Declan goes for glory with Irish

Purfleet 4 Hendon 0

Ryman League Premier Division

Hendon were the authors of their own downfall when punished for poor defending in a heavy defeat by Purfleet on Saturday. Leading by a lone goal midway through the second half, Purfleet struck three times in eight minutes to go third in the table.

In contrast, the Dons have collected only two points from their last four games and failed to score in two matches.

Assistant manager Barry Simmons said: "This is the worst result since we came here. Not the most embarrassing, but certainly the worst."

Purfleet have an uncomplicated style. Their players operate a simple, very direct system, work extremely hard for each other and make life difficult for their opponents.

In the 18th minute, Purfleet took the lead when a corner reached a Hendon head, but the attempted clearance was badly misdirected and an unmarked Paul Coombs slammed the ball home from 12 yards.

It was the only effort either team managed to put on target in a dour first half although Hendon keeper Gary McCann did make one sprawling save at the near post.

Hendon created several half chances in the second period. After 52 minutes, a low cross from Mark Pye was almost turned in by the sliding Jon Daly but the ball hit the side netting. Four minutes later, Freddie Hyatt had a shot which curled narrowly wide.

The visitors were still in the match, and Purfleet were at full stretch, hanging on to their lead.

The game turned irrevocably Purfleet's way between the 70th and 78th minutes. First, George Georgiou fired in from an acute angle. Five minutes later substitute Tony Macklin found the target, barely 20 seconds after coming on and, finally, Coombes completed a brace with an accurate low shot.

Sandwiched between the first two goals, Paul Whitmarsh produced Hendon's best effort of the afternoon, a low shot that Mead saved down low and at full stretch.

HENDON: McCann, Howard, White, Daly (Kelly, 54), Bateman (Warmington, 82), Cox, Heard (Maran, 74), Hyatt, Whitmarsh, Pye, Lewis.

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