Hendon, once again, gave a contender for the Ryman League Premier Division title a number of problems but failed to come away from the game with anything tangible. The season-long failing of being unable to score goals was the difference between the sides on Monday night as the Lilywhites struck twice in the first half to claim the points.

Belal Aiteouakrim made his first league start in 15 months - coincidentally it, too, had been against Bromley - coming in for Jazz Rose in a reshuffled Hendon formation. And, on the bench, was a newcomer, Ryan Newman, signed from Maidenhead United having previously played for Flackwell Heath.

The first 15 or so minutes were fairly even. A Bromley corner after six minutes was hastily cleared as Francis Duku was about to challenge for the ball. Eight minutes later, Aiteouakrim fashioned an opening and although he might have set up either Brian Haule or Ross Pickett, elected to shoot. He beat Andy Walker, but failed to hit the target.

In the 18th minute, Hendon fell behind. A long ball out of defence was flicked on in midfield and suddenly Gareth Williams was in the clear. James Parker came across to cover but Williams still had the chance to shoot at goal. Instead, he rolled the ball across the penalty area, right into the path of Kirk Watts who, having stayed onside by being a yard behind Williams when the ball was played, simply passed the ball into the unguarded net.

Eight minutes later, the lead was doubled, albeit a trifle fortuitously. Again a quick attack undid the Hendon defence and Lloyd Blackman set up Williams for a shot. Whether Richard Wilmot would have been able to make a save will never be known because the ball ricocheted off Parker and looped into the net.

Bromley should have had a penalty a few minutes later when a rash challenge on Watts just inside the box went unpunished. There wasn't much contact by the defender on the striker, but there was none on the ball, so it should have been a foul and a rather soft penalty. The referee, however, either didn't see the offence or didn't consider it a foul.

Hendon, too, should have had one and maybe two penalties in the second half. First Duku clattered into Haule as he ran into the penalty area, but the referee, in waving play on, made it clear he thought the contact accidental. Rather more blatantly Lee Fieldwick dragged Lee O'Leary off the ball, right in front of the assistant referee, but he didn't flag - as he should have - so play was allowed to continue.

By this time, the match was almost over and Hendon's two closest efforts had come in the minutes just before the second penalty appeal. The first, after 75 minutes, was the result of a fierce shot from Takumi Ake, but the substitute was denied by an excellent save from Walker.

Two minutes later, a free-kick from Wayne O'Sullivan was headed out for a corner by Adam Greenway, but the defender was very lucky the ball went inches wide of the goal.

That being said, there was a feeling that Bromley had two or three more spare gears to go through if they had been necessary.