Hendon slipped to a third consecutive defeat on Saturday afternoon, this time going down to a Basingstoke Town side who had lost four matches in a row. Hendon showed one change to the starting line up after Tuesday night's defeat, with Paul Yates replacing Michael Woolner.

Hendon had the best of the opening exchanges, and in the 4th minute Dale Binns put an effort over the bar shortly after Ricci Crace had won a corner which came to nothing. Both Binns and Crace looked lively in the opening 10 minutes, but in the 12th minute the visitors took the lead.

Rob Cook crossed from the right wing, and Sean GORMAN unleashed a superb shot which gave Hendon goalkeeper David Hook no chance. Basingstoke then controlled the next period of play, and Dominic Naylor saw a shot well held by Hook. Hendon won a free kick in the 22nd minute, which was well struck by Paul Johnson, but no Hendon attackers were able to make contact for an equaliser.

The visitors were forced to make a replacement in the 24th minute after Dominic Naylor suffered a leg injury in a challenge, and had to be stretchered off. Five minutes later, Johnson delivered a corner into the area, and Paul Towler came close, but not close enough to force the ball home. A minute later, Hendon had a lucky break and Crace broke clear with the ball, but Davis Haule and Jon-Barrie Bates were unable to capitalise on the chance.

Hendon continued to create chances, and in the 34th minute a Dale Binns cross eluded everyone and was safely cleared. Four minutes later, Ricci Crace beat two defenders and burst into the area, and was clipped by a defender. The referee, Mr P Younger, gave the spot kick much to the annoyance of the Basingstoke players, who claimed that Crace had dived, and after things had been calmed down, Davis HAULE stepped up and beat the visiting keeper, Scott Tarr, for the equaliser.

In the 43rd minute, Basingstoke had a penalty shout turned down when an attacker fell in the area, but the referee ruled that no contact had been made. Just before half time, Hendon had a chance to take the lead when Crace was put clear by Binns, but the shot by the teenage striker was weak, and Tarr was able to pick the ball up comfortably and the teams turned round at half time on level terms.

Binns had the first chance of the second half, but shot straight at Tarr after receiving a good ball from Crace. However, for most of the rest of the game, Basingstoke controlled the game. In the 57th minute Glenn Howes shot wide, and four minutes later the visitors regained the lead.

Mike Davis was sent clear of the defence, and although Hook made an initial block, DAVIS was first to the loose ball and he forced it home from an acute angle. Hook was forced into a sharp save by an 18 yard drive from Howes two minutes later. Shortly afterwards, Hendon had a good penalty shout turned down when Marvyn Watson was pushed in the area. However, the match officials saw the incident in a different light and ruled that there was no offence.

Basingstoke scored their third goal in the 73rd minute when Tim SILLS was sent clear by a long ball out of defence, and despite looking a yard offside, he ran clear and calmly slotted the ball into the net. Hendon then made a double substitution, replacing Paul Yates and Marvyn Watson with Ross Pickett and Michael Woolner.

In the final minutes Hendon created a few half chances, and Jon-Barrie Bates saw a shot saved by the keeper, and from a Woolner cross, Pickett headed over shortly before the final whistle.

Speaking after the game a very disappointed Dave Anderson said: "We made schoolboy errors at the back this afternoon, and this is something we must stop doing if we are going to compete. However, the youngsters are learning, and all Ricci Crace needs is a goal to boost his confidence."