Hendon went into their game at East Thurrock United knowing that a win would take them to the top of the table. However, it was not to be as they slipped to a 3-2 defeat in a game that they had chances to win.

Gary McCann kept faith with the team that started at Harrow, whilst Daragh Duffy replaced Iavor Guentchev on the bench.

The Greens started very brightly and their first chance came in the 6th minute when Davis Haule had a shot blocked in front of goal. Shortly afterwards Marc Leach floated in a free-kick from the halfway line from which Brian Haule hit a shot on the turn just over the bar. Davis Haule headed just wide from a James Burgess cross before East Thurrock had their first chance in the 10th minute when Leach cleared a shot from Lee Burns off the line.

Hendon continued to threaten the home goal and in the 14th minute a corner from Wayne O'Sullivan was headed narrowly wide by Casey Maclaren. Three minutes later Ben Hudell fired a free-kick straight at the keeper, whilst at the other end Leli Bajaja scuffed a shot at goal.

However, despite all the Hendon pressure, it was East Thurrock who scored the opening goal when a cross from Danny Harris found Bajada unmarked ten yards from goal and he headed the ball home. This opened up the floodgates as the home side took the game away from Hendon.

Despite the Greens coming close again, Leach heading a Hudell free-kick wide, East Thurrock extended their lead in the 26th minute. Leach headed the ball out for a corner, which in turn was swung in by Gary Ansell. The ball bounced around the penalty area as Hendon failed to clear their lines, and Jamie Richards pounced to slam the ball into the net.

Six minutes later, East Thurrock were 3-0 ahead. James Burgess lost possession on the edge of the area and as the ball ran to the byline Bajada appeared to be tripped by the prone Richard Wilmot. There was a suggestion by some that Bajada had taken a dive, but the referee ruled that it was a penalty. The experienced Steve West stepped up and fired the ball home.

In the 35th minute, the Greens had a great chance to get back into the game, but Davis Haule somehow shot over the bar when it appeared easier to hit the target and it really was looking like Hendon would be rueing all the missed chances.

The second half was a much quieter affair for the first half hour, with neither keeper being tested. The closest Hendon came to coming back into the game was in the 65th minute when Maclaren headed another corner narrowly wide. However, as the half went on, Hendon gained more and more possession of the ball. Their efforts were rewarded in the 81st minute when good work from Craig Vargas and O'Sullivan allowed Brian Haule to head home from twelve yards.

The Greens then piled on the pressure and East Thurrock keeper Jamie Riley was forced into an outstanding save from a Belal Aiteouakrim drive. Hendon pulled another goal back with a minute to go when O'Sullivan scored direct from a free-kick 20 yards from goal after he was unceremoniously bundled over, which ignited memories of the comeback against Tonbridge the previous week.

In stoppage time, O'Sullivan had a wonderful chance to score an equaliser and steal a point but he couldn't get enough power on his shot and Jamie Riley was able to make a comfortable save. There was one last chance for the Greens in the dying seconds when everyone piled forward for a corner, including Wilmot, but Davis Haule was only able to head the ball over the bar.

The game was one that showed that chances must be taken if games are to be won. In truth, East Thurrock probably had just three clear chances at goal, and they scored all three. The need to ensure chances are taken was something that was echoed by manager Gary McCann and his assistant Freddie Hyatt after the game.

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