Hendon dropped 3 places down the Ryman League Premier Division when Sutton United recorded a 2-0 victory over the Greens at Claremont Road on Saturday afternoon. The injury-hit Dons could have little complaints because if Sutton's second-half finishing had been better then it could have been embarrassing.

With injuries, illness or compassionate leave causing the absence of Steve Butler, Lee Endersby, Steve Forbes, Kieran Gallagher, Eugene Ofori and Martin Randall, Hendons's starting 11 just about picked itself, especially as both Jamie Burgess and Micky Woolner had been unwell. They were joined on the bench by Gary McCann, Under-17s player Patou Wemboloua and Brazilian Ricardo Alves, from the Reserves.

With the strong wind and rain driving at their backs, it was imperative that Hendon made a good start and it didn't happen. Although Dale Binns often got the better of Matt Gray, both Rob Haworth and Ricci Crace were snuffed out by Ryan Palmer and Danny Hodges. Binns apart, the Hendon midfield lacked imagination.

Sutton kept the ball on the ground and their slick passing caused Hendon some problems. In the 23rd minute, good work down the right resulted in a good chance for Mark Watson, but David Hook made a fine sprawling save to deny him.

Three minutes later, Binns cut in from the left and fired a shot that Tom Dunn probably had covered, but he looked surprised as the ball swung and crashed off the outside of his near post. Five minutes later, a swirling cross from Rob Hollingdale dipped late and bounced off the stanchion adjacent to the crossbar.

In the last minute of the half, Jon-Barrie Bates caught Nick Bailey as the pair battled for the ball. It was certainly a foul but it was not malicious. However, Bailey responded by launching himseft at Bates, who stood impassively as he appeared to be struck by the Sutton man. Referee Gary Evetts (Herts) called over Bates and gave him a stern lecture, then had a lesser one with Bailey, who must be considered very fortunate to stay on the field for what was technically a red card offence.

At half-time Sutton boss John Rains told his players to try diagonal balls, because Hendon's direct tactics had proved to be ineffective. It was certainly the right idea because it took Sutton all of 63 seconds to take the lead. A diagonal pass fell at the feet of Matt FOWLER, who turned inside Mark Cooper and fired a shot inside Hook's near post.

Three minutes later, Hook produced an important save to keep out another effort from Watson, who should have done better with a great opportunity. Hendon were really rocking and Hook, Cooper and Lee Harvey were the three busiest men on the field. Fowler and Watson wasted more chances before Sutton sealed the result with an absolute peach of a goal midway through the half.

Danny Bolt, the Us mercurial midfielder received a short pass from Bailey after he had intercepted a wayward pass from Binns. After taking the ball across the edge of the D of the penalty area, BOLT unleashed a shot which Hendon boss Dave Anderson said, "Ten goalkeepers wouldn't have reached."

It took until the 79th minute for Hendon to put a noteworthy effort on target. A cross from Binns was a little behind Paul Yates, but he nonetheless put into a good diving header that Dunn pushed away at full stretch. A minute later, Haworth glanced a header that beat Dunn, but went inches wide of the post.

In the 84th minute, the best move of the match should have given Sutton a third goal. Some excellent passing concluded with Bailey and Paul Honey playing a 1-2 on the edge of the Hendon box. Bailey took the return and with only Hook to beat, fired wide. It would have been no more than Sutton deserved.

"I thought we were the better side in the first half," said Mr Anderson, "but we didn't really look like causing them big problems. After the break we were lucky it didn't end 5 or 6-0.

"It is difficult to change a game when you have so many players missing, especially creative ones. We had two boys suffering from the after-effects of flu and two kids out of the reserves on the bench."