Ten-man Hendon were unable to complete a fairytale season by reaching the Conference South for the first time in the club's history, instead losing their Isthmian Premier Division Play-Off Final 1-0 to Margate.
Gary McCann's men had to play with ten for over an hour at Earlsmead after Aaron Morgan was dismissed for a challenge the referee deemed to be dangerous in just the 14th minute.
And it went from bad to worse six minutes before the break as Margate scored the game's only goal; Ryan Moss netting for the Gate.
From that moment on the Greens pressed for an equaliser but could not find a way through the visitors' defence with former Crawley Town defender Charlie Wassamer to the fore.
Hendon: McNamara; Flegg, Goode, K. Mclaren, Sprague (Taggarrt 84); Diedhou, C. Maclaren, O'Leary (Dean 72), da Costa (Smith HT); Ibe, Morgan.
Subs: Murray, McNicholas (GK).
Attendance: 1,228.
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