Hendon went down to high-flying Gosport Borough 2-1 at Privett Park this afternoon in a game that saw the Greens indebted to Matt Kerbey to keeping them in it to allow a late flurry following the sending off of Hamza Semakula shortly before half-time.

Gosport missed a 9th minute penalty when Rory Williams hit the base of the post and Hendon were forced to soak up plenty of pressure. They took the lead in the 34th minute with their first meaningful attack of the game, when Sam Adenola was ruled onside running onto a lofted ball into the box to coolly slot home.

The game was levelled up by a terrific strike from Alex Barsa five minutes before the break, after Gosport goalkeeper Toby Steward had been cautioned for deliberate handball outside his penalty area. Semakula then made a challenge on Hollands that was deemed to be reckless and dangerous in first half stoppage time and he was dismissed.

The game was won 9 minutes after the break by a brilliant strike from Danny Hollands, before Kerbey went into overdrive with a series of brilliant saves. Hendon pressed in the dying minutes to force an equaliser but never really stretched Toby Steward in the home goal as the home side reinforced their title challenge.