Hendon's four-match losing run came to end at Rookery Hill. The second half saw five goals, two penalties, others rejected, two red cards and ended with the Greens coming out on top 4-2 against an East Thurrock team which had started the bad run 15 days earlier.

Reacting to the disappointment of the defeat against Canvey Island, Hendon made a number of changes. Joe Wright. Courtney Harris, Lee O'Leary and Mahrez Bettache made way for Melvin Minter, Russell Short, Dave Diedhiou and Scott Shulton, respectively, all but Wright joining Leon Smith and Andre Da Costa on the bench.

The French have a saying, "Plus ca change, mais plus la meme chose," (the more things change, the more they stay the same), and after Sam Flegg had fired over from a good position, Hendon found themselves a goal down after only four minutes.

After Hendon conceded a corner, Minter saved well from Tom Anderson to concede another set-piece from the quadrant. This time, the cross was met by Ryan Scott, and he scored with a low header, but the Greens' marking was not great.

East Thurrock continued to show how much they like playing against Hendon, defending an unbeaten run which stretched back to November 2007 - though there had been only three positive results in nine meetings - and they almost doubled their advantage before half-time when an effort struck a post.

The Greens lost Shulton to injury just past the midway point of the first half, and he was replaced by Bettache. It was not what Hendon needed with the FA Cup coming up four days later.

But it could have been worse for Hendon as James Walker came close to scoring but Minter produced another good save. At the other end, Sam Murphy might have done better with a chance just before the interval.

Hendon came out with renewed purpose in the second half and were rewarded less than two minutes after the resumption when Aaron Morgan netted from close range.

Lewis Smith has been a thorn in the Hendon side already this season, he netted both goals at Earlsmead, and he was at the centre of the incident which saw the Rocks regain the lead. He went spectacularly over Ryan Wharton's outstretched leg and despite mutterings about it being a dive, the referee awarded a penalty, converted by Smith himself.

Midway through the half Oliver Sprague burst into the box, tracked by Scott. The challenge on Sprague was probably no worse than Wharton's a few minutes earlier, and the match official was at least consistent in again pointing to the penalty spot, from where Sam Murphy made it 2-2.

The loudest and best penalty claim of the match came a few minutes later. Diedhiou rose for a ball with Rocks captain Rickie Hayles. He appeared to knock him out of the way in an aerial challenge, but the referee saw no foul.

A furious Hayles tried to speak to the referee, who ran away to keep up with play. Throwing his toys out of the pram, Hayles protested too much and the referee, who had earlier cautioned him for dissent, did so again, and East Thurrock were down to ten men.

The Greens then made a double change, Smith and Da Costa taking over from Kezie Ibe and Short. And they used their extra man well - the Rocks having to reorganise their defence with their centre-half dismissed. With four minutes of normal time remaining, the Greens took the lead for the first time when Smith ran through the middle and finished without fuss.

Just before the 90 minutes were up, Morgan appeared to collide with Tom Waight as they were challenging for a loose ball. Physically it was a catchweight contest and the smaller, lighter Waight fell to the ground.

The referee and his assistant appeared to be the only two people in the ground who thought there was any of danger, malice or violence in the challenge, claiming Morgan's foot was raised. The Rocks bench could not believe the decision, nor could Hendon's, and Morgan was left to trudge off the pitch.

East Thurrock desperately tried to hit back and they have made a habit of scoring late goals this season. Wharton, however, atoned for his earlier error for the penalty with a superb tackle on Smith, and also made a headed goalline clearance to keep Hendon's noses in front.

However, they were overcommitted to attack and when Murphy broke away, there weren't enough defenders to stop him. He beat three of them and sent the ball to Da Costa who lifted the ball over Lucas Lidakevicius to seal the points.