Hendon's fading Ryman League Premier Division title challenge took another hit as a third consecutive opponent left Claremont Road with a share of the spoils. On Saturday Heybridge Swifts came looking for a point and their defensive set-up worked enough to ensure the game ended goalless.

Ricci Crace, Jon-Barrie Bates and Lee Harvey were the only 3 players who had not started in Thursday night's Middlesex Cup tie and, it has to be said, the other 8 looked rather jaded. A rock-hard pitch helped to contribute to an uninspiring afternoon's fare.

Although both were ready-made excuses, Hendon boss Dave Anderson would have none of it, saying, "I will not accept the players' tiredness or the state of the pitch as excuses. Quite simply, we have got to learn how to break down teams that come here to defend. We must show some craft."

Craft was sadly lacking, especially in a first half, which had only four incidents of note. In the 15th minute, David Hook had to leave his penalty area to deal with a through ball. He controlled it, but slipped, then had to display some neat juggling skill to get past Steve Portway before launching a sliced clearance. Jamie Window was out of the opposite touchline when the ball came to him, but his attempt to fire it back at goal was weak.

In the 25th minute, Crace should have given Hendon the lead. A flick-on from Rob Haworth put him in the clear with only Darren Placid to beat. Crace's shot was on target, but far too close to Placid, who made a good save.

Eight minutes later, a wayward pass by Bates was latched onto by Kelechi Opara. His shot was on target, but Hook produced a magnificent save to push the ball against the post. An indication of the power of the shot was that ball rebounded out for a throw-in.

Eight minutes before half-time, Dale Binns tried his luck with a 20-yard shot. The attempt was going wide but Crace dived in and diverted the ball goalwards, although it didn't have the power to cause Placid too much trouble.

In the second half, Hendon at least upped the tempo, if the end-product remained disappointing. It might all have been different if, in the 48th minute, a deflected Steve Forbes had gone just inside the far post instead of just outside.

Forbes again came close in the 68th minute, shooting just wide. It was to be the shape of things to come because, in the final 10 minutes, both Mark Cooper and Iain Duncan narrowly missed the Heybridge goal.

In the last minute, Hendon almost threw it all away. Sloppy defending left Leon Hunter all alone in front of goal with Hook out of position. It needed a firm side-foot to bring Swifts 3 valuable points, but Hunter scuffed the ball badly and it flew out to the left wing, where Micky Woolner was able to tackle Adam Gillespie before he could shoot.

Even though the Greens must consider this to be 2 points dropped, rather than 1 gained, Hendon actually rose 2 places up the table to 4th, 4 points adrift St Albans City, but with 4 games in hand. More worryingly, leaders Aldershot have a 14-point lead after playing 3 more games and 2nd placed Canvey Island are 10 clear of Hendon having played 5 more matches.