Hendon achieved their preseason goal of safety from relegation with this fine 2-1 victory over relegated Worthing at sunny Woodside Road on Saturday afternoon. The remarkable recovery by the Greens has seen them collect 49 points from 30 games, a rate which, taken over 42 games would give the Greens almost 70 points for the season, or leave them just short of the playoffs.

With Jamie Busby suspended, Darragh Duffy returned to the starting line-up, allowing Takumi Ake to drop a little deeper, a role he filled admirably in giving his most complete performance for more than six months. There was a new face on the bench, Iavor Guentchev - the son of player-coach Bontcho - but he and fellow teenager Franklyn Morris were unused.

The Greens made a bright start and should have taken the lead after six minutes. Duffy was unmarked as he rose to meet a corner at the far post, but he got a little under the ball and powered his effort over the crossbar.

Duffy atoned for this error five minutes later. Put through down the inside left channel, he had a clear run at goal with only Rikki Banks to beat. Wayne O'Sullivan arrived late into the penalty area and screamed for a pass. With Banks shifting his weight, just in case the ball was passed across the box, Duffy quickly slipped the ball inside the now unguarded near post.

Worthing gave ample evidence of why they have been relegated. Although their attackers, Omari Coleman and Jamie Brotherton looked dangerous when given chances, their accuracy was sadly lacking and a three good chances were blazed over the crossbar.

At the other end, every Hendon attack looked like it might end with a goal and Duffy should have completed a 20-minute hat-trick when he had another clear run at goal, but, in going for power over placement, he smashed his shot straight at Banks, who did well to hang onto the ball as Belal Aiteouakrim sniffed for a rebound.

Hendon doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute. Ake went over rather theatrically following a clumsy challenge Joe Keehan to earn a free-kick a couple of yards from the angle of the penalty area. Ake took the free kick himself and James Parker ran in to meet the ball with a diving header. His failure to touch the ball was enough to force Banks to delay his dive to make a save and the ball nestled in the bottom corner.

In the 43rd minute, Brotherton got on the end of a diagonal pass from former Premiership player Jamie Lawrence, but his close-range side-foot was well saved by Richard Wilmot.

The big goalkeeper made an even better stop early in the second half. Coleman had a free header from less than six yards out, but Wilmot somehow plunged on the ball right on the goalline. Home players and fans appealed for a goal, but the assistant referee was perfectly placed to rule the ball had not crossed the line.

James Burgess and O'Sullivan swapped positions for most of the second half and Burgess gave Keehan a torrid time. He set up Duffy after 67 minutes, but the Irishman was denied by another good save from Banks. Craig Vargas also joined in the fun down the left flank, until he was replaced by Jazz Rose, who made a couple of timely stops defensively as the match neared its climax.

Rakatahr Hudson, who is probably Hendon's most improved player this season, Davis Haule and Marc Leach all tried their luck, only to be thwarted by the teenaged Banks who ended last season as Hendon's No. 1, while the two other substitutes, Danny Rouco - on for Aiteouakrim - and Ross Pickett - replacing Duffy - failed to hit the target with rather more extravagant efforts.

Worthing at least gave their fans a happy memory at the very end of their final home game of the season when Ben Andrews - who had replaced Coleman midway through the second half - scored a consolation goal. The ball bounced kindly for him, but as he was about to shoot, so a teammate appeared to kick him in the back of the leg, with the result that ball came off Andrews' shin and looped over Wilmot.

There was enough time for Hendon to restart by kicking the ball towards the Worthing left corner flag, but not for the throw-in to restart thereafter.

Assistant manager Freddie Hyatt said, "It was a very good performance today. We told the players in the dressing room that the job had not been done quite yet and they responded brilliantly. It was a thoroughly professional performance on a very hot afternoon; their commitment was 100 per cent and the attitude was spot on."