Hendon's four-game unbeaten run in the Ryman League Premier Division came to an end on Monday night as Hampton & Richmond Borough eked out a 2-0 win at a bitterly cold and windy Claremont Road.

The final scoreline was something of a travesty because Hendon dominated the second half in the same way Hampton did the first. What separated the two teams was the ability to turn chances into goals. It must be said too, that the Beavers were less affected by the conditions than the Greens if only because their direct, uncomplicated style works in almost any circumstances.

Electing to kick with the wind in the first half, Hampton enjoyed most of the possession, but the Hendon defence is much more resolute now and Richard Wilmot was not overworked as he had been when the teams met at the Beveree in August.

The Beavers' high-tempo style meant that Jamie Busby and Lee O'Leary were limited to defensive duties, unable to assist Dean Green, Belal Aiteouakrim and Davis Haule in attacking situations. And when the front three did see the ball, they were hounded by Hampton defence that seemed to hunt as a pack.

Apart from one Ian Hodges effort that went wide of the target and a save by Wilmot from Yaku, neither set of supporters had much to get excited about. Marc Leach and James Parker were winning most of the contests down the middle and it became more and more likely that an error would lead to a goal rather than inspiration attacking play.

And so it proved after 33 minutes, when an Aiteouakrim pass to O'Leary just about on the half-way line was short and Graham Harper intercepted. His first-time ball to Francis Quarm resulted in a through ball to Lawrence Yaku, and although the prolific striker's touch did not look entirely clean, the ball beat Wilmot.

Wilmot made one more excellent save and Hampton somehow contrived to miss what seemed an even clearer opening in the final quarter-hour of the first half, but the goal hadn't really changed the flow of the game.

The Beavers started the second half strongly, but this burst was only for five minutes. Thereafter, the match was completely dominated by Hendon, everywhere except the Hampton penalty area, where Toby Jinadu and Rob Paris were in complete control. The few crosses that eluded them were normally fisted away by Matt Lovett before a Hendon head could reach the ball.

When play was on the edge of the 18-yard box there seemed invariably to be two defenders on every attacker. Busby, Green and Haule all had shots, but none were on target. Indeed only a 25-yard free-kick needed a save, and then Lovett's main concern was hanging onto the ball as O'Leary and Haule preyed on a rebound.

Darragh Duffy replaced Rakatahr Hudson just past the hour mark but he too was starved of space. At one stage Hendon forced five successive corners, but each ball was won by a man in a red shirt.

After 78 minutes, O'Leary changed his tactics, He drilled a ball towards the near post, Barrie Matthews missed and Lovett wasn't going to reach it. Unfortunately for Hendon a gust of wind resulted in the ball crashing off the near post and being hacked to safety. The assistant referee, who had the best view of the corner, was certain the ball was heading for the net until the wind took it.

Hampton made the game safe in the 87th minute. A long ball out of defence caught out Robinson, whose touch wasn't the best. With Leach committed to attack and Parker also downfield, only O'Sullivan was left to deal with Yaku and Quarm. The first shot hit O'Sullivan, but rebounded off a post straight to Quarm who rolled the ball into the net. With the game over as a contest, Hampton almost added a third goal in stoppage time.

"For once, you have to say that we were second best," said manager Gary McCann. "They didn't give us a moment on the ball, pressuring us everywhere. In the conditions, they were more effective than we were. We didn't play as well as we could, but then Hampton didn't let us. But I am still disappointed."