Grays Athletic 2 Hendon 0

Ryman League

Premier Division

Hendon suffered their fifth defeat in their last six Premier Division matches on Saturday, and have taken only three points during that sorry spell.

Only the bottom two, Hitchin (two points) and Harrow Borough (one) have gained fewer.

The Greens, seven points clear of bottom team Borough, have two tough matches ahead.

This Saturday, their bogey side Purfleet are the visitors to LOOT Stadium. Purfleet have not lost at LOOT since the 1994-95 season, their first in the top flight, and Hendon will be seeking revenge for a 2-0 defeat on the opening day.

Then, on Tuesday, Hendon are home to Aldershot, lying fourth,ten points behind leaders Canvey Island.

At Grays on Saturday, Hendon were behind after only 88 seconds to a typical Grays' goal on the break. Streaking down the right, Johnny Buffong went past Simon Clarke and delivered a cross to the near post.

Paul Towler was beaten to the ball by Craig Edwards, who knocked it past the covering Mark Cooper, and Tony Lock was unmarked as he hit home from six yards.

Hendon should have equalised in the sixth minute. A defence-splitting pass by John Barrie-Bates set up Paul Yates 15 yards out. Instead of shooting, he passed to Dale Binns, who scuffed his shot.

Hendon keeper David Hook pulled off an outstanding save, preventing Andy Sussex stretching Grays' lead.

His 25-yard free-kick appeared bound for the top corner of the net until Hook palmed it aside.

Four minutes later, Binns almost made amends for his miss with a powerful drive that beat keeper Mel Capleton, but hit the foot of the post.

In the 17th minute, Grays struck on the break again. Lock attacked down the left and sent over a cross, and as Hendon defender Simon Clarke tried to head clear, he stumbled and sent the ball into the bottom corner for a spectacular own-goal.

The second half was pretty much one-way traffic in Hendon's favour. Grays' defence, bent, bowed and sagged, but it did not break.

In the 62nd minute, Joe Narty came on for Byron Bubb and his running caused immediate problems for Grays.

"I thought we battered them in the second half," said disappointed Hendon manager Dave Anderson. "We were poor in the first 15 minutes and paid for it. But our finishing and delivery into the box was not good enough."

HENDON: Hook, Burgess, Clarke, Forbes, Towler, Cooper, Bubb (Nartey, 62), Bates, Pickett, Yates, Binns. Subs not used: Butler, Ruggles.

Staines 0 Hendon 5

Middlesex Senior Cup rd 2

Hendon strolled to victory over Staines in a tie switched to LOOT Stadium on Tuesday, and will now play away to Nationwide Conference team Hayes in the quarter-final.

Hendon struck with two goals in the 14th minute through Dale Binns and Ross Pickett. Pickett then scored his second in the 48th minute. Byron Bubb made it 4-0 with a superb solo goal before Phil Ruggles completed the rout.

HENDON: Hook, Burgess, Clarke, Forbes, Towler, Cooper, Bubb, Bates (Yates, 60), Ofori (Nartey, 47), Pickett (Ruggles, 71), Binns.

December 12, 2001 18:07