Hendon kept out Ryman League Premier Division championship favourites Hampton & Richmond Borough for more than 40 minutes of each half, but still slipped to a 3-1 defeat at The Beveree on Tuesday night. There is no doubt who was man of the match, it was Greens goalkeeper Richard Wilmot, who not only saved two penalties in a minute - from two separate incidents - but also produced four or five outstanding blocks.

Manager Gary McCann kept faith with the same 11 as Saturday, but the start was no different. Barely three minutes had elapsed when a defensive header fell short. Lawrence Yaku pounced, but Wilmot tipped his effort against a post. The ball rebounded to Ian Hodges, who had an easy tap-in.

Having taken an early lead, Hampton set about extending their advantage. They reckoned without Wilmot, however, who was in inspired form. He produced magnificent saves to deny Yaku and Hodges.

Gradually Hendon began to get in the game. Wayne O'Sullivan was far more effective down the left flank but the Beavers defence was not too inconvenienced. A couple of free-kicks around the fringes of the penalty areas were rather wasted, but one good ball from Jamie Busby was headed wide by Jermaine Hunter, although it looked as if Matt Lovett had punched the ball clear. Certainly he thought so.

Just before half-time, Hampton attacked down the left flank. The ball was drilled into the penalty area and the covering Hendon defender blocked it. Unfortunately for him, but probably correctly, the referee ruled it was handball.

Hodges stepped up and confidently struck the ball to Wilmot's left � exactly where former team-mate and now Hendon assistant manager Freddie Hyatt said it would go - and Wilmot parried the ball. A player from each side converged on the loose ball and, before it went anywhere, down went the red-shirted Hampton man, and another penalty was awarded. Amazingly, the defender was not dismissed although it was a last-man tackle. It should be said that some Hampton supporters said at half-time that the Hendon defender won the ball cleanly.

Up stepped Hodges and he [cut and paste, ed.] confidently struck the ball to Wilmot�s left � exactly where former team-mate and now Hendon assistant manager Freddie Hyatt said it would go � and Wilmot parried the ball. This time the rebound was knocked wide of the open goal, and Hendon went into the break just a goal down.

The second half started disastrously for Hendon as another defensive slip allowed Hodges to score from a foot out after Yaku had floated a header goalwards from the edge of the six-yard box. Hendon defenders and Wilmot were furious with the assistant referee because they were certain Hodges was offside - and the striker admitted the same to them later - but the assistant would not be budged.

The game became rather fractious after that with a number of reckless challenges being made, some punished others not - with Hendon players again feeling too many of the latter category coming when they were the sinned upon rather than the sinners. Certainly Craig Vargas was a little fortunate to receive only a yellow card for his challenge.

Hendon's spirit was certainly more in evident as the match heated up and after two or three near things, they got back into the match with a dozen minutes remaining. O'Sullivan made another dart into the penalty area, but this time his run was halted by a pair defenders illegally blocking his path.

Takumi Ake took responsibility for the penalty kick and although Lovett guessed correctly, he was not close to saving the superbly struck, and placed, effort. Mutterings about teaching England players - and Hodges - how to take penalty kicks were heard all around the ground!

Both Ross Pickett and Dean Thomas came close to scoring an equaliser, the former's header going inches over the bar with Lovett beaten, but it was Hampton, on the break, who sealed their victory in the third minute of stoppage time. Substitute Jon Henry-Hayden took advantage of Hendon's over-committal to attack to finish off a quick counter-attack with a close range finish.

"The effort and commitment is going to be there all season long," said manager Gary McCann, "but our defence has got to stop giving away bad goals."