Hendon lost only their seventh league game of the season when bogey-team Purfleet completed a double over the Greens on Saturday.

A Ricci Crace equaliser wasn't enough for the Dons as poor defending and equally poor finishing cost them dear.

After the game Hendon manager Dave Anderson was in reflective mood.

He said: "I thought we played all right between the penalty areas but we performed poorly in both penalty areas. There is a saying that if you play badly in both boxes you will lose."

The home side's poor play at the back cost them the opening goal after just two minutes.

A Purfleet corner wasn't cleared and when Gary Howard headed the ball back into the penalty area, Kris Lee was able to turn his marker and shoot past the unprotected Gary McCann.

Battling to get back in the game Hendon equalised on the 20 minute mark. Martin Randall pressurised Purfleet keeper Alex O'Reilly from a corner and Crace blasted the loose ball home.

Crace wasted two further chances before half-time and Tresor Kandol was denied by McCann when looking likely to score.

Hendon started the second half brightly and, in the 47th minute, Randall was denied by a magnificent full-length save from O'Reilly.

Lee Endersby hit the post three minutes later and it was somewhat against the run of play when Purfleet snatched their winner.

In the 62nd minute, a corner looked set to be gathered by McCann but he was beaten to the ball by Steve Pashley, who buried an unstoppable close-range header.

Kandol should have extended the lead soon afterwards but Purfleet weren't made to pay.

Eugene Ofori could have levelled the match with a header, but the visitors hung on for the win.

April 8, 2003 16:30