Hendon ended their 2009-10 Ryman League Premier Division campaign with a thoroughly deserved 3-2 victory over AFC Hornchurch, a result which left them 10th in the table and, with 60 points, eight points short of a playoff spot and 15 above the drop zone. With 18 victories in the season, Hendon have matched the best win return achieved in the 5-plus seasons of Gary McCann's time as manager.

For their seventh match in 15 days, Hendon changed their formation, going to a three-man central defence, James Parker, James Burgess and Craig Vargas in those positions. Lubo Guentchev and Scott Cousins were given wing-back roles - where they made hay against Hornchurch's wide players - while Florin Pelecaci, James Bent, Lee O'Leary, were the central midfielders, behind Casey Maclaren and Peter Dean.

Burgess, stand-in captain during Parker's recent absence, wore the armband again, this time in honour of his 300th appearance for the Greens - the first Hendon player to reach this landmark since Simon Clarke, 1995–2002. He also wore the No. 9 shirt, while Vargas wore the No. 10. As the players came out for the kick-off, Burgess's team-mates formed a guard of honour for him.

Hornchurch, whose playoff hopes had evaporated with other results in midweek, were guaranteed to finish no lower than ninth in the table, and they were far fresher than Hendon, but they didn't really take advantage of the Greens' exhausted players. Their passing wasn't particularly crisp and Marvin Abraham and Sosthene Yao got little change out of the Hendon back three.

Chances at both ends were at a premium and it wasn't until the 25th minute that either team created a noteworthy opportunity. A shot from Maclaren beat Darren Behcet, but a brave block from Michael Spencer denied him an 11th goal of the season, one that would have left him joint top of the club scoring charts with Bent.

Four minutes later, Hendon fell behind. A ball into the penalty area from Sam Sloma was headed out clear by Vargas, but went only as far as Elliot Styles. He lost his marker, twisted and turned past a defender and placed a low, left-foot shot just inside the left post. James Reading appeared to be unsighted and was unable to reach the ball.

Hendon didn't dwell on their misfortune and set about restoring parity sooner rather than later. Over the next ten minutes, however, their most dangerous attacking player was the Urchins' giant central defender Ronnie Fletcher. After 37 minutes, he diverted a Scott Cousins free-kick past Behcet and was very relieved to see the ball bounce back off the far post, from where it was hacked to safety by Billy Coyne.

Three minutes later, Fletcher again got to a ball into the penalty area first and beat Behcet with his defensive header. This time, however, the ball sailed narrowly wide of the opposite post.

Fletcher finally got his assist in the 44th minute. He needlessly obstructed Guentchev to give Hendon a free-kick close to the right touchline 25 yards from goal. Cousins curled the ball into the penalty area and Maclaren and Fletcher - who else? - as well as two or three others, jumped for it.

No one made contact and the ball nestled just inside the far post. Behcet must take some blame for the goal, but it was harsh on him. Not only was it a superb delivery from Cousins, but also because Behcet would have been out of the position if he had gambled on the ball not being touched and he had to be in the wrong place because it wasn't.

Buoyed by the goal just before the break, Hendon came out for their final 45 minutes determined to put on a show. And they delivered in some style. Three minutes after the resumption, Dean's fine cross was met by Maclaren, but he was denied by a better stop by Behcet.

Midway through the half, Maclaren was just off target as another teasing free-kick by Cousins was met by the striker. After 71 minutes, Behcet again got the better of Maclaren, who might - on another day - have been celebrating a four-timer.

By this time, both teams had started make substitutions. The Urchins withdrew former Wingate & Finchley star Sam Sloma, Yao and Abraham in favour of Tambeson Eyong, Ross Wall and teenager Frankie Williams, respectively, while Hendon made a double-switch, sending on Kevin Maclaren and Jamie Busby at the expense of Bent and Pelecaci.

Arguably Hendon's goal of the season gave the Greens the lead in the 77th. Dean played the ball towards the left edge of the penalty area and Guentchev pounced.

Seeing Behcet coming off his line, Guentchev lobbed the ball over the tall goalkeeper. It went high into the sky and dropped perfectly, inches below the crossbar and an equal distance inside the far post.

Although Guentchev asserted that the lob was intentional, the perfection of touch, delivery and result were in the realms of fantasy.

Three minutes later, Bradley Thomas came on Dean and took up a striking role, one that was going to be temporary as Vargas desperately sought a goal which would stop him becoming the only Hendon outfield regular to fail to score this season.

The plans were shelved within 45 seconds of Thomas coming onto the pitch. A long clearance from Burgess was headed on by Casey Maclaren, midway inside his own half and reached Thomas on the half-way line. He was too strong for Rickie Hayles - who had spent most of the match haranguing his goalkeeper, then showed power and pace in beating Fletcher. Behcet came off his line, but Thomas waited for the goalkeeper to commit himself before sliding the ball under him for his second goal in eight days.

Hornchurch players were unhappy that Hayles had suffered a head injury in his contact with Thomas, and the referee hadn't stopped play, but it should be said that as Thomas ran towards the Urchins' goal, none of the visiting players seemed unduly worried about their team-mate. He did require treatment before play resumed.

The referee, who was officiating in his final match at this level, signalled that there would be seven minutes of added time.

However, as the added time began, O'Leary limped off, meaning that the Greens would have to play out the final few minutes a man short. With a two-goal lead, and Hornchurch looking like they were counting down to the final whistle, it should not have been a problem. But it soon became one.

Five minutes into added time, a free-kick was pumped into the Hendon penalty area. It was headed on by Styles and, arriving unmarked just beyond the far post, Williams had the simple task of sliding the ball past Reading.

A further three minutes of stoppage time was played, fraying Hendon nerves. So, when the final whistle blew, there was relief as well as satisfaction at a good job, well done.

"The first half was very much an end-of-season game," said Mr McCann, "but in the second half, we came out with more purpose and, in the end, we were very good value for the victory.

"It was a fitting end to the season. Some of our football has been very good and we probably deserved a little more."