Hendon showed another side to their unquenchable spirit on Saturday when they threw away a two-goal lead for the second time, but this time restored it and finally overcame the stern challenge of East Thurrock United 4-2 at Claremont Road.

With Dean Green's departure to AFC Hornchurch and the unavailability of Belal Aiteouakrim with injury, Hendon had to reshuffle. Full debuts were given to Sam Collins, on loan from MK Dons, and Scott Shulton, on work experience from Wycombe Wanderers, while James Parker returned from suspension at the expense of James Burgess. It also meant the average age of the Hendon team dropped a full year, while the four-man midfield was aged 78.

Wayne O'Sullivan had the first chance of the game. In the third minute, he was sent clear and had a one-on-one with Shane Gore. The goalkeeper won out, blocking O'Sullivan's shot with his legs. Gore then denied Brian Haule.

Gore was then unlucky to be penalised for handling the ball outside the penalty area as he broke up a Hendon attack. As soon as he realised he was about to leave the box he moved his hand away from the ball, but as he had to avoid a fallen defender he lifted his arm for balance and touched the ball again. The referee gave the free-kick and, quite correctly, didn't inflict further sanction on the goalkeeper. The free-kick came to nothing.

In the 28th minute, Hendon took the lead. An attack was foundering on the edge of the East Thurrock penalty area when Rakatahr Hudson burst onto the ball. He had taken barely two strides when a lunging defender upended him right on the edge of the box.

Mr Norcott had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, a decision that was accepted without demur from the visitors. Their only complaints were with teammates who had failed to deal with the situation. O'Sullivan stepped up and confidently struck home the spot-kick.

Three minutes later the same player was celebrating another goal, one that was altogether more controversial. Haule started the move and he fed O'Sullivan, who cut into the penalty area. O'Sullivan's low ball was aimed at Shulton, but he was beaten to the ball by Wes Faulkner, who succeeded only in knocked the ball back to O'Sullivan, alone and unmarked three yards from the goal.

He whipped the ball into the net, wheeled away in celebration while the whole of the East Thurrock team turned to look at the assistant referee, whose flag remained firmly by his side. The referee ran over to consult with his assistant, who was of the opinion that the ball had been played to O'Sullivan by the defender, who thus could not have been offside.

The Rocks, however, clawed their way back into the game four minutes before half-time. A raid down the inside left channel ended with Wilmot making a smart save low down, but the referee had seen the ball come off Marc Leach's arm and he again pointed to the spot. Steve West converted the spot-kick without fuss.

East Thurrock opened the second half in determined mood and they forced Hendon to defend very deep. In the 51st minute, a left wing cross picked out West, who was unmarked five yards from goal. His downward header seemed destined for the net until Wilmot made a truly breathtaking save, pushing the ball aside.

It was not a game-changing save because, two minutes later, another ball from the left side found Steve Harrison, and he made no mistake from close range. At this stage it was East Thurrock who were totally on top and looking likely winners.

In the 55th minute, they felt certain they should have had a second penalty when Parker, attempting to break up an attack, had the ball bounce down off his chest to the ground, then up, off his arm as he was running, and back to the ground. The referee was unsighted and his assistant did not consider the handball intentional and probably no advantage had accrued, so he didn't flag.

Parker passed the ball out to Casey Maclaren, who quickly released O'Sullivan. The Irishman flicked the ball over his head, brought it down and rounded a defender before running towards the near post. He passed the ball across the penalty area, right into the path of Hudson, who broke through two challenges before driving the ball off Gore and into the net.

Jamie Busby should have extended Hendon's advantage, but his touch let him down as he ran into the penalty area. A run from Haule almost set up another one-on-one, but the touch to take the ball past the last defender was a little too strong and Gore, on the edge of the penalty area gathered the ball before Haule could reach. Gore also made a couple of fine saves.

In a bid to get back into the game, in the 70th minute, the Rocks sent on Daniel Tenkorang and Kenny Kennedy for Kris Newby and Danny Harris, their second and third substitutes. Three minutes later, Hendon restored their two-goal lead.

Leach took a free-kick from the middle of the pitch, just outside the centre circle in the East Thurrock half. Too far for a shot and the wrong angle for a cross, Leach sent the ball to Sam Page, who headed the ball across the six-yard box. Haule and Dean Chandler reached the ball at the same time and it was Haule who proved the stronger, knocking down the ball and toe-poking it over the goalline.

East Thurrock continued trying to find a way back into the game but they didn't create the quality of chances that fell Hendon's way. In the last minute Hudson should have scored his second of the day, but Gore again blocked a one-on-one situation.

"Don't tell me that was an exciting game," joked manager Gary McCann after the match. "We preach organisation and playing a tight game - all these goals at both ends aren't what I am looking for.

"Seriously, though, we showed such a lot of character today. To be pulled back from 2-0 to 2-2 and then go on to win 4-2 shows the heart that this team has."