Hendon rose to 16th in the table after producing an excellent performance to inflict a 2-0 defeat on a Horsham team which appeared to be counting down to the season's end. After starting with two points in 11 games, the Greens have collected 41 from their last 26, which if computed over a full season, would leave them on 66 points - probably good enough for seventh or eighth in the table.

There were a few changes to the team which had gone down so meekly at Ashford a week earlier. Darragh Duffy and Davis Haule were both able to return, so the unavailable Wayne O'Sullivan was replaced by James Burgess and Takumi Ake dropped to the bench, where former Enfield player Dale Archer was an unused substitute. After four weeks out, Brian Haule also had a place on the bench.

The game almost had an explosive beginning. Gary Charman showed excellent pace and strength in beating Burgess and reaching a diagonal pass from Carl Rook. His cross was met first time by much-travelled former Hendon man Kevin Cooper, whose first-time effort was well-placed, but Richard Wilmot gathered it at the second attempt.

Within two minutes, Belal Aiteouakrim could have given Hendon the lead. He was put clean through on goal by Dean Green, but Gareth Williams was smartly off his line and he smothered the striker's shot.

In what became a regular occurrence during the afternoon, Jamie Busby found himself on the ground as a result of unwanted attention from Matthew Geard. The first two scythings down brought lectures from the referee, but no card. The free-kicks came to nothing. The official was equally lenient with Davis Haule, whose deliberate handball and extra touch on the ball after the whistle could have also easily merited a caution.

The Horsham defence was content to play a very flat line, but it did not move up particularly quickly and they paid the penalty after 18 minutes. A ball out of defence eluded them, but not Aiteouakrim, who ran unchallenged on Williams and, having knocked the ball one side of him, stroked it into the unguarded net.

With some better choices, Hendon could easily have added to their first-half tally. Duffy, Green, Busby and Aiteouarkrim were all guilty of shooting when a pass was better or passing when a more selfish attitude would have been more profitable.

As it was, Williams was delighted to see a powerful first-time drive from the Moroccan flash just wide of his right post. The same player rather wastefully fired over a free-kick from 22 yards after another cynical challenge on the edge of the penalty area.

Cooper and Rook were quite a handful for Marc Leach and James Parker, but the two defenders definitely won the battles for crosses. Craig Vargas was forced to be very defensive in the first half as John Westcott enjoyed plenty of space. But, in the second half, as the midfield tired, so Vargas was able contribute more going forward. Charman was a willing outlet on the left, but he found Burgess in typically uncompromising mood and got little change out of him.

One moment of inspiration sealed the game for Hendon. It came four minutes into the second half when Haule, Green and Vargas combined on the left. Haule suddenly flicked a pass over Tom Graves and it allowed Aiteouakrim to display his incredible balance. His first touch took the ball away from Eddie French, the next wrong-footed Williams and with his third, Aiteouakrim put just enough pace on the ball to roll it into net beyond the chasing Geard.

For the next 20 minutes, the match became almost a personal battle between Hendon forwards and the assistant referee. Aiteouakrim was thwarted three times by offside flags and the assistant also waved for Green and Haule having strayed too far forward too soon.

He was not able to see, however, the blatant push in the back of Busby by Geard that caused him to handle the ball and almost demolish the corner flag.

In the 74th minute, Horsham put together an excellent move that finished with a powerful low drive from Charman, but Wilmot made a fine save, low by his right post.

The only sour note of the afternoon for Hendon came in the 84th minute. Once again Busby was kicked by Geard, but neither the referee, or his assistant saw the offence.

As Busby ran back to his defensive position, he was pinched in the back the full-back and he snapped, pushing the full-back in the face. Unfortunateyol only Busby's action was spotted by the assistant, who drew the referee's attention to the incident. There was never any doubt that Busby would be dismissed for his retaliation; yet another triumph for sly thuggery.

Even with ten men for the final few minutes, Hendon, having come this far, were determined not to let their lead slip and, in fact, were able to hold on without too much difficulty.

"It was a very professional performance and a very thorough job all round. We were very sound defensively, comfortably in midfield and if the strikers had taken their chances, we would have been even more comfortable winners."