Hendon were on the wrong end of an FA Trophy upset, going down to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Ryman League Division One South Whitstable Town at Earlsmead on Sunday. Cheered on by a noisy group of supporters, the Oystermen stretched their unbeaten run to eight games, coming from a goal behind.

The Greens can certainly consider themselves unlucky not to have won, having struck the frame of the Whitstable goal three times. They also had a goal correctly disallowed, watched goalkeeper Luke Watkins have a memorable afternoon and been thwarted by unkind bounces on two critical occasions.

Lee O'Leary came back into the side at the expense of Dean Cracknell, who dropped the bench. Sam Flegg retained his place at centre-half, meaning Casey Maclaren, free from suspension, was selected only as a substitute.

The match almost had an astonishing start. A misplaced defensive header gave Craig Thompson a clear run at the Hendon goal. With the target at his mercy, and no Hendon defender in hailing distance, the Whitstable striker slipped and tripped over his feet and went down.

It didn't take long for Hendon to create a chance of their own, Carl McCluskey having a shot blocked by a defender after eight minutes.

Whitstable's first big escape came after 18 minutes when Jefferson Louis smacked an effort off the underside of the angle of post and crossbar.

Jack Bennett and Tony Taggart were enjoying plenty of possession down the left flank while Chris Seeby made telling runs down the opposite wing. It seemed only a matter of time before the Oystermen would be opened up and a pearl of a goal found.

In the 24th minute Taggart got around the back of the Whitstable defence and laid the ball into the path of the late-arriving Louis. His strike was firm and true; Watkins' save was outstanding, his outstretched foot diverting the ball to safety.

Six minutes later, Watkins did even better, somehow getting hand to a rasping drive from Taggart. His hand was just enough to deflect Taggart's effort against the bar.

Then, in the 37th minute, Taggart was put in the clear by McCluskey. He had a one-on-one with Watkins and would probably have scored, had he not been undone by a bobble as he ran into the penalty area. It meant his touch was a little heavier and Watkins was off his line quickly enough to smother the ball before Taggart could get back to it.

At the other end, Hendon's defence was given another warning that Whitstable weren't there just to make up the numbers. A set play from the right wing was perfectly delivered into the path of Peter Huggens, whose header was superbly saved by Berkley Laurencin, low by his right post.

Hendon wasted too many corners playing the ball short and when the ball was played deep, McCluskey was denied by a goalline clearance from Laurence Harvey. Then, on the stroke of half-time, McCluskey again won a header from a corner.

Ashley Baverstock made an excellent headed clearance, sending the ball against the crossbar. The ball bounced down, Watkins gathered it and was shoulder-charged into the net by McCluskey. Fifty or 60 years ago, it would have been a goal; in modern football, McCluskey might have been fortunate not to receive a yellow card!

The second half was much less entertaining and closer as a contest. Whitstable did well to cut down the dangerous runs from Bennett, reducing Hendon's attacking options.

It was the Greens who continued to set the pace, without quite the same dynamism of the opening 45 minutes. In the 58th minute, a clever diagonal ball from Louis released Lee O'Leary, but he dragged his effort just wide of the far post. Louis then drilled a shot past the near post, though Watkins may well have had it covered.

Midway through the second half, Hendon made a double change, the quiet Anthony Thomas being replaced by Cracknell and James Fisher forced off to make way for Casey Maclaren. It must be said that the two Hendon changes - Whitstable had just sent on Charlie Smith for Baverstock - had no bearing on the game's opening goal.

Taggart and Seeby finally found a way to unlock the Oystermen's defence. A good interchange of passes drew in three defenders, leaving them a man short in the middle. Seeby sent the ball to the far post and Louis, having lost his marker, planted a towering header past Watkins who could not get across his goal in time to cover his right post.

Living up to the famous football adage that a team is most vulnerable immediately after scoring, Hendon's lead lasted barely two minutes. A free kick was conceded just outside the Greens penalty area and it was sent towards the far post. McCluskey was in position to head the ball clear, but he got a call from Laurencin and left it.

Unfortunately, the delivery was too good and the goalkeeper couldn't reach it. McCluskey - in his opinion - still could have won the defensive header, but Harvey settled any doubt by matching Louis’s header from a few minutes earlier.

The match was effectively decided in the 76th minute. Hendon attacked and the ball came off a defender towards the Oystermen's left-back position. O;Leary was quickest to react, but he was stopped by a defender. Play continued and Whitstable launched a counter-attack. The Hendon defence should have been able to deal with the danger, but a through ball found Smith, who fired off a first-time shot towards the near post.

Laurencin had been off his line as the attack built up and was not well-placed to make the save. The ball bounced off the goalkeeper's arm and ended up in the back of the net.

There was still more than enough time for Hendon to retrieve the situation. Michael Bryan replaced the tiring Taggart and delivered a couple of teasing crosses, which both of which were well dealt with by the suddenly confident Whitstable defence. One last chance came Hendon's way in the 88th minute, but a red sock deflected the ball away and the return effort was hit narrowly wide.