Basingstoke 1

Hendon 4

Hendon blitzed Basingstoke after trailing at half-time, and captured the Puma Full Members Trophy with a comfortable victory in the final at Chesham in midweek.

It was a fitting reward for the Dons's best season for several years that saw them finish fifth in the Ryman League Premier Division.

"It's been a wonderful night, and I'm proud them of all," said chairman Ivor Arbiter as he watched skipper Steve Bateman collect the trophy and proudly hold it aloft.

"Hendon are on the way -- manager Frank Murphy has done a magnificent job. He's ready for a real crack at the title and promotion to the Vauxhall Conference next year."

Singling out top scorer Junior Lewis for special praise, the chairman said: "Junior has played the best football of his life tonight."

Bateman commented: "We showed strong discipline in battling away after falling behind to the early goal. We kept on playing our football and 4-1 reflected our superiority. I am pleased for the chairman, who has worked hard to turn things round after the club was deep in trouble."

Basingstoke's fine form this year made Hendon's victory all the more commendable. Bottom in February, they had been beaten once in their last 13 matches, climbing to seventh position.

Hendon were two places higher following an 11-match unbeaten run, and a closely fought final looked in prospect.

The signs looked ominous for the Dons as Basingstoke came roaring down the slope, raiding down both flanks.

Their pressure was rewarded after 14 minutes when Tony Kelly failed to cut out a cross by Richard Skelly and Ian Mancey headed home at the far post.

But switching to a 4-4-2 formation, with Matthew Howard taking over at right back from Kelly, who moved to midfield, had a stabilising effect for Hendon.

Lewis began to pose a threat, but his finishing was wayward with two good chances wasted, and Mick Banton should have scored twice as Hendon got well on top.

But there was to be no escape for Basingstoke in the second half.

Hendon resumed in determined style, exploiting the slope and the pace of Lewis with long balls over the top of the defence, and keeper Dean Beale began to panic.

With Beale floundering after failing to deal with a right wing cross, Bateman's header was cleared off the line.

It was obvious Basingstoke would not survive for long, and Hendon went ahead with two goals in as many minutes. Tony Kelly (56min) equalised after Bateman nodded on a long free-kick from keeper McCann.

Then Freddie Hyatt's free-kick had Beale in trouble, Howard knocked the ball back across the box, and with Beale stranded, Rob Marshall attempting to head clear, could only flick it towards the back post where Lewis headed home from close range.

Curtis Warmington, who had captained Hendon when they won the then Carlsberg-sponsored competition four years previously, strengthened their grip on the trophy with the goal of the game after 70 minutes.

From Hyatt's accurate corner, Warmington raced in to send a header rocketing high into the net.

More misery followed for keeper Beale in the 82nd minute when he was beaten by Banton's lob after Paul Kelly lifted the ball over the top of the defence.

Beale had a let-off when a chip from substitute Naseem Bashir hit the bar, and Hendon could have doubled their winning margin.

HENDON: McCann, T Kelly, Clarke, P Kelly, Warmington, Bateman, Heard (Bashir 84), Hyatt, Banton (Lynch 86), Howard, Lewis (Nugent 88).

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