Dulwich Hamlet were knocked out of the London Senior Cup quarter-finals by Hendon after a penalty shoot-out on Tuesday night.
Following a 3-3 draw, the hosts went through 4-3 after the visitors missed two of their spot-kicks.
It was a measure of revenge for Hendon after the lost by the exact same score on penalties to Dulwich in the Isthmian League Premier Division play-off final in 2018.
The evening started off badly for the Hamlet when the club confirmed that one of their officials had been mugged on the way to the game and was being looked after by Hendon staff with police in attendance.
It took just three minutes for Hendon to go in front as Jayden Clarke opened the scoring.
Gavin Rose’s side equalised fourteen minutes in when Danny Mills helped on a corner and Reise Allassani set up Ibra Sekajja.
The game was end to end and it was Hendon who again took the lead five minutes before the break through Joe White’s header.
And Hendon firmly established themselves in the driving seat for a last-four clash against Haringey Borough when Clarke got his second with a superb strike after an hour.
Not to be out-done, the Hamlet’s set-piece specialist Gio McGregor made it 3-2 when he fired home a free-kick from 30 yards with fourteen minutes left.
That swung the momentum back Dulwich’s way and Allassani brought them back level in the 83rd minute when he found the bottom corner.
Allassani had the chance to grab a dramatic winner in the 89th minute but his header went just wide.
Dulwich struck an early blow in the shoot-out when McGregor was successful and Christian Smith missed for the hosts.
The Hamlet thought they had taken another big step towards the semi-finals when they went 2-0 up through Sekajja before White made it 2-1.
But Allassani then fired his attempt over and Liam Brooks took advantage to level it at 2-2 after three spot-kicks each.
Hendon then took control when Chike Kandi’s penalty was touched onto the bar and Sam Corcoran struck for a 3-2 lead.
James Dayton was successful with his shot to put the pressure back on the hosts, but Eren Kinali held his nerve to send his side through.
After the game, Hendon said in a statement: “Aside from the entertainment on the pitch, everyone at Hendon wishes the official from Dulwich Hamlet FC that was attacked on his way to the game a very swift recovery and safe journey home.”
In National League South action last weekend, Rose’s side drew 0-0 against St Albans City at Champion Hill.
That result kept them sixth, level on points with St Albans who are in the last play-off spot but have two games in hand.
Dulwich play nineteenth-place Braintree Town at home this weekend. Kick-off is 3pm.
Image: @Lockie_Photo_
