Hendon's fragile confidence took another nosedive as Maidenhead scored 3 second half goals to record an ultimately comfortable and desrved victory at York Road on Saturday afternoon.

Hendon made one change from the team knocked out of the FA Cup on Tuesday night, on-loan striker Paul Fewings, the former Boston United man joining from from Chesham United, replacing Eugene Ofori alongside another on-loan striker, Phil Ruggles, whose spell at LOOT Stadium has been extended for a second month. Going the other way, goalkeeper Gary McCann has gone to Slough Town for a month.

In the 9th minute, Adrian Allen nearly opened the scoring with a cross-come-shot from the touchline. David Hook backpedalled and was glad to see the ball bounce off the top of the crossbar and away to safety.

Two minutes later, out of almost nothing, Hendon took the lead. RUGGLES collected a pass from Fewings 25 yards from the Maidenhead goal, took the ball a couple of strides and unleashed a powerful low drive. Richard Barnard seemed to react late, but the perfectly-placed shot may well have beaten him anyway.

Fewings and Ruggles caused the Magpies defence a few problems as Hendon tried to add to their lead. Maidenhead's clearances were not entirely authoritative, but as the Dons failed to deliver enough dangerous balls into the penalty area, they were able to relieve the danger.

After about 25 minutes, Maidenhead began to realise that they could get something from the game and began to exert some pressure of their own. In the 41st minute, Lee Channell should have equalised when he threw himself at a left-wing cross, but failed to make contact with the ball in a central position 8 yards out.

Dave Anderson's half-time team-talk focussed on two important facets: the midfielders to keep possession and the players already cautioned - Dale Binns, deservedly, and Paul Yates - a trifly unluckily - not to make any reckless tackles. Inside 9 minutes, both pieces of advice had been ignored and Hendon's chances of victory were all but over.

After 50 minutes, Davis Haule was caught in possession in the centre circle. Both he and Jon-Barrie Bates tried and failed to regain possession and Paul Kelly drove the ball out to the wing. Channell delivered an inviting cross which Obina ULASSI had no hesitation in knocking past Hook for the equaliser.

Two minutes later, Andy Rose - a thorn in Hendon's side all after noon - was needlessly brought down by a diving Dale Binns and referee Mr B McLaren (Surrey) had no alternative but to produce a second yellow card. Binns knew his fate and was walking towards the dressing room before the yellow and red cards were shown. Mr Anderson revealed he had been about to withdraw Binns, who was looking out of sorts, but events overtook him.

Ofori came on for the tiring Fewings, but could make no impression, all too often taking the wrong option when the ball came to him. The best Hendon could do in the second half was a driven cross from Ruggles which Barnard pawed away, but no other orange-shirted player was closing in.

It seemed only a matter of time before the overworked Hendon defence would concede another goal, despite the best efforts of René Street and Paul Towler. It came in the 73rd minute when Rose again caused problems down the right flank and delivered a good cross. This time the ball went beyond the far post where former Hendon man Paul KELLY escaped the attention of Micky Woolner and was all alone to rise and head the ball just inside the far post.

Hook roduced two excellent saves to keep Hendon nominally in the game, but he only delayed the inevitable until the 88th minute. Rose again was the provider, this time sending a perfect pass into ALLEN's path, and he knocked the ball past Hook.

Almost immediately, Haule was held back inside the Maidenhead penalty area, but Mr McLaren decided that there was no foul. The three match officials certainly not good, but their own performace did nothing to mask Hendon's deficiencies. Hendon still had time for some neat passing, their best football of the half, but there was no end product.

Hendon boss Mr Anderson was far from happy at the end of the match, saying, "I thought we were very poor. After the first 25 minutes, we contributed nothing to the game and we got what we deserved."