Hendon subsided to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home St Albans City on Tuesday night, leaving 7 points adrift of Saints, albeit with 4 games in hand. Although it was only the 4th League defeat of the season, the struggles against Heybridge, Hampton and Harrow in the 3 previous home games suggested it was on the cards. However, you could not fault the effort of the players wearing Green & White.

New signing Rob Hollingdale was on the bench alongside suspension free Paul Yates and Ricci Crace and James Burgess, who made way for Eugene Ofori and Paul Towler in an otherwise unchanged starting line-up.

On a hard but flat pitch, both teams were happy to knock the ball long and feed off scraps. It made for an unedifying spectacle, with most of Hendon's danger coming from the left wing where Dale Binns was double and sometimes triple-teamed by St Albans markers.

In the 28th minute, Binns almost opened the scoring when a low cross from Micky Woolner was pushed out by Richard Wilmot and Binns had a chance to shoot. The first effort was blocked back to him and his second drive struck a couple of defenders on the line.

Shouts for a penalty were rejected by referee Gary Young only after he had looked to his assistant. Unfortunately for Hendon neither official had a clear view of the incident and Mr Young was absolutely right not to guess at a decision as important as a penalty and possible red card.

For all of Hendon's possession and domination, shots and chances were at a premium. A long throw from Lee Harvey was flicked on by Rob Haworth and just eluded two green shirts before being hacked clear. This constituted one of the clearer opportunities.

In the last minute of the half, Ofori gambled that a bouncing ball might lead to a half-chance and he jumped in front of Wilmot, quite legitimately, and won the challenge. He knocked the ball a little away from goal and, from a very acute angle, Ofori bent a snap-shot inches wide of the far post. Haworth was closing in fast but couldn't get close to the ball.

The second half was dominated by St Albans in much the same way as Hendon had been on top before the break. Lots of ball, a few corners, but little in the way of a clear opening.

In fact a diving header by Haworth of an Iain Duncan cross was possibly the clearest chance Hendon had all night. Within 2 minutes, however, Hendon were behind.

For once, St Albans had numbers committed to attack and when the ball came to Simon MARTIN, he made no mistake with a fine finish. Having got the lead, the Saints now were able to dictate the tempo and Hendon didn't come close to regaining the initiative.

From a rare Hendon attack, another scramble in the St Albans area saw a goalbound shot from Ricci Crace blocked by a flying defender. But the scraps Hendon were feeding off would barely have provided sustenance to a starving sparrow.

In the last minute of normal time, a defensive pass from Harvey wasn't dealt with by Mark Cooper and when the ball was knocked across the penalty area, Martin YOUNG sealed the points with a tap-in goal.

"When you get chances in big games, you have got to take them," said manager Dave Anderson, "and tonight, we didn't do that. It was a very tight game but with no craft."D