Hendon lost their opening pre-season match away to Broadfields United at lunchtime today by 2 goals to 1. The game kicked off at 11.30am on Rayners Lane's ground where Broadfields are groundsharing.

Hendon's squad was almost entirely trialist based. On the whole they gave a reasonable account of themselves, with several, in the writer's opinion, worthy of at least a second look by the Hendon management.

Broadfields appeared to show superior teamwork, leading to the assumption that a good number of their squad had played for the club last season. They were for the most part quick and hard-tackling.

The opening goal came just before the half-hour mark, when Hendon's #4 was adjudged to have fouled an opposing attacker in the penalty area. Craige Tomkins, who had a few matches for Hendon 13 years ago and who subsequently starred for and captained Edgware Town, confidently netted from the spot.

Hendon equalised five minutes before half-time, slightly against the run of play. The #9 chased a long ball down the right and managed to keep it in play near the junction of the goal-line and penalty area. He passed back to #8 who, with the aid of some skilful ball control, wormed his way through the defence and gave the Broadfield 'keeper no chance.

Within the first few minutes of the second half Hendon should have taken the lead. Some careless play in the Broadfield defence left Hendon's #4 with just the goalkeeper to beat, but he rolled his shot wide.

Hendon showed to better advantage in the second half, but were unable to make a great deal of headway against an uncompromising defence. During the second half there were the usual raft of substitutions, the Greens making five.

Although Broadfields were more defensive in the second half, there was still danger when they attacked, and eventually their pressure paid off. About 15 minutes from the end Hendon's goalkeeper could only parry a shot, and a Broadfields forward was left alone to collect the loose ball and net the winner.