Hendon lost only their 7th Ryman League Premier Division game of the season when bogey-team Purfleet recorded a 2-1 victory at Claremont Road on Saturday to complete a double over the Greens. In 13 League meetings since October 1995, Hendon have recorded just 1 victory.

Gary McCann, Steve Forbes, Ricci Crace, Martin Randall and Lee Endersby all returned to the starting line-up, replacing the 5 substitutes on the day, David Hook, Paul Towler, Eugene Ofori, Dale Binns and Jack Midson.

The game had a dramatic start. After 25 seconds, Tresor Kandol found himself with acres of space down the right wing. He tried to cross to the unmarked Cliff Akurang, but managed only to hit the covering James Burgess, the only Hendon player apart from McCann in the penalty area.

This warning wasn't heeded because, in the second minute, Hendon found themselves behind to another sloppy piece of defending. A corner that was not properly cleared and when Gary Howard headed the ball back into the penalty area, Kris LEE was able to turn his marker and shot past the unprotected McCann.

To their credit, Hendon tried to hit back immediately and they forced a couple of corners, from which nothing came. However, the equaliser arrived before 20 minutes had elapsed.

It started with an attack which resulted in a fine shot from Ricardo Alves which drew an even better save from Alex O'Reilly. From the corner, the ball bounced around the penalty area and O'Reilly's attempt to punch clear was thwarted by Randall, who jumped with him.

The ball fell at the feet of CRACE, who wasted no time in smacking it into the net. Purfleet defenders chased after referee Mr J Simmons, but the official wasn't going to change his mind.

Four minutes later a great pass from Alves released Crace, who had a clear run at goal. As O'Reilly came off his line, Crace shot past him, but the ball flew the wrong side of the far post.

Just before half-time, Crace had another great chance to give Hendon the lead. A quickly-taken free-kick by Endersby sent Crace with a clear run at goal. However, he miscontrolled the ball and by the time he had gone past O'Reilly, he had no angle to shoot at goal and scuffed his attempt wide.

Moments later, Kandol could have given Purfleet the lead, but he was denied by a good save from McCann.

Hendon started the second half very brightly and in the 47th minute, Randall was denied by a magnificent full-length save from O'Reilly. Three minutes later, Randall and Endersby combined and the latter's snapshot smashed off the outside of the post with O'Reilly beaten.

Somewhate against the run of play, Purfleet snatched their winner. In the 62nd minute, Mr Simmons adjudged a Hendon defender the last player to touch the ball as it crossed the goalline so Purfleet had a corner.

It was curled into the near post and McCann called for the ball. However, he was beaten to it by Steve PASHLEY, whose close-range header was unstoppable. Having got their noses in front Purfleet began to play with more confidence and Kandol should have extended their lead in the 69th minute, but he shot wide.

Binns and Ofori replaced Endersby and Alves either side of the goal, with the effect that Crace was withdrawn into a more midfield role. He looked uncomfortable in the role and Hendon certainly suffered.

Nevertheless, the hard-working Randall did exceptionally well to chase a ball to the right wing and get over a perfect cross. Ofori timed his run well and launched a header that flew inches away from the goal. If that was a trifle unlucky, the same could not be said of Ofori's next header from a pinpoint Binns cross. On target and Ofori almost had to score, but the attempt was wayward.

Kandol made it a hat-trick of misses when a quick break from a Hendon corner resulted in him having an unopposed run at McCann. The goalkeeper came off his line to narrow the angle and Kandol rather stumbled into his shot, sending the ball bouncing well wide.

In stoppage time, Hendon had two more chances to equalise. A corner from Binns bent in the wind, but O'Reilly was equal to it, pushing the ball out for a corner from the opposite wing. Disappointingly, Paul Yates overhit his corner out for a goal kick.

Ofori then nipped in front of a couple of defenders as emergency striker Lee Harvey made a nuisance of himself. The Ghanaian certainly had no time to set himself and as he was not facing the target it would have been a magnificent strike to score. The ball bounced wide.

"I thought we played all right between the penalty areas," admitted manager Dave Anderson, "but I thought we performed poorly in both penalty areas and there is a saying that if you play badly in both boxes you will lose."