Hendon slipped to a fourth consecutive defeat on Tuesday night, this time losing narrowly at home to Billericay Town. Although the result was rough justice on Hendon, the match was effectively the tale of two goalkeepers.

James Burgess came in for his first start of the season, replacing Kevin Maclaren, while Dave Diedhiou took over from Chris Bangura.

Little of note had happened before Billericay scored what proved to be the game's only goal in the eighth minute. There didnt seem to be much danger as a ball was played into the feet of highly-rated Bradley Wood-Garness.

He controlled the ball instantly and turned towards the Hendon goal. With the defence a couple of yards off him, Wood-Garness let fly with a speculative 25-yard drive. It was well struck, but although he had to dive to reach the ball Joe Welch will feel he should have done significantly better than palming it into the net.

Within three minutes, Hendon nearly equalised. A right wing corner was curled to the far post and Brian Haule outjumped the visitors' defence to head the ball goalwards. As the ball was about to cross the line, Jack Buckfield palmed it away for another corner. It was a magnificent save.

Hendon then had two more excellent chances to draw level, but on both occasions the shot at goal was off target. Then, in the 23rd minute, the Greens had a lucky escape at their defensive end.

A cross from Steve Ferguson picked out Dave Wareham, who guided a header past Welch. He didn't quite get his angle right because the ball bounced off the inside of the post and Welch gratefully dived on it before a Ricay attacker could follow up.

They were the last of the clear-cut opportunities in the first half, but there was more bad news for Hendon in the 38th minute, when Haule limped off, to be replaced by Bangura. When the whistle blew for oranges it was Hendon who were the more relieved to hear it because Billericay, despite kicking into the wind, certainly looked the more likely scorers.

The second half was a different story. Barely a minute of the period had elapsed before the game's most controversial moment. Diedhiou played a neat one-two with Charlie Mapes on the edge of the Billericay penalty area. He collected the ball and was looking to run in on goal when he was scythed down by Marc Clarey.

There is no question of the incident being a foul, but whether the challenge was inside the penalty area, on the line or outside could be debated. Two referees, who were standing together watching the game as neutral spectators closer to the incident than most fans, looked at each other and instantly disagreed on the decision they would have given.

The referee, however, had no hesitation. He awarded a free-kick, inches outside the penalty area, a decision that seemed to infuriate many Hendon players, but their self-restraint, in view of the new Respect initiative, was laudable. Mapes took the free-kick and was denied a first goal of the season by a routine save from the estimable Buckfield.

It was the start of a sustained spell of pressure from Hendon, but Buckfield was having a night to remember. He produced excellent stops to deny both James Bent and Jamie Busby and, when a cross was punched clear with little power, the goalkeeper was grateful to see it bounce in an area where two Billericay players were lurking and none from Hendon.

Lubo Guentchev was introduced for Mapes with 20 minutes to go and he noticeably energised Hendon, giving the Greens extra options out wide. He also made life thoroughly difficult for Ashley Dumas, who was maybe a touch fortunate to receive only a yellow card for a push in the chest of Guentchev as they chased a ball towards the touchline, near the corner flag.

If Buckfield's early save from Haule had been excellent, then the one he pulled off to deny Guentchev in the 78th minute was at least its match. Guentchev danced past three defenders and although he had teammates open to his left and right, he elected to shoot.

There was nothing wrong with his effort as it had had power but lacked accuracy. Buckfield nevertheless had to display lightning fast reflexes to get down to the shot which he pulled back into this body from behind.

In the 85th minute, Buckfield was beaten by a shot, but Sam Byfield's drive flew inches past the far post.

As the game moved into stoppage time, Dumas again was lucky to stay on the field. His trip on the flying Guentchev made certain that the substitute would not reach the ball he had knocked past him. It certainly seemed an offence to merit a yellow card, but the match official satisfied himself with a long lecture.

The free-kick came to nothing and Billericay's relief at hearing the final whistle was clear for one and all to see.

"This was a tale of two goalkeepers," Hendon manager Gary McCann said after the game. "Their goalkeeper made three or very good saves and two which were top drawer.

"We certainly deserved something from the game, although our defending early in the game was poor."