Hendon and Heybridge Swifts will have to do it all over again after stalemate at Scraley Eoad on Tuesday night. Next Tuesday's FA Trophy 3rd round replay must surely offer better entertainment than the turgid goalless draw.

There were only two changes to Hendon's 17-man squad from their previous match, Jamie Burgess and fit-again Steve Forbes taking Jamie Kelly and Simon Huggett's places on the bench.

Between them, both teams had been idle for 41 days and it showed, especially in a first half almost devoid of goalmouth action. Hendon had the stiff wind at their backs, but the Greens didn't use the ball well.

Their best chance fell to Kieran Gallagher, who came off the left wing, took a short pass from Jon-Barrie Bates and fired a 25-yard dipping shot that Darren Placid seemed to react to a little late. He tipped the ball over the crossbar for a corner.

The reason for this was revealed after half-time when Tim Bruce appeared between the posts for Swifts. Placid had fallen awkwardly after an aerial challenge from Martin Randall and needed lengthy treatment before continuing. At half-time, he was diagnosed as suffering from concussion, forcing Heybridge to use one of their two substitute goalkeepers.

With the wind in their faces, Hendon played significantly better, although worse would have taken some effort, or lack of it. In the 50th minute, good work from Randall set up a chance for Eugene Ofori, but he scuffed his shot and the ball rolled in Bruce's arms. Four minutes later, Randall fired a snap shot that flew inches over the angle of post and crossbar.

The closest either team came to a goal arrived in the 59th minute when a shot from Adam Gillespie was deflected by a Hendon defender and the ball thudded against David Hook's left post with the goalkeeper beaten.

Just after the hour mark, Hendon replaced Randall with Ricci Crace and the substitute squandered a glorious opportunity 3 minutes after coming on. He used his pace to get clear of the last defender as a ball over the top of the defence set him. Crace had time to steady himself before shooting, but rushed the effort and the ball went well wide.

Forbes, who had tormented Swifts in the League match at Scraley Road in October took over from Paul Yates and immediately caused the home defence problems. He was pulled down 25 yards from goal in the 77th minute and Gallagher curled a free-kick inches wide of Bruce's right upright with the goalkeeper unlikely to make a save a foot inside the post.

At the other end a theatrical fall from a Heybridge forward in the box brought loud shouts for a penalty, but referee Carl Couzens was satisfied there was no foul. Swifts ended the game on top, but they didn't look likely to make the breakthrough.

"Both sides were below par in terms of performance," said a disappointed Mr Anderson. "When you lose a league game you can bounce back and win your next one, but in a cup tie if you lose you don't get a second chance, so I'll take a draw."