dumaka drove straight at Ben McNamara in the Hendon goal before the Greens created their first opening.

Ibe went down in the box after a tangle with Jay Leader but the referee gave nothing.

Carlos fell to the turf in the other box moments later but his appeals were also waved away.

The striker had an effort cleared off the line before Grays went behind against the run of play.

A driven effort from Andre Da Costa was too hot to handle and Lamar Johnson could only fumble into his own net.

Two minutes later it was 2-0 as Da Costa reached the by-line, evading Johnson's advances, and crossed for Ibe to hammer home.

But Grays gave themselves hope on half time to complete a frantic five minutes.

Jey Siva fired a delightful ball from left to right and Fortnam-Tomlinson sent a fine half-volley past McNamara.

Blues started the second-half in similar fashion, with Ferguson shooting wide after only two minutes.

Mark Bentley's side looked the more likely but couldn't test McNamara, and Hendon stretched their lead with their first real chance of the half.

The ball was sprayed to the left hand side of the penalty area and Da Costa took a touch and sent an unstoppable curling strike past Johnson.

Grays almost hit straight back through Carlos before Dumaka brought the best out of McNamara, as his outstretched hand kept it at 3-1.

Leader was next to try his luck but his long range effort was blocked by another terrific save by McNamara.

But Grays were to find a way past the goalkeeper before the half was out, as Cronin sent a flying header into the net late on.

But it wasn't to be for Mark Bentley's men, who meet the same opposition on Saturday.

Grays Athletic: Johnson, Leader, Siva, Parry, Cronin, Beaney, Ferguson, Agombar, Dumaka, Carlos, Fortnam-Tomlinson (Little)

Hendon: McNamara, Diedhou, Fisher, Goode, Braithwaite, Maclaren (Smith), Murphy, Dean (McCann), Morgan, Ibe, Da Costa