Honours remained even in what turned out to be an absorbing local derby at the LOOT Stadium. It would certainly have been unfair on Enfield had they come away with nothing but Hendon were just about worth their point following a disjointed performance.

On a heavy pitch, both sides found it difficult to find any rhythm in the first half, which was by all accounts a turgid affair full of over hit misplaced passes. Hendon took the lead in the 8th minute. A Freddie Hyatt corner was headed across goal at the far post by Jon Daly and as Paul Towler was about to nod the ball into an empty net, he appeared to be pushed.

The referee, Mr W.Cairns, who had a good game, immediately pointed to the spot although apparently citing handball has the reason for the decision. Gentle confidently stepped up and stroked the ball into the bottom left corner, sending Jerome John the wrong way.

Hendon really failed to capitalise on this advantage and despite constant probing by Whitmarsh and Gentle, they failed to create any sort of a chance for themselves. Enfield's front line of James Bunn and Danny Alleyne looked dangerous whenever they pushed forward and caused Towler and Fitzgerald many problems.

An equaliser came 5 minutes before half time and was a result of sustained Enfield pressure and as Hendon's defence failed to clear a dangerous set piece, the ball was scrambled home in the ensuing melee by Grant Cooper.

Also noteworthy in the first half was Mr Cairns' excellent use of the advantage rule, as Guentchev was fouled at one point when he received the ball, but as he recovered, play on was signalled. The referee then remembered two minutes later to book the offending player for the foul.

The second half was much more entertaining with both sides apparently committed to attack and as a result gaps began to appear. Whitmarsh created an opening for himself but dragged his left foot shot wide and Simon Clarke then had a 25 yard right footed drive well parried by Jerome John.

Enfield took the lead on the hour when a left wing cross was headed in from around eight yards out by Kevin Rattray. Hendon began to take more risks and Danny Alleyne's direct running was causing Hendon's rearguard plenty of risks on the break.

With around 10 minutes left, Bontcho Guentchev was fouled for the umpteenth time on the Hendon left close to the by-line. John Simon White curled the free kick into the box where Paul Towler rose from 8 yards out to thump his header into the roof of the net.

In the closing minutes the previously ineffectual Guentchev ran through and after sliding the ball past the advancing John, sank to his knees when the ball came back off the base of the post. Jason McKoy had a diving header blocked from a Mavuto Sakala cross, and in the last minute of stoppage time, Dominc Gentle headed a John Simon White cross narrowly over the angle of post and crossbar. Gary McCann was called upon to make one excellent save with the score tied from a deflected shot.