After 5 years of waiting and wondering, the doors of the SKYex Community Stadium finally opened on Friday night with a pre-season friendly against Hendon and while all those present could see how much work still has to be completed, we could also all see how much has been achieved in recent months.

It was our Ryman Premier visitors who were quickest out of the blocks and with just 6 minutes played former United hero Dale Binns played the ball forwards to Karl Oliyide, the striker outpaced Colin Mugoya but having been forced wide by Louis Wells blazed the ball over.

Wells saved again at the feet of the same player minutes later before Binns opened the scoring for the Greens. Mugoya’s clearance was collected by the Greens’ Niko Muir, he fed the ball left to Binns who entered the box and fired across Wells into the far bottom corner.

Within seconds United were pushing back up field, a Jack Mills effort from distance going just the wrong side of the upright before United were caught out again.

A scramble outside the United area led to a Hendon free-kick, Spencer McCall stepping up and placing the ball straight into the top corner of Wells goal from just shy of 25 yards.

On the half hour mark the visitors were indebted to left-back Mayowa Balogun who saved his ‘keepers blushes when Berkley Laurencin raced out towards the corner flag only to have the ball taken off him by Lloyd Macklin, the United striker tried to pick out the on-coming Joakim Ehui in the box but he was denied by an excellent interception from Balogun who got the ball to safety.

Despite both sides making changes at the break the game continued to flow although by now United were starting to find their feet in an attempt to reduce the deficit. Just four minutes had been played when Mugoya helped on a James Harper corner which Macklin collected with his back to goal inside the six yard box, his shot on the turn going narrowly wide.

Midway through the half a sweeping move forwards by the Greens saw the impressive Mahrez Bettache send Andre Da Costa down the line, he picked out Kezie Ibe in the middle but the United defence stood firm and the shot was blocked and cleared.

United’s best opening came four minutes later when a ball over the visitors defence sent Macklin through, his shot from just inside the area screwing well wide of the far post. Still United pressed, Mugoya flicked on another Harper corner, this time Jim Fenlon was the recipient but his header into the six yard box was scrambled away a couple of yards out from goal.

Stoppage time brought a chance apiece, Wells saved a close range Ibe effort and then at the other end Matt Sinclair’s first time effort was blocked en route to goal and referee Mr Buonassisi brought the historic first official match at the SKYex to its conclusion.

For most I am sure, myself included, the result was somewhat irrelevant, it was just the feeling of BEING HOME that made the evening special.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.