After a surprise draw against Ryman Premier League strugglers VCD Athletic, Hendon bounced back by taking all three points against a buoyant Leiston side during the week and following up by taking a point from champions elect Maidstone United.

Hendon made only one change to the 11 which had started at Leiston, with Andre Da Costa coming in for Dave Diedhiou. The better news for the Greens was the return of Casey Maclaren to the bench for his first game since the start of October. It also signalled his, and Lee O'Leary's 250th Hendon appearance.

On a cool but dry day in Kent - in contrast to Hendon's last visit to Maidstone which took place in monsoon conditions - Hendon battled very hard to keep an enterprising Maidstone side's lead to just one goal before embarking on a last-minute smash and grab that denied the home side a place at the top of the table and kept the Greens firmly in the hunt for play-off glory.

The first half was a reasonably even affair, both sides' well-organised defences keeping chances to a minimum. The game was conducted in a robust fashion, with both sides not afraid to use brawn as well as brains, and several interesting battles were set up across the pitch.

If anything, Hendon may have just shaded the opening half, with Charlie Goode nearly putting the visitors ahead. His cross-shot eluded Maidstone goalkeeper Lee Worgan before thudding against the bar and rebounding to safety.

As the first half progressed, those duels became increasingly niggly and the referee started stamping his authority on the contest by dishing out several cards. Hendon's Elliott Brathwaite picked up a yellow after one too many hefty challenges and Leon Smith was cautioned for dissent.

Honours even at half time, then, but the second half saw Maidstone really apply the pressure and dominate proceedings. They were up and running very quickly, squandering a couple of decent chances and being denied by a couple of excellent saves from Ben McNamara in the Hendon goal.

Maidstone soon turned this dominance into a goal, some up-tempo approach play converted into a telling cross which Frannie Collin nodded into the Hendon net.

The sense within the stadium was this might then open the floodgates, and indeed Maidstone had more than enough openings to put the game totally beyond the reach of the visitors. However, due to some resolute defending, more inspired goalkeeping and a lack of finesse from the Maidstone front line, their lead remained at just one goal.

Hendon, strengthened by the arrival of substitutes of Diedhiou, Tony Taggart and Maclaren (replacing Da Costa, James Fisher and Ollie Sprague, respectively) during the second half, became slightly more threatening and interspersed Maidstone attacks with a few of their own.

The game - which was becoming increasingly prickly on the pitch - seemed destined for a Maidstone victory until Hendon picked up a corner in the closing stages. Taggart's delivery was met superbly by the head of Brathwaite, who powered the ball into the Maidstone net.

Hendon saw out the remaining injury time to hold onto the point before the final whistle sounded to leave Hendon fans jubilant and Maidstone supporters disappointed.