Hendon remain winless in the Ryman Premier Division after failing to build on the midweek FA Cup win against Potters Bar with a limp and disappointing 2-0 defeat at an East Thurrock United side, who were also previously without a league victory before kick off.

Gary McCann made two changes to the starting XI from midweek with James Parker replacing James Fisher and Greg Ngoyi making his first start of the season in place of the unavailable Darren Currie. On the substitutes bench there was a welcome return for last season's second top goalscorer Elliott Charles alongside Isaiah Rankin, Jack Mazzone, Craige Tomkins and Howard Hall.

The Greens made a fairly bright start to the game and produced the first chance of the afternoon. Scott Shulton ran at the home defence and drove the ball low into the penalty area. Ngoyi reacted quickly six yards out sliding in to try and divert the ball home only to be denied by an outstanding reaction stop by Richard Wray low to his right. It was to be another 89 minutes until the Greens registered another effort on target.

After the early warning, The Rocks began to take a stranglehold on the game and put the Hendon defence under a great deal of pressure. Sam Higgins had the hosts' first effort on goal but saw his drive bounce off the back of his strike partner Hakeem Araba and bobble harmlessly wide before Berkley Laurencin was called into action for the first time to smother a low effort from the lively Kye Ruel that threatened to drift away from him.

Steve Sheehan was the next to test the Hendon goalkeeper after about a quarter of an hour when a 35 yard strike had to be palmed over the top by Laurencin and five minutes later the Hendon custodian once again came to the rescue. Wayne Walters was caught in possession by Ruel inside his own penalty area, and the Rocks winger squared the ball to Araba in front of goal. As the bulky number 10 took a touch Laurencin spread himself at the striker's feet bravely and produced a fine smothering save to keep the game scoreless.

The opening goal arrived on 32 minutes. A cross was swung in right footed from the left hand side and Araba, who caused Ryan Wharton no end of problems all afternoon with his strength, launched himself at the ball and directed a superb header beyond Laurencin into the bottom corner of the Hendon net. It was no more than the hosts deserved.

Rather than resting on their laurels, East Thurrock looked to add to their lead before the break and it was only down to the presence of the Hendon goalkeeper that they didn't go into the interval at least two goals to the good. Firstly, he produced a wonderful save from a powerful Sam Higgins free kick that was arrowing into the top corner from the edge of the D on the penalty area and on the stroke of half time hesaved well low at the far post from a Ruel effort and shortly afterwards held a low effort from Higgins.

Hendon's efforts to try and relieve the pressure were scuppered by a good deal of carelessness in possession and an inability to deal with the high intensity pressing game employed by East Thurrock. Every time a midfielder in a Green shirt received the ball there was a yellow shirted opponent snapping at his heels and possession would be recycled cheaply.

In an attempt to turn things around at the break, Gary McCann made a double substitution with Howard Hall replacing Wayne Walters at centre half and Elliott Charles, making his first appearance of the season in place of the ineffectual Michael Murray alongside Ngoyi. The switch certainly gave the Greens more of a focal point for their balls forward but did little to alter the tide of the match.

Four minutes after the restart East Thurrock spurned a golden chance to extend their lead when a cross from Ryan Sammons on the right flank found Higgins unmarked from no more than 4 or 5 yards out. The former Chelmsford marksman's header certainly didn't lack for power, but unfortunately it was directed straight at Laurencin who reacted well to block the ball with his foot, Araba was unable to force the rebound home and Hendon were able to clear their lines.

This was the first of many chances the hosts squandered to put the game to bed as Laurencin continued his defiant battle with the two East Thurrock centre forwards, firstly holding a powerful Higgins volley from the edge of the box and then saving well with his knees from Reiss Gilbey who had pounced on a rebound when Araba had lofted the ball over the goalkeeper only to see it rebound off the frame of the goal.

Higgins was unlucky just past the hour mark as he rose unmarked to meet a Tom Stephen left wing cross. His glanced header perhaps needed a little more power and a little less direction to score, instead he watched in agony as the ball bounced wide of the far post with Laurencin beaten. He wouldn't have to wait long though to get his reward for an impressive afternoon's work.

A long clearance downfield saw Higgins in pursuit with Kevin MacLaren, the last man in a Green shirt. As the ball dropped Maclaren appeared to be in two minds as to how to deal with the situation and chose neither, leaving the striker through on goal. Laurencin did well once again to block the first effort but was powerless to stop Higgins latching onto the rebound and sending the ball beyond his desperate dive to seal the three points for the hosts.

The game became scrappy briefly with Dean Cracknell and Casey Maclaren both collecting needless cautions - Kris Newby saw yellow for the hosts in between for a foul on Scott Cousins as they looked to consolidate their lead.

They did so with a large degree of comfort weathering a minor ripple of late pressure from the beaten visitors. Casey Maclaren's low left foot shot was comfortably held by Wray diving to his left and Cracknell dragged a 20 yard effort a yard or two wide of the left upright.

The Greens afternoon can be summed up by the fact that they forced their first corner of the afternoon in added time at the end of the 90 minutes. This passed without incident leaving the hosts able to celebrate a thoroughly deserved first league win of the season.