Hitchin Town left LOOT Stadium on Monday by far the happier of the two teams following their 1-1 draw with Hendon. It was not a great match, far from it, but there was interest right until the final whistle.

Hendon made a few changes, giving Matt Bartholomew a League debut in place of the suspended Gary Fitzgerald, John-Simon White came in for Simon Clarke, Davis Haule replaced Marvyn Watson and Paul Whitmarsh reclaimed the No. 9 shirt in favour of Mavuto Sakala.

Hitchin started brightly and the Hendon defence was very much on the back foot, but the experience of Curtis Warmington and Warren Kelly ensured that the Canaries had few direct efforts at goal, where Andy Iga continued to impress.

Jeran Meah was a real thorn in the Hendon side, prompting Hitchin well from midfield. Robert Kean kept Matt Howard fully occupied down the right flank, getting in one early cross that could have led to a goal.

Instead, after 15 minutes, it was Hendon who took the lead. A ball was lofted into the penalty area, where Whitmarsh was running. The striker got to the ball first, but was bundled in the back by Mark Burke. Whitmarsh fell forward and lay on the ground just inside the penalty area.

Referee Mr E Smith (Surrey) had no hesitation in awarding a free-kick and as soon as he had satisfied himself the foul had been inside Hitchin's penalty area, pointed to the spot. A couple of defenders remonstrated with him, but it was half-hearted at best. Their gripe was mainly because it was such a massive decision for a silly, unnecessary foul. Dominic GENTLE was not particularly bothered. He put the ball on the spot and struck it just hard and low enough to go under Richard Wilmot's dive.The big 'keeper did well to get a hand on the ball, but could not keep it out.

Wilmot did much better, a few minutes later, saving from White at full stretch. White then had shot which flew past the far post, but it was nearly touched into his own net by Ian Scott, who neatly stepped over the ball.

In the 34th minute, Darren Fenton was caught offside, right in front of assistant referee Miss A Chapman. Mr Smith gave the free-kick, then cautioned Fenton, who had launched the ball into the far corner of the ground. The next two major incidents involved Fenton too.

In the 37th minute, Hitchin won a penalty of their own, but their was no doubt about the reckless tackle which brought the award. FENTON's penalty was about as convincing as Gentle's and Iga just failed to keep it out of the net.

In the 43rd minute, Fenton clashed in the penalty area and went down holding his head. Warmington went to see if he was alright and got kicked in the leg for his pains. After receiving treatment, Fenton was called over by the referee and was sent from the field for a second bookable offence.

With 10 men for all of the second half, Hitchin would have been pardoned for going into a defensive shell. However they instead attacked Hendon and caused the Greens a few problems.

Freddie Hyatt did more than cause a few problems for the Hitchin defence. He twice extended Wilmot with powerful drives, but the 'keeper pushed them both aside.

Whitmarsh had a glancing header that was well saved and Haule was denied by the 'keeper's legs as he sprinted off his line. If this sounds as if Hendon were on top, it is a misconception because, for almost 25 minutes of the period, Hendon were on the back foot. The Dons only got on top in the game's final quarter.

Dale Binns replaced White after 56 minutes and did not get into the game until the last 20 minutes, after which he proved quite a handful. Watson replaced Howard after 71 minutes, forcing Hitchin further into defence.

In quick succession, Haule, Binns and Gentle all shot across the face of goal. Each was just too hard for a forward to get a decisive, diverting touch. In the final 10 minutes, with Bontcho Guentchev on for Gentle, Watson and Haule both went close. However, Iga made two fine saves to preserve a point.

"We should have won tonight," said manager Frank Murphy. "Their keeper was the man of the match."