Hendon and Heybridge Swifts played out a fourth consecutive Ryman League draw between themselves and, for the second time this season, a late penalty denied Swifts a well-deserved victory.

With Chelmsford recording a big win against Margate, the Clarets replaced Hendon at the head of the table going into the Christmas holidays, albeit on goal difference. But Hendon are still 11 points clear of the chasing pack with only third-placed Staines able to overtake the Greens - and the Swans are a point nearer the relegation zone than they are to Hendon.

In August at Scraley Road, a Richard Wilmot save from Craig Hughes preserved a goalless draw. Here at Claremont Road, on the Saturday before Christmas, Wayne O'Sullivan snatched Hendon's point.

Hendon were forced into making one change from the starting line-up that had demolished Leyton, James Parker being away on business. This meant a recall for fit-again Marc Leach, with the captain's armband going to goalkeeper Richard Wilmot. On the injury front, there is good news in that both Davis Haule and Belal Aiteouakrim are getting close to first-team recalls after six and five-week absences respectively.

The Greens' 11-1 victory last week caught the attention of the whole League and no doubt it made Swifts manager Brian Statham's team talk much easier. Nevertheless it is to their credit that they carried out the instructions so well.

In the eighth minute, Stafford Browne lost his marker and had a free header from ten yards. The Heybridge striker sent the ball bouncing harmlessly wide.

A minute later, Hendon had one of their better moments when Lubo Guentchev curled a 20-yarder inches over the angle of post and crossbar. It was his second attempt at goal, and was much closer than his earlier effort.

In the 17th minute, Swifts counter-attacked and after Browne was denied by Wilmot, Sam Page cleared off the line from Adam Gillespie on the rebound.

As well failing to deliver from dead-ball positions, Hendon could find no way past Ian Wiles or Daryl Bourgeois, both of whom made numerous timely interventions.

And it was no surprise that after 24 minutes, Heybridge took the lead. Mark Reddaway burst clear and fired a shot past Wilmot. The ball cannoned off the post, but Browne was all alone as he tapped home the rebound to give Swifts a tangible reward for their efforts.

In the 30th minute, Hendon produced a move more like the ones they have shown in recent weeks. It started with a diagonal run from Jamie Busby, who fed Guentchev, now on the opposite flank. His low cross was met by O'Sullivan, beyond the far post, but he could only find the side-netting. Had O'Sullivan been able to find Brian Haule, the striker would have had the easiest of tap-ins.

After the break, Hendon clearly dominated possession, but did very little with it. The sharp Heybridge tackling and marking got under the skin of a number of players and the visitors often looked dangerous when attacking.

It was these raids that had the Hendon bench and spectators most worried, because they carried a permanent hint of menace and in Browne, Swifts had a striker of some quality. Nevertheless, the Hendon defence did well to stifle much of the Heybridge threat.

In fact, Neither goalkeeper had to work especially hard in the second 45 minutes, though Wilmot was employed almost as much as a deep sweeper behind his defence.

Maybe it was the memory of the previous week, when everything Hendon touched turned to gold, that added to the frustration. But Heybridge weren't as accommodating as Leyton and their defenders got feet and bodies into challenges meaning there simply wasn't the time for Hendon to create.

But Hendon didn't help themselves when they had free-kicks or corners. It took more than 85 minutes for a set-piece to actually beat the first Heybridge defender. And, when that had been achieved, Hendon scored their goal.

A free-kick from the left wing was sent beyond the far post and was knocked behind the goalline for a corner. O'Sullivan's kick beat the first man and when it was met close to the penalty spot a defender, raised his hand and made contact with the ball before clearing it.

Much to the chagrin of almost every Swifts player, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. A few raised the issue with him, as much to delay the inevitable and put off O'Sullivan as anything else - however, it should be noted that the one player who said nothing was the one penalised.

Despite the pressure, O'Sullivan ran up confidently and made no mistake with the penalty conversion.

There was still time for both teams to have one meaningful attack. The Swifts were grateful that a shot from O'Sullivan flew just wide, but McKinney did appear to have it covered.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Heybridge forced a corner, but it was over-struck and when a covering defender blocked the ball over the side-line, the referee called a halt to the action.

"We weren't at our best today," said manager Gary McCann, "and this was definitely a point gained rather than one lost. Heybridge were the better team and they played us as well defensively as any team has done against us all season."