Hendon scored three goals in a third consecutive FA Trophy tie, but went out of the competition after conceding four goals to Slough Town at Stag Meadow, Windsor. The second-half fightback from 2-0 down was laudable but the appalling display in the opening 45 minutes meant that the Greens were left with too high a mountain to climb.

Following the midweek debacle against Leatherhead, four players were dropped from the starting line-up, goalkeeper Ashlee Jones, defenders Mark Burgess and Danny Butler and midfielders Danny Julienne and Wayne Carter, the latter two taking spots on the bench. Into the team came goalkeeper Dave King, new signing Dean Coppard, central defender Jason O'Connor, midfielder Richard McDonagh and striker Eugene Ofori.

It took just 11 minutes for the frailties to be cruelly exposed. Burgess failed to control a ball 20 yards inside the Slough half, ceding the Rebels easy possession. That being said, the whole of the midfield and defence was culpable in allowing Slough to make eight passes downfield and across the penalty area without a challenge being made before the ball went to an unmarked Glen HARRIS, who had all the time in the world to shoot low past the exposed Dave King.

Six minutes later the lead was doubled, albeit in somewhat controversial circumstances. Coppard was adjudged to have fouled Ian Hodges in the penalty area as the defender challenged for a cross. Referee Mr S Cook had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, but it seemed a harsh decision as the defender appeared to play the ball and contact with Hodges was incidental.

Matt Murphy took the spot kick and although King was committed to a dive, he twisted in midair and parried the ball away from the goal. Matt Murphy, Hodges and Harris all converged on the ball as Hendon defenders looked on and HODGES got the final touch.

Slough could have extended their lead on a number of occasions, but their finishing rather matched Hendon's. Ross Pickett had four attempts, none of which were on target, and although McDonagh was accurate with a rising 25-yard drive, Michael Parkin was the equal of it, tipping the ball over the crossbar.

Having spent the first half apparently determined to cost manager Gary Farrell his job, the Greens set about saving it in the second. Julienne replaced Nicholls, giving the left-side width so painfully absent in the first half, O'Connor moved deeper into defence and Dave Nolan and Dave Sargent were given licence to move further forward.

With the balance so much better, it took only two minutes for Hendon to reduce the arrears. Julienne made a fine run through the heart of the Slough midfield and he slipped a short pass into the path of SARGENT, who burst into the penalty area and slotted the ball past Parkin.

Instead of taking heart from getting back into the game, the Greens immediately ceded the advantage back to Slough and the Rebels were quick to restore their two-goal. Once again, the marking was non-existent as HODGES was allowed all the time in the world to guide Josias Carbon's cross with his head into the bottom corner.

At least Hendon showed some fight and a couple of chances were spurned before one of the Greens' goals of the season made a game of it in the 71st minute. A cross from Sargent found Ofori, who outjumped the much taller James Saulsbury and the ball fell towards Pickett. With his back to goal, PICKETT launched an overhead scissors kick, delivered with the style of Bontcho Guentchev and with similar accuracy. Parkin's dive was for show only as the ball was past him and in the net before he had moved.

How did Hendon react? By conceding another soft goal, of course. Ninety seconds after Pickett's wonder goal, Nolan, desperately needing some support, was caught in possession 20 yards inside the Slough half. James Burgess had dropped back to cover Nolan's run forward and by the time he moved forward again, the ball was knocked past him into the now vacant Slough left side.

Michael Murphy crossed the ball to beyond the far post where Hodges was able to leap unchallenged to head the ball. He could have gone for goal, but he was at quite an acute angle and, in any case, substitute Ryan Spencer - who had replaced Matt Murphy at half-time - was unmarked just outside the six-yard box. Murphy found SPENCER, who nodded the ball past King for 4-2.

Mark Burgess had already replaced the injured Coppard when Hendon made their last, desperate throw of the dice, sending on John Frendo for McDonagh. It had the desired effect, or should have done, because barely five minutes after coming on, Frendo controlled a pass from O'Connor and tried to turn past Carbon, who brought him down.

There was absolutely no doubt about Mr Cook's penalty award and although Mr Farrell screamed for Sargent to take the spot-kick, Frendo picked up the ball and made it clear he wanted the responsibility. Before he could take the kick, Murphy picked up a yellow card for attempting to delay the penalty by doing up his bootlaces just inside the penalty area.

It certainly had the desired effect. Frendo picked up the ball and walked outside the penalty area as the caution was administered to Murphy. Frendo replaced the ball on the spot, but made a hash of the kick, striking the ball as if warming up a goalkeeper in the pre-game rituals. Had Parkin guessed right, it would have been a fine penalty and the score would have been 4-3. Instead he guessed left and made the save, holding onto the ball. He was immediately surrounded by three teammates anxious to clear any rebound; Hendon players stood watching the action again on the edge of the box.

In the 83rd minute, Murphy's cynical time-wasting tactic rebounded on him. Sargent received the ball on the Hendon right and he was scythed down just after passing out to Julienne. The assistant referee immediately waved for the foul and Mr Cook had no hesitation in producing a yellow then a red card.

There were approaching eight minutes of stoppage time, entirely merited as there were a few injuries and plenty of time-wasting, to say nothing of four substitutions and five goals. During the added time, FRENDO collected a pass from Rene Street, turned past a defender and fired a shot which Parkin could only push into the bottom corner.

A minute later, Pickett almost brought Hendon back on level terms with a powerful shot that was brilliantly beaten away by Parkin. It turned out to be a match-winning save and although Ofori had one more half-chance, Slough just about held on.