Hendon slipped to only their second away defeat of the Ryman League Premier Division campaign when Bishop's Stortford beat them 4-1 at Woodside Park on Tuesday night.

Although distinctly second best for long periods of this fractious game, the Greens feel cheated by a decision by referee John Pearce, 10 minutes from time, that cost them any hope of gaining anything from the match.

Of the two teams, Hendon started the brighter and Martin Randall nearly profited from a wayward pass out of defence by James Parker. The striker went for a first-time strike at an unguarded goal, rather than controlling the ball and shooting once keeper Micky Desborough had regained his position.

The ball hit a divot just in front of Randall and flew wide of the target. In the 8th minute Randall had another half-chance from the edge of the penalty area, but he again failed to make Desborough make a save.

In the 16th minute, from their first attack of note, Bishop's Stortford scored a special goal. Glen SOUTHAM, outstanding in the reverse fixture at Claremont Road 24 days earlier, did all the work on the left side before cutting inside Micky Woolner and driving an unstoppable shot past David Hook's left hand into the top corner.

The rest of the half belonged to the Blues and Hendon were a little fortunate to turn around only 1-0 down. Indicative of the ineffectiveness of Randall and Ricci Crace up front was one chance that fell Mark Cooper, following a cross by fellow centre-half Lee Harvey. The effort was blocked, but two centre-halves shouldn't be combining for a cross and shot. A foul by Woolner, which effectively put Southam out of the game, deservedly earned the full-back a caution.

Just as in the first half, Hendon started the brighter. In the 55th minute, a deep cross from Lee Endersby picked out Cooper at the far post. He tried to direct his header just inside the post but instead hit it flush and the ball was hacked away.

Seven minutes later, a corner move for Stortford gave Rob GOULD the chance to head home the Blues' second goal. That just about seemed that for Hendon. Dale Binns came on for Ricardo Alves, who had come in for some rough treatment from the home side - without getting any protection from the inept Mr Pearce - and immediately set up Paul Yates, but his goalbound shot was blocked by Alex Riches.

Jack Midson took over from Martin Randall for the final 16 minutes and this change had an immediate effect. A cross from Binns was flicked on by Crace to MIDSON, who had too much strength for Gould and, after shrugging his challenge, he banged the ball into the net for his first Hendon goal. A minute later, a ball came to Crace, who elected to bring it under control before shooting, but it was the wrong option and a defender's boot took the ball away from him.

In the 80th minute, Mr Pearce spotted an infringement in the Hendon penalty area and called over Cooper to issue a caution. He awarded a penalty too, a decision that incensed the defenders as much as it bemused them. Dave RAINFORD waited for the furore to abate before blasting the penalty home. It was Stortford's 14th penalty of the season in 59 matches - almost 1 every 4 games.

Six minutes later, Tim LANGER took advantage of some poor Hendon marking to complete the Greens' night of misery.

"There is no doubt that the better team one," admitted manager Dave Anderson, "but I cannot understand what the penalty was given for. At 2-1 down we were back in the game and that decision cost us any chance of getting anything from it. I also don't know how the referee can book 5 of my players and only 1 of theirs."