Hendon manager Gary McCann was trying to look on the bright side despite the loss to Leiston.

He said, "Reluctantly I am going to take the positives out of a defeat. I thought our energy levels, commitment and effort were absolutely faultless.

"However, when you lose 4-2 and all four goals come from the same type of attack - a breakaway - you don't have to be a brain surgeon to work out what and where the problem is.

"We have to get our defending right, and we had discussed this in the dressing room after the game. We also need to communicate better everywhere on the field.

"This team is not one which does a lot of shouting. In fact I can't recall a quieter dressing room in my time as manager.

"There were two or three key decisions that went against us. I am convinced if we had been given the penalty when Carl McCluskey seemed to be fouled in the box and we then scored to make it 3-3, it would have given the whole club a fantastic boost for the next few weeks.

"Lastly, I want to wish everyone involved in Hendon FC a very happy Christmas."