Hendon ground out an unexpected point against promotion-chasing Havant & Waterlooville, the visitors surely the more disappointed of the two sides having wasted several decent chances to take all three points. In a scrappy affair at a cold Silver Jubilee Park, the Hawks dominated the first half and took just five minutes to snatch the lead.
An aerial ball created a degree of misunderstanding among the Hendon defence, granting Havant the chance to fire shots at the Hendon goal. Billy Collings produced a smart double save: however, the second of these found its way to Matt Paterson who smashed the ball home to give the visitors the advantage. Hendon only mustered a few scrambled efforts on the Hawks' goal in the first half, their play let down by multiple offsides and misplaced passes.
The Hawks had a half-hearted penalty appeal for handball waved away, before both Brian Stock and Paterson should have done better having been put through against the keeper, both of their shots going wide.
The second half was no more fluid than the first, with both teams largely cancelling each other out and the referee producing a flurry of yellow cards. It was Hendon who made the next breakthrough, a smartly-worked corner routine eventually finding its way to Arthur Lee who bundled in the ball at the far post with just ten minutes to go.
It was Havant who should have ultimately triumphed, Wesley Fogden managing to only hit the Hendon keeper's legs when it was arguably easier to score. Hendon managed to repel further advances from the Hawks, securing a valuable point as they attempt to reverse a tremendously poor run of form.