Hendon's three-year run as Middlesex Senior Cup winners came to an end at The Warren on Tuesday night against Yeading.

This was a much better Hendon performance and probably the most complete one since the FA Trophy victory over Taunton in late November. If Hendon can continue to show the spirit, heart, desire and competitiveness over the next few games, the spectre of relegation will quickly disappear.

Sadly, the defeat was controversial because, yet again, the match was decided by desperately poor decision-making by the match officials. The flashpoint occurred in the third minute of extra time when Rob Courtnage fouled DJ Campbell. It wasn't a particularly bad or sly foul, but Campbell reacted by jumping up and throwing punches at Courtnage, connecting on a couple of them. Courtnage reacted and the pair swapped blows.

The referee saw the whole incident, which took place in front of the dugouts - who were vainly pleading with their players to show some restraint and commonsense. Amazingly, and wrongly, the referee - who would be out of his depth in an inch of water - showed both players yellow cards when both should have been dismissed.

Neither team were at full strength for the tie, Hendon bringing in Rob Courtnage, Andy Sherry and Eugene Ofori for the injured Shayne Demetrious, Dean Coppard and the suspended James Burgess. Yeading had Campbell and Davis Haule on the bench, while Leon Woodruffe got the nod over Emond Protain.

The first half provided excellent entertainment on a raw evening. Both teams played some good football, with fouls at a premium, and chances fell at both ends. Both James Courtnage and James Stabler mixed some good saves with moments of indecision.

The opening goal came in the 36th minute. A Yeading attack was switched quickly from one side of the pitch to the other and when the ball came to Errol TELEMAQUE, he made no mistake with a powerful drive from an acute angle.

Hendon hit back quickly and were level two minutes later as OFORI rose well to head home a left wing cross. It was thoroughly deserved but, more importantly, just the boost the team needed after falling behind.

Two minutes before half-time a challenge by Michael Barima was adjudged to be a penalty, although he appeared to win the ball. The referee at first signalled a free-kick then, when he realised the incident had been in the penalty area, made it clear, without pointing to the spot, that it was penalty kick. Mark NICHOLLS blasted the ball past the dive of Stabler.

Yeading made their intentions clear with the half-time introduction of both Campbell (for Telemaque) and Bradley Quamina for the rather ineffective Richard Bouton. For all his temperament problems, Campbell is a very dangerous forward and he made a big difference.

Hendon's cause was not helped by a injury to the hard-working Sherry, who debut had gone rather well. Anthony Clark replaced him and although they are both midfielders, Sherry's forte is the physical side, Clark's the more creative. It proved important because Yeading began to exert control.

James Courtnage had an unfortunate moment after 64 minutes when he made three vain attempts to reach a bouncing ball and eventually dived into a Yeading player just outside the penalty area. He was cautioned for the foul because, with at least four green-shirted players around the six-yard box, it could not be construed as a clear goalscoring opportunity. The free-kick thudded into the defensive wall and the danger was cleared.

In the 77th minute, Yeading got their equaliser. As Ren� Street cleared a ball, a Yeading player went over his leg and the referee ruled that this, too, was a penalty. Up stepped CAMPBELL and he sent Courtnage the wrong way, drilling the ball to goalkeeper's right.

As the game moved into stoppage time, Hendon's bad luck reappeared. Ross Pickett chased a back-pass and forced an error from Stabler. Although Pickett won a tackle, he stumbled over the goalkeeper and, before he could pick himself up, Marc Kleboe - on for Woodruffe - had hacked the ball clear. If Pickett had been able to stay vertical, he would have had the easiest of tap-ins for the winning goal.

The game quietened down after the Campbell/Courtnage flare-up and extra time was quite even, although James Courtnage did produce one fine save to deny Marvin Morgan. Then, in the 103rd minute, disaster struck. Campbell looked offside when when he ran onto a through ball. Everybody looked to the assistant referee, whose flag stayed down and CAMPBELL was never going to be caught as he ran through to shoot Yeading into their second lead.

Hendon had a couple of chances to get back on level terms, but an unfortunate error from Jason O'Connor in the 113th minute let in MORGAN. He took the ball around James Courtnage before firing it into the empty net.

With three minutes to go, John Frendo struck a drive off the inside of the Yeading post, but the ball was hacked away to safety. Hendon's chances of a comeback disappeared with the ball as it was kicked into the night sky.