HENDON fell to their third defeat of the fledgling Ryman League campaign on Saturday and never recovered from an early two-goal deficit. Mark Kirby had already cleared the ball off the line when the home side took the lead...

Maidstone United 3

Hendon 2

By David Ballheimer

HENDON fell to their third defeat of the fledgling Ryman League campaign on Saturday and never recovered from an early two-goal deficit.

Mark Kirby had already cleared the ball off the line when the home side took the lead in the 10th minute, James Pinnock finding himself with both time and space to finish past Joe Welch (pictured) into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later Maidstone found themselves two up as poor defending at a set piece allowed Kevin Watson to head home from six yards.

The Greens were shellshocked but remarkably they gave themselves a life-line with their very first attack of the game.

Sam Byfield did the creative work and Andy Walker in the home goal could only parry the ball out to Chris Bangura, who made no mistake with the follow-up from close range.

And, though United wasted two golden opportunites to restore their two-goal cushion, Bangura could have equalised late in the half when he headed Byfield's corner against the bar.

After the break the Dons laboured to get back on even terms, but they pressed the self-destruct button mid-way through the half to put the game out of sight.

Taking a throw-in 15 metres closer to their own goal than they needed to, the Greens then played two sloppy passes to gift

possession to Jay Saunders.

Spotting Lloyd Blackman running free he played an inch-perfect pass into the striker, who finished with aplomb.

Hendon were down but they weren't out, and in stoppage time Jamie Busby raced into the area before seeing Davis Haule sweep in to finish and steal the glory.

On Saturday, Hendon make their first trip to Canvey Island for five years when they take on the Gulls at Park Lane.

Hendon: Welch, K. Maclaren (Burgess, 84), Vargas, Leach, Kirby, Busby, Bent, Bangura (Guentchev, 72), Haule, Mapes (Diedhiou, 72), Byfield.