Hendon went down to yet another defeat in Essex when Grays Athletic recorded a 2-0 victory at the Recreation Ground on Saturday. Since January 1996, Hendon have recorded just one League victory in the county.

Greens manager Dave Anderson was forced to bring in Mark Burgess at right-back with both Micky Woolner and Marvyn Watson injured. Joe Nartey was dropped to the substitute's bench, leaving Ross Pickett as a lone striker, with Byron Bubb playing just behind him and Dale Binns coming into the side in a wide left midfield role.

The opening goal, after just 88 seconds, came from a move Grays teams have been using for decades: soak up pressure, break quickly and strike. A header out of defence from Alan Keeper found Johnny Buffong streaking down the right flank. He went past Simon Clarke and delivered a cross to the near post. Paul Towler was beaten to the ball by Craig Edwards, whose touch knocked the ball past the covering Mark Cooper and Tony LOCK was unmarked as he knocked the ball home from 6 yards.

Hendon should have equalised in the 6th minute. Pickett did well to feed Jon-Barrie Bates, who brought down the ball well and split the Grays defence with a pass to Paul Yates 15 yards from goal directly in front of the target. Instead of shooting, he passed to Binns, who was 10 yards out, but made a complete hash of his shot, scuffing it a yard wide of the target.

In the 11th minute, Andy Sussex struck a 25-yard free-kick that seemed destined for the top corner, until David Hook pulled off an outstanding save. He palmed the ball to his right and plunged onto it before a following-up forward could get to the rebound.

Four minutes later, Binns nearly atoned for his miss with a good run across the face of the penalty and a powerful drive. It beat Mel Capleton all ends up, but crashed off the foot of the post and bounced away for a goal kick.

In the 17th minute, Grays struck on the break again. A set-piece from the Hendon left was headed clear and this time it was Yates who failed to make an invervention. It allowed Lock the chance to attack down the Grays left wing. His cross into the penalty area found Simon Clarke in front of Nathan Thomas and Edwards. Unfortunately, as he tried to deal with the danger, CLARKE stumbled slightly and directed his attempted clearing header into the bottom corner for a spectacular-looking own goal.

Mr Anderson changed the Hendon formation to a straight 4-3-3 in a bid to get back into the game, but Pickett, Bubb and Binns got nothing out of the home rearguard. Grays continued to look most dangerous when they broke from defence, but there were no really close efforts on either goal.

The second half was pretty much one-way traffic in Hendon's favour. As the preiod progressed, so the chances became better and better and more and more clear-cut. Grays' defence, bent, bowed and sagged, but it did not break. On a number of occasions they threw themselves in front of shots and the rebounds never fell cleanly to a Hendon player.

In the 62nd minute, Narty came on for Bubb and his running caused immediate problems for Grays. Three minutes later, Pickett had a free header from 8 yards, but he directed straight at Capleton, who made a spectacular save when a simple catch would have sufficed.

Nartey's first opportunity was a header from a Paul Towler cross, but he guided it wide of the near post. It was one of only two or three headers that Hendon players won in the Grays box, indicative of a disappointing lack of accuracy in delivery.

Grays had just two opportunities of their own. A shot from Thomas was well save by Hook and the same player appeared unfortunate not to receive a penalty or a least an indirect free-kick when taken out as he ran into the penalty area.

With 5 minutes to go, Hendon should also have had a penalty when Buffong, caught on the wrong side of Pickett, pushed the striker as he went for what should have been a simple nod-in for a goal. The push was enough to cause Pickett to stumble forward and lift the header over the bar. Referee Mr P Toyer not in a position to spot the infringement, and he received no help from his assistant on the touchline, who should have had a perfect angle on the incident.

In stoppage time, Binns was denied by a brilliant save from Capleton, Pickett shot over the bar near to goal and Nartey had his heel clipped as shot at goal, the ball flying over the bar.

"I thought we battered them in the second half," said a disappointed Mr Anderson. "We were poor in the first 15 minutes and paid for it. But our finishing and delivery into the box was not good enough."