Hendon came up short in their latest pre-season friendly against step 3 Hanwell Town, losing an entertaining match by 4 goals to 2.

Hendon scored the first goal after 9 minutes, when the referee awarded them a penalty after a Hendon player was fouled in the area. NIKO MUIR scored from the spot - the 'keeper got his fingers to the ball but could not keep it out.

Within three minutes Hanwell were level, when a vicious cross-shot from out on the left by TAYLOR MILES gave the Hendon 'keeper no chance. To be fair, this shot, and also that for Hanwell's final goal, would have beaten most goalkeepers, such were the quality of the shots.

Defensive frailties in the Green's defence gave Hanwell two further goals before half-time, ALFIE PENDLEBURY netting after 22 minutes, and BRADLEY CLAYTON after 39, so Hanwell led 3-1 at half-time.

Hendon reduced the lead in the first couple of minutes of the second half, when MUIR lobbed the visiting 'keeper with an effort from outside the penalty area. Shortly after this Florian Ada struck the outside edge of the far post with a curling shot which beat the custodian but didn't quite bend enough to find the corner of the net.

After the usual raft of second-half substitutes Hendon did much more attacking with some entertaining and enterprising play, and were rather unlucky not to score again.

On the other hand, DAN CARR scored for Hanwell with an unstoppable shot after 71 minutes, and only an inspired performance from Hendon's goalkeeper kept the score to a reasonable level.