Hampton 3 Hendon 1 Newly-promoted Hampton, playing their first match at this level, shocked Ryman League Premier Division title favourites Hendon at the Beveree on Saturday. The final score of 3-1, however, was no reflection of how the game went.

That will be no comfort to Hendon manager Frank Murphy who also saw his side follow up this defeat by gaining just a point in their opening match at Claremont Road against Gravesend and Northfleet on Tuesday night.

After a sterile opening 10 minutes, Hampton enjoyed a similar period of territorial domination, but without causing a hint of danger to the Hendon defence in terms of shots or crosses. The closest effort was a free-kick from Jason Brown, hit straight at keeper Garry McCann.

Hendon roused themselves from their torpor towards the interval and looked threatening, if hardly penetrating. In the space of two minutes Steve Heard had a shot saved and Curtis Warmington headed just over.

Going into the break goalless, Hendon must have felt they had done more than half the job, stifling the eager Beavers, who had trumpeted this as the biggest league match in the club's history.

Things started going wrong, however, as after 57 minutes, Hampton launched a pass which eventually fell for Johnson Hippolyte, and he scored at the second attempt.

Hendon came back strongly and got their reward midway through the half when Junior Lewis ran on to a through ball and raced clear before Warren Drew pulled him back inside the penalty area.

Paul Whitmarsh took the spot kick, but keeper Mark Russell guessed right and parried the ball away. Whitmarsh followed up, however, and rolled the ball into the net for the equaliser.

Hendon applied heavy pressure and Curtis Warmington, Jon Daly and Tony Kelly all went close while, at the other end, McCann was virtually a spectator.

However, the game suddenly swung away from Hendon. In the 82nd minute, Lewis lost out on a challenge just outside the Hampton penalty area and the ball was cleared to the halfway line where Brown carried it forward. He crossed to the far post and Hippolyte was waiting to slide the ball in from close range.

Hendon brought in ex-Yeading and Enfield midfielder Gary Fitzgerald for Kelly in a last-ditch attempt to salvage a point from the game but, from another long clearance out of defence, Brown, looking suspiciously offside, ran on to score and seal the points for the home side.

HENDON: McCann, Howard, Clarke, Warmington, Daly, Bateman, Heard, White (Bertelsen 66min), Whitmarsh, Kelly (Fitzgerald 87min), Lewis. Sub not used: Nugent.

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