Ofori gives Stimmo the Blues
Erratic form can a Blues weakness.
It is puzzling that Mark Stimson’s boys – just days after a towering 6-0 win over Bognor, should produce their second mediocre result and come away pointless from a match they, on paper, should have shared.
But games are won on grass no paper and an early goal for Hendon seemed to wind the visitors.
Dwayne Plummer produced a great lased-guided ball to Eugene Ofori, who ignored Blues appeals for offside and forced keeper Mel Capleton to advance before chipping the ball over the stranded keeper’s head.
It was not the only time Capleton was in action in the first period as Hendon’s determination to widen the advantage increased.
Plummer’s shot was pushed wide by Capleton to keep Blues hearts in their mouths and despite having possession in the first Blues seemed to lack the killer touch despite fielding a full-strength team.
After the turnaround, both teams stepped up their games still further and Capleton was needed to stop Ofori making his personal match tally two.
At the other end, Freddy Eastwood was desperately unlucky to have been judged offside when he looked to be free.
However, fiery Freddy got his chance minutes later when a grass-cutting strike send Dons keeper Dace Kind scuttling across his goal to thwart the equaliser.
With Lloyd Opara on for Leroy Griffiths and Dean Bradshaw taking the place of Danny Hayzelden, Mark Stimson was doing everything in his power to keep Blues in shape.
They should have been playing against 10 men late in the half after a brutal challenge by last man Marien Ifura took down Wes Daly – but the expected red card turned out to be yellow.
As tempers frayed, Eddie Youds had the final chance to level for the visitors but his shot just slipped wide.
Thanks to the Thurrock Gazette for the match report
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