But for a certain goalkeeper called Mr. Cliff Balderston we might be perched at the top of the Isthmian League right now.

It was only really Balderston, Maidstone's 20-year-old goalkeeper, who prevented us from taking both points from the Kent side when they visited us last Saturday week. He had a proverbial blinder and some of his saves bordered on the miraculous.

We could only score once - through Gerry O'Rourke in the dying seconds - but by that time Maidstone well sewn up with goals from Ray Dawe, one of our old players, Brian Myers and Dennis Way.

Two other ex-Hendon men were wearing Maidstone's colours, England winger Mike Candey and left-half Stuart Davies.