Sunday leaguers West Hendon Ex-Servicemen's Club battled on a waterlogged Wembley pitch to seal an international victory on Saturday.

After lifting the national Carlsberg Pub Cup beneath the twin towers last month, West Hendon were invited back to play for the European version of the trophy.

And they got the edge over Danish team Vagns Krostue with a goal hammered past the keeper by Edgware Town's player-manager Steve Newing in the 81st minute.

But for much of the game it could just as easily have gone the Danish team's way. And there were a few moments of unintentional comedy for the 600-odd fans who braved the weather as the players skidded and slipped their way around the pitch.

The Danes started well with Nicolai Eg taking an early shot which was easily saved by West Hendon's keeper Keith Harvey. But West Hendon came back with Steve Evans trying his luck from outside the penalty area with a shot which flew over.

Alan Murray kept the pressure on with a superb run down the left, crossing the ball to Brett Alger, whose shot at goal went wide. West Hendon managed to keep possession despite slipping around in the mud with Andy Dale passing to Newing, whose volley skimmed past the post.

It was almost 1-0 to West Hendon in the 41st minute when the Danes' keeper blundered, dropping the ball in the box after a muddy scramble. But Craig Elliot's shot unbelievably went wide of the open goal.

The rain showed no signs of stopping for the second half, when West Hendon started in determined style, although the ball was hardly moving in the slush.

"The first half was fine," said goal-scorer Newing. "But in the second half it became a bit of a lottery. There was so much water on the pitch it slowed down the play, which did us a favour as eight of us had been on a stag week.

"It was enjoyable but I've never seen the Wembley pitch like that."

Passing was almost impossible as the ball was getting bogged down and players were skidding, colliding and falling without getting a touch of the ball. West Hendon's manager Bill McGregor praised his team's performance in the conditions. He said: "It was nice to go back to Wembley and make a couple of changes with different people playing.

"Everyone was so happy about the football, but in the same breath it was devastating because of Sylvia Willson, the club member who was killed last week.

"We played as well as we could, it wasn't just football; it was a community thing."

The goal came after forwards Paul Dale and Alan Murray were taken off and replaced by Peter Grant and Joe Sheridan, with Newing moving up front with Grant.

Robert Spellman crossed and Newing controlled with his left foot before slotting past the keeper from ten yards out.

"Steve pulled the goal out of the bag after a bit of a scramble," said Bill McGregor. "We played well under the conditions as Vagn Krostue played some good football. We had some chances which we fluffed really, but after the start they didn't create many problems.

"We're happy with our performance because it wasn't our fittest point of the season. The lads had all been on holiday to Paul Dale's stag night in Cyprus last week, so they lasted quite well."

It's not certain where West Hendon will go from here -- but Carlsberg has hinted that once the European Pub Cup had been won, the team could be taking on the world. Watch this space!

WEST ESC: Harvey, Newing, Evans, Elliot, A Dale, Valenti, Alger (Davey), Instone, Roche, P Dale (Grant) Murray (Spellman).

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.