Not for the first time this season, Hendon were let down by individual lapses of discipline as they were reduced to nine men, and lost 1-0 at Lowestoft Town, who have finished runners-up in the Ryman League Premier Division.

Gary McCann was forced to name both coach Junior Lewis and assistant manager Freddie Hyatt on the bench as the squad was down to the bare bones due to injury, unavailability and suspension.

The game started with Lowestoft in the ascendency, knowing that a win would secure second place, and a home tie in the play-off semi final, and also in the final if they get that far.

The first chance for the home side came in the 8th minute when Chris Henderson's run towards goal was thwarted by Sam Flegg who executed the perfect tackle just as the tall striker went to pull the trigger.

A few minutes later, the Greens had what turned out to be their only chance of the game go begging when Howard Hall's cross eluded everyone and was cleared to safety by a home defender.

The first moment of ill-discipline came in the 18th minute. Kevin Maclaren was fouled midway inside his own half, but the midfielder let himself and the club down badly when he inexplicably chose to react and grab an opponent who had just thrown the ball in his face by the neck. The referee had no option but to show Maclaren the red card, but admitted after the game that he did not see the ball be thrown at Maclaren.

James Fisher was cautioned in the aftermath, along with a Lowestoft player, for his part in the fracas that ensued.

Just seven minutes later, Fisher also saw red, but in rather more unfortunate circumstances. He went for a high ball with his foot, but hadn't realised that an opponent was in close attendance, and was thus dismissed for a second caution.

The remaining 65 minutes saw Lowestoft take complete control of the game, with probably as much as 85% of the game being played in the Hendon half. However, as they did so well against Lewes three weeks earlier, the nine men held firm defensively.

Before half-time Henderson, Blake Saker, Michael Frew and Lee Smith all had chances to score, whilst an Adam Smith free-kick was well saved by Berkley Laurencin, and an Erkan Okay header flew over the bar.

The second half opened as the first half ended, with the home side throwing everything they had towards goal. In the 53rd minute they had a penalty shout turned down when Joe Francis appeared to go down rather easily under pressure from Hall.

The deadlock was broken in the 67th minute, and unfortunately it came when Laurencin made the only mistake he made all game, and Frew was able to slam the ball into the net.

However, Laurencin's head didn't drop, and he showed everyone what an excellent goalkeeper he has become during the five years he has been with the club. Every cross he came for, he claimed, and he made a number of important saves to keep the home side out.

Max McCann and Jack Bennett came on in the final 20 minutes or so to bring fresh legs to the Hendon rearguard - Kambo Smith and Scott Cousins making way respectively.

The Greens did make occasional forays into the opposition half, but Andy Reynolds in the home goal will have had one of the quietest afternoons of his career as the Greens failed to register a shot on target.

And so Hendon's season came to a disappointing end, but once the dust has settled, everyone will surely be very pleased with the 10th place finish after such a disappointing start, and that coupled with the FA Cup run to the first round and a trip to Aldershot Town, means that the season will be remembered for the right reasons.

The test for the new season, as the Greens make the move to Harrow Borough's Earlsmead ground to play their home games, will be to try and find a more regular source of goals, and ensure that there is a distinct improvement to their discipline.