Hendon 1

Bromley 0

Hendon extended their winning streak to six games and the run of league clean sheets to four with Tuesday's victory over Bromley at Claremont Road.

It was certainly hard work, but Hendon are now sixth in the table, six points clear of the chasing pack.

Bromley had problems from the start. They began with a striker in goal and, ten minutes after the first-choice man arrived, the player who replaced the emergency keeper in the starting line-up was sent off.

Mark Tompkins, Bromley's top scorer last season, was the brave volunteer who started in goal, and he made three saves as Hendon shot from all angles.

The normally deadly Freddie Hyatt wanted to strike at goal from the kick-off, but Bromley centre-half David Gray advised Tompkins to stay on his line, so Hyatt changed his mind.

The opening 20 minutes were very frantic. Hendon keeper Gary McCann took a free-kick 30 yards from his own goal after eight mintues, and didn't touch the ball again until 18 minutes had elapsed.

Naseem Bashir and Paul Whitmarsh forced reasonably straightforward saves from Tompkins and the keeper did well to deny Steve Bateman, but about a dozen shots fizzed past the post or over the bar.

The arrival of regular keeper Dave Wietecha signalled a return to normality and Bromley were bouyed, thanks to Tompkins' cleansheet.

However, having done all the hard work, they destroyed it all in a moment of madness.

Simon Miller committed a nasty foul on Tony Kelly, who reacted and was punched by his assailant. Referee Roland Dodge (Luton) watched the square dance that followed and, when the music stopped, dismissed Miller and booked Junior Lewis, who was the first to rush in and defend the fallen Kelly.

Whitmarsh shaved the bar with a magnificent turn and shot just before the break, but all-in-all Hendon were disappointed to turn around goalless.

The second half was less frenetic than the first, but ten-man Bromley's intentions were clear; hold on for a draw and be glad of it.

After 49 minutes, Wietecha was penalised for carrying the ball outside the penalty area -- his impetus took him out -- but Hyatt drove the free-kick inches wide of the post.

McCann saw his first real action nine minutes later, dashing out of the area to clear a Bromley through ball.

Hendon clinched the match through Lewis after 64 minutes. A break down the right flank ended with an inch-perfect cross from Hyatt met with a powerful header from five yards. The sigh of satisfaction could probably have been heard miles away.

The best chances still fell to Hendon and in the 71st minute, the Dons should have made the game safe. Wietecha was penalised for picking up a pass from Keith Sharman, who stabbed the ball to him from close range.

With all ten outfied players on the line, six yards out, an instant touch was required, but Wietecha did just enough to turn over Hyatt's shot.

Wietecha continued to thwart Hendon, denying Lewis in the 84th minute and Whitmarsh in the 78th and 87th minutes, the last coming after the striker had hit the bar with his first effort and was attempting to net the rebound with a looping header.

Bromley enjoyed their one spell of pressure in the final ten minutes, But McCann was equal to all the challenges he faced.

"That really was hard work tonight," said Hendon manager Frank Murphy. "If we had scored early or taken our chances, we could have got ten. I am delighted we kept a clean sheet, even though I was not happy with all our defending."

HENDON: McCann, A Kelly, Clarke, P Kelly, Warmington, Bateman, Bashir (Altinok 75), Hyatt, Whitmarsh, Howard, Lewis. Subs: Heard, Banton.

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