Hendon lost to a late Vinnie John goal as they went down 2-1 at East Thurrock United this afternoon. On a hot, sultry day the Greens conceded an early goal when Danny Butler turned the ball into his own net. However within ten minutes John Frendo equalised as he latched on to a half blocked free kick to fire the ball across the keeper. Two minutes later Mark Nicholls missed a penalty after Eugene Ofori had been pushed in the area and it was Hendon that had the better chances in the remainder of the first half. As the heat took its toll and both sides made multiple changes there was little in the way of chances in the second half until Vinnie John was left unmarked at the far post from a Ricky Clarke cross. Manager Tony Choules was much happier with the performance however, and felt that the squad was progressing in the right direction as we approach the start of the new campaign.