Hendon 0 Lowestoft Town 1

Jack Ainslie converted a priceless late penalty on Monday night to lift Lowestoft Town up to the heady heights of fourth in the Ryman League Premier Division table.

A hard-fought encounter with a team who started the day just below the Blues looked destined to end in a goalless draw until the 86th minute, when the only real drama of the night occured.

Substitute Erkan Okay, impressive from the moment he came on, burst into the Hendon box and was sent flying by a poorly timed home tackle.

It was a clear penalty and with none of the regular penalty-takers on the pitch Ainslie stepped forward and coolly converted from the spot.

With the Blues having missed a number of penalties this season the pressure was well and truly on, with an extra two points at stake, and Ainslie proved to be the perfect man for the occasion.

With both sides playing their second match in the space of three days, clear-cut chances were and few and far between, with neither keeper having a difficult save to make all night.

A point apiece would have been a fair enough result for both teams, but Lowestoft were eventually rewarded for an improved second half display in which the substitutes all played an important part. It was Lowestoft's fifth straight league win and stretched their unbeaten run to seven, with the Trawlerboys now well placed to secure a place in the end of season play-offs.

As a result of the win they moved above Bognor Regis, Hornchurch and Kingstonian into fourth place.

They are now just seven points behind leaders Dulwich Hamlet with two games in hand, but six behind second placed Wealdstone having played three more.