Dean Cracknell

Aldershot Town 2 Hendon 1

Dean Cracknell netted a 30-yard screamer as gutsy Hendon came within five minutes of forcing an FA Cup replay against League Two side Aldershot Town.

The Greens midfielder hammered in an unstoppable volley to give his side a 28th-minute advantage and, despite Danny Hylton’s second-half equaliser, they looked good value for a draw.

Central defenders Elliott Brathwaite and James Fisher put in a titanic effort to keep the Shots at bay – but Hylton broke Hendon hearts, firing in his second goal to settle the tie late on.

Kicking up the slope, Hendon held their own in the opening stages, tracking back and closing their opponents down without creating any clear openings of their own.

The Greens were fortunate to stay on terms after 10 minutes when Craig Reid swung his left foot at a free-kick, but Berkeley Laurencin made the block and Peter Vincenti struck the inside of the post with the rebound.

Aldershot’s best moments came from the pacy Kieron Cadogan wide on the right, but he also missed a good chance after nipping in between the centre-backs to meet Ben Herd’s cross, directing his header wide.

At the other end, Hendon’s only attempt at goal was a Michael Murray free-kick that deflected behind after Herd had chopped down Cracknell on the edge of the box.

So it was out of the blue when the visitors took the lead, with Aldershot clearing a routine cross to Cracknell, who chested it down 30 yards out and unleashed a rocket that dipped over the back-pedalling Morris.

The Shots had opportunities to hit back, with Laurencin keeping out Reid’s low effort and a Vincenti header, but it was little surprise when the home crowd booed their team off at half-time.

Hendon could have increased the wrath of the Shots fans early in the second period when Murray swung in a corner and Brathwaite arrived late for a free header but failed to connect properly.

And six minutes later Aldershot were level as the ball again found its way to Cadogan on the right and his cross found Hylton, who stooped to head past the diving Laurencin.

The Greens found themselves under renewed pressure in the aftermath of the equaliser and withdrew Greg Ngoyi, with new arrival Luke Gambin, on loan from Barnet, replacing him to try and swamp midfield.

Gambin looked lively with a couple of darting runs down the left, but it was Aldershot seemed more likely to find a second goal as Cadogan and Danny Rose both blazed opportunities over.

Hylton squandered their best chance, heading Vincenti’s cross wide – but he eventually made amends by collecting Josh Payne’s pass to fire the 85th-minute winner past Laurencin.

Hendon: Laurencin; Wharton, Fisher, Brathwaite, G McCluskey; Cracknell, Murray, C Maclaren, K Maclaren (Rankin 86); Ngoyi (Gambin 63), Aite-Ouakrim (Mazzone 75).