Hendon capped off a frustrating week by leaving Canvey Island with just a single point, when they certainly had the opportunity to come away with all three.

Following Monday's dingdong encounter, which saw the Beavers earn a last gasp victory against a plucky Hendon side that had overturned a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2, the draw at Canvey leaves Hendon eight points off the play-off places with just four games to play.

Although a play-off berth is still possible, the five dropped points mean that Gary McCann's squad face a Herculean task and favourable developments elsewhere to make the dream a reality.

Taking place on a bright spring day with the customary Canvey swirling wind, the match was arguably dominated by the visitors for the bulk of the afternoon, with Canvey keeper Gines Guzman Rosique deservedly being awarded the man of the match mantle for a fantastic display including two amazing fingertip saves and successfully dealing with a Hendon penalty.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Hendon bossed the opening encounters, creating plenty of chances and half-chances, both from open play and from a great many corners. Tony Taggart and Michael Bryan were frequently involved in the early Hendon incursions into the Canvey half, although one of these ended in ignominy for Taggart, with the referee correctly brandishing a yellow card for simulation.

Taggart felt that he deserved a penalty for a trip in the area, but he was clearly looking for contact and certainly made the most of it, going to ground like an okapi being mauled by a leopard.

Taggart was one of several Hendon players whose first half attempts on goal were denied by Guzman Rosique with Bryan and Anthony Thomas also seeing their efforts thwarted by the impressive Canvey custodian. In particular, a Taggart attempt was magnificently tipped around the post by the keeper.

Canvey themselves were limited to a few long-range attempts on goal in the first half and the teams headed back into the changing rooms with the home side having their youthful shot-stopper, who is on loan from West Ham United, to thank for being on level terms.

The second half was a more evenly matched affair, with both sides largely cancelling each other out, although Canvey generated their most positive spells of play during the third quarter.

The game erupted midway through the second half, with yet another Hendon attack seeing Bryan's goalbound shot striking a Canvey defender's hand. The referee had no hesitation in pointing towards the spot, but adjudged that there had been no intent behind the handball, as he only cautioned the defender rather than dismissing him.

After calm was restored, Thomas unconvincingly despatched the spot-kick, with the Canvey keeper dealing with the strike with relative ease.

Despite this disappointment, Hendon continued to press, with a Dave Diedhiou header well saved and a Hendon shot cleared off the line. Diedhiou had a chance to grasp victory with another header, this time directing it over the bar, while the home side could also have won it late on, with a shot inside the area being blazed just off target.

It was Hendon and their small band of supporters that will have left the match rueful about two points dropped, with a combination of missed opportunities and superb goalkeeping meaning that the club look towards home games against landlords Harrow and Grays to keep their faint play-off aspirations alive.