Hendon and Billericay Town drew 1-1 at a wet and windy New Lodge on Saturday afternoon in what was a thoroughly entertaining game between two teams still holding play-off aspirations. Both sides would have been justified in saying that they felt they had dropped two points, and that was certainly the opinion of Hendon manager Gary McCann after the game.

The Greens made two changes to the side that lost in the Middlesex Senior Cup Final on Easter Monday, with Rakatahr Hudson and Daniel Dyer replacing Lubomir Guentchev, who dropped to the bench, and the injured Casey Maclaren.

The first goalscoring opportunity came in the first minute when Billericay conceded a free kick on their left side which was curled into the box. Jamie Busby managed to get a shot at goal, which was deflected just wide by Brian Haule, but the striker was just offisde. Shortly afterwards Haule made a good run into the left hand side of the box but his shot found the side netting.

In the 10th minute, the home side had their first decent chance of the game when Bradley Woods-Garness was unfortunate to see his 25 yard drive fly narrowly wide of the far post. Billy Bricknell, who scored Leyton's goal in their 11-1 mauling at the hands of the Greens, fired wide for Billericay, whilst at the other end Belal Aiteouakrim, Hudson and Busby all saw efforts go wide as well.

As the half reached the midway point, the heavens opened and the ground was engulfed in a torrential rainstorm, making the already sticky pitch more difficult to play in. In the 25th minute, Billericay took the lead. A header from Sam Page was misjudged by Luke Blackmore and Bricknell took advantage to win the ball and score into the unguarded net.

However, Billericay's joy was shortlived as Hendon equalised just 31 seconds later. From the restart, Hendon attacked and Darren Blewitt made a hash of a clearance. Aiteouakrim took advantage and ran unchallenged into the 18 yard box and slotted the ball past Ronnie Worster. It should be mentioned that whilst it was raining torrentially when Billericay scored, it had almost stopped when the equaliser came.

Two minutes after the goals, Blackmore atoned for his earlier misjudgment and made an excellent save from Bricknell, tipping the ball wide for a corner, whilst Worster was also in action has he made a good save from an Aiteouakrim shot. From the resultant corner, Aiteouakrim had another chance which Worster required two attempts to gather.

Shortly before half-time, Blackmore made another good save, this time from Woods-Garness and as the half drew to a close, the Billericay winger saw his free kick fly over the bar.

The second half started quietly with both sides passing the ball around well. On the hour mark Blackmore added to his list of saves with a great stop from a Leon Hunter drive, whilst James Parker made an excellent tackle in the penalty area to stop another home attack.

In the 72nd minute there was the first of a couple of penalty shouts. The first was from Billericay. Substitute Lee Hodges fired towards goal and Blackmore parried the ball at the feet of Bricknell. Blackmore dived to smother the ball and Bricknell fell to the ground. Despite shouts for a penalty from the home support, the referee ruled that there had been no offence.

Three minutes later it was Hendon's turn to call for a penalty. A corner was swung in, and as Lee O'Leary went to head the ball towards goal he appeared to be punched in the hand by Worster. It should be said that there was no intent from Worster to go for O'Leary as both players were clearly watching the ball. Again the referee ruled that the game should continue.

Both sides had chances to win the game as the minutes ticked by, Davis Haule could only find the side netting after good work from Busby and Dyer, whilst Hodges had two good efforts fly narrowly high or wide of the goal. As it turned out, both defences held firm and with both sides unable to take their chances, a draw was probably the right result.

"They were there for the taking," said a disappointed Mr McCann afterwards. "Once again we haven't taken our chances, and I definitely believe that we have dropped two points this afternoon."

(Report by Steve Rogers - not to be reproduced without permission from the author)