Hadley Wood & Wingate 2 - 1 Kensington Borough
Hadley Wood beat table toppers Kensington Borough
Hadley Wood put in a superb performance to beat Spartan South Midlands Division One leaders 2-1 having to play the entire second half with 10 men.
Hadley Wood started the first half strongly and hit the post within the first 10 minutes when Nicholas Kouroushi's throw in was flicked on by Andreas Kyprianou to Sandor Nyeki who's volley hit the post with the Kensington keeper beat.
It was a debut to remember for 16 year old Sam Brazier in the Hadley Wood goal who looked composed and commanding throughout the game, making his first great save when Kensington's striker Jawed Ziani was one on one but he could not beat Brazier.
Toward the end of the first half Hadley Wood had a succession of corners coming close with one which was swung in by Cameron Lyttle to Kyprianou but the header was tipped over by Aries Pampolim for Kensington on 39 minutes. However a minute later, Lyttle put another corner into the box from the left and after a slight scramble in the box the ball fell to Kyprianou who slotted the ball home to give Hadley Wood a deserved lead going into the break.
At the start of the second half Hadley Wood were reduced to 10 men when Patrick Szymon was given a second yellow card for obstructing the opposition. The man advantage gave Kensington the impetus to attack and on the hour mark a corner was cleared off the line by Romario Cazaubon.
Hadley Wood settled into the second half with the man disadvantage and with five minutes remaining doubled their lead on the counter attack. Alex Hadjithemistou, switching from centre midfield to right back after the sending off, slipped a ball to Kyprianou who squared to substitute Brandon Dujon who struck powerfully past Pampilim to give the 10 men a two goal lead.
Kensington Borough piled on the pressure in the remaining minutes and with the referee adding on 8 additional minutes, Kensington pulled a goal back through James Brannigan from a corner but Hadley Wood were able to hang on for a great victory.
Hadley Wood & Wingate: Brazier, Szymon, Walton Owen, Hadjithemistou, Marriott, Cazaubon, Lyttle (Dujon 63), Agyei-Danquah, Nyeki (Casey 54), Kyprianou, Kouroushi (Henry 73)
