In a keenly fought friendly at Silver Jubilee Park on Tuesday evening, Hendon were beaten 1-0 by Bedford Town. This was the toughest of the pre-season matches so far, and should have reminded Hendon's players of the sort of quality they will meet in the Southern League this season.

For the majority of the match defences held sway over the attacks, Hendon's defence being aided by numerous offside decisions against Bedford's forwards who, in most cases, were too quick off the mark rather than by Hendon consciously playing an offside trap. The only goal of the game came when, for once, the Green's defence stood and appealed for offside, but the flag never came, and one of Bedford's trialists was left all alone to divert an excellent left wing cross past Hafed Al-Droubi, who had come on at half-time.

Bedford's twitter feed summed the match up rather well by commenting that Hendon had most of the possession but didn't dominate, and that Bedford's attack looked the more dangerous.

Kai Brosnan worked himself a couple of good openings in the first half but was unable to capitalise on them, snatching rather badly at the first and missing by several feet, and getting insufficient curl on the ball to bring it inside the far post for the second.

Bedford's defence were the dominant feature of the game, particularly Nathan McDonald, the former Enfield Town goalkeeper, in goal. He made two or three excellent saves.

Bedford's team appeared to consist chiefly of trialists, and their line-up was not given.

Guri Demuria came on for the second half, but was badly injured in a clash - no blame is attached to the opponent - and from his movement when leaving the field at the end of the game it looks as though he could be out injured for some time.