Hendon had a useful run out at Bedfont on Monday evening in a hastily arranged friendly. The game gave manager Gary McCann a chance to give one or two players coming back from injury a run out, as well as a couple of trialists he wanted to take a look at and the Greens came away with a 5-3 victory.

The injury returnees were Sam Byfield, who played the full 90 minutes, and Mark Kirby, who was substituted early in the second half having picked up a knock to his ankle. Also in the starting line up were squad members William Viner, Danny Dyer and Fredrick Yebuah, whilst young forward Tashan Bradshaw, who has been with Wingate & Finchley, started up front with Glenn Garner.

There was one trialist on the bench in the form of defender David Boateng who made 10 first team appearances in the 2000/01 season. Under 21 striker Michael Roche, who has yet to make his first team debut, joined him.

All three match officials had Hendon connections despite the game being played at Bedfont. Referee Dragan Jenic is a former youth team manager, whilst his assistants were supporters trust board member Steve Rogers, and popular keeper Richard Wilmot.

The first half was controlled by the Greens and by half-time they were 4 goals ahead. The opening strike came in the 9th minue when Garner received a diagonal ball from Lubomir Guentchev and fired home from the edge of the box.

The lead was doubled midway through the half when Guentchev broke into the box, passed to Garner, whose cross-cum-shot was slammed into the unguarded net from close range by Byfield and three minutes later Garner was on the scoresheet again, this time following a diagonal ball from Dyer.

It wasn’t totally one way traffic, although Kirby and Marc Leach marshalled the Bedfont strikers well. Will Viner was called into action on a few occasions, but much of his first half work were routine saves or claims and he wasn’t really tested.

Two minutes before the break, Bradshaw, who had a very bright first period, found the back of the net after good work from Garner and Guentchev.

The Greens made two changes at half-time, Craig Vargas and Boateng replacing Leach and Guentchev respectively. It soon became clear that Bedfont had been given a real blast from their management as they came out in the second half with all guns blazing.

They were rewarded in the 54th minute breaking clear and with a shot being deflected away from Viner the home side were able to tap home. At this point Kirby left the action to be replaced by Roche.

Bedfont pulled another goal back on the hour mark when a free kick was driven into the near post and the same player touched the ball past Viner. It was a well worked move.

There were chances at either end throughout the second half, but it was Hendon who scored next, Bradshaw running onto a through ball and slotting the ball under the advancing keeper with five minutes to go.

Straight from the kick off, Bedfont attacked and awarded a penalty when one of their forwards was tripped in the area. The scorer of the previous two goals stepped up and completed his hat-trick with a fine strike into the top corner, giving Viner no chance. That was the final action of the game.