TONBRIDGE ANGELS were cruelly denied a point at the Silver Jubilee Stadium by a disputed penalty in the 90th minute – conceded by Sonny Miles, who was playing his 300th game for the club.
It looked as if a draw was probably going to be a fair result as the Bostik League Premier sides had served up an end-to-end affair teams in the second half.
On 19 minutes a cross from Luke Blewden found the head of Nathan Elder unmarked but the striker’s effort was just off target.
The runs of left midfielder Joe Turner were providing the Angels most productive outlet.
Three minutes before half-time Miles’ header from Craig Stones’ cross drift just wide of the post.
Just before the interval, a Hendon forward was tripped in the area by Callum Adonis-Taylor and the referee awarding a penalty.
But Ashley Nathaniel-George’s spot-kick was weak and allowed an easy save for Henly, so both teams went in at the break goalless.
Angels seized the initiative in the second half and on 52 minutes good hold-up play by Elder allowed the ball to be fed back to Alex Akrofi.
He kept possession well and found substitute Chris Kinnear, whose pile-driver set the net bulging and put the visitors a goal to the good.
Just three minutes later, however, Hendon drew level when Jake Eggleton’s excellent cross gave Michael Corcoran the opportunity to equalise.
With everything to play for both teams went for the winner winner and an Elder shot on the turn was just wide of Hendon’s left-hand post.
It seemed the game was destined for a draw until the intervention of referee Conor Farrell in the 90th minute, pointing to the spot after a foul by Miles on substitute Daniel Uchechi.
After missing a penalty already the hosts were not to be denied again and Niko Muir made no mistake, sending Henly the wrong way.
Angels manager Steve McKimm said: “This was hard to take as over the 90 minutes we had done enough to justify the draw.
“That said, we conceded far too quickly after going ahead and with an inconsistent referee you always run the risk.”
Angels entertain Tooting & Mitcham United at home on Saturday (October 21, kick-off 3pm).
