Hendon dropped to the bottom of the Ryman League Premier Division when, for the third time in five weeks, they conceded a goal with virtually the last kick of the match. For the first time, however, this last gasp goals changed the outcome of the game, not just the scoreline. It was a cruel blow for the team which had battled so hard to get back into the game after another post-half-time collapse.

Dean Green and James Parker were both recalled to the starting line-up, taking the places of Ian Hilaire and Jazz Rose, who dropped to the bench. Parker, however, who had looked so assured in a central defensive role for the past 18 months, reverted to his preferred full-back position, while Ryan Wharton continued to partner to Sam Page in the middle.

The Greens made their customary slow start and it took Luke Gregson all of 39 seconds to kiss the top of the Hendon crossbar with a fizzing 25-yard drive. But this proved to be a rare moment of worry for the defence in the opening half.

It didn't take long for Takumi Ake to unnerve Michael Cox with a direct run at him. The ball into the box, however, didn't find Green or the late-arriving Jamie Busby.

In the eighth minute, Ake again got around Cox without difficulty, but his run was unceremoniously halted by Marvin Samuel, conceding a free-kick, Wayne O'Sullivan took the kick and it was placed perfectly for Lee O'Leary to get the faintest of touches, enough to divert the ball just inside the post with Noel Imber no more than a spectator on his goalline.

The Boreham Wood defence looked distinctly uncomfortable, but they were able to deal with forays from Busby, Green and O'Sullivan. Then they launched an attack of their own and Richard Wilmot had to be alert to save from Tommy Williams.

Imber had to made two saves in quick succession late in the period. First, a long throw from Ake was headed back to him by Gregson, and the Japanese striker volleyed powerfully at goal.

Then, after Imber's long clearance had been returned by Craig Vargas, the ball fell to Green, who got a friendly bounce, so he drilled a shot goalwards. Imber was again equal to the challenge. Soon after, Cox was cautioned barely two minutes after receiving a final warning.

The referee had been almost invisible in the first half - almost invariably this is a sign of him having a sound match - until the period moved into stoppage time. A panicked Boreham Wood clearance went out for a corner. O'Sullivan stood ready to take it as Williams and Samuel stood less than 10 yards from the ball, flanking Ake.

The Hendon bench screamed for Ake to take the kick, so O'Sullivan moved away and Ake went to take the kick. To most spectators this was not seen as a time-wasting move, but a tactical decision; but the referee cautioned a bemused O'Sullivan and, less than five seconds later, blew for half-time.

After the second half collapse in the opening minutes against Staines on Monday night, the Hendon coaching staff stressed the importance of making a good start to the period. Clearly, the message didn't get through because it took 53 seconds and two errors for Boreham Wood to draw level.

Chris Watters attacked down the left wing and drilled in a low cross which was met by an unmarked Leon Archer, who must have been surprised to find no Hendon defender within hailing distance six yards from their goal.

From there it went from bad to worse for Hendon. Five minutes later, Williams hit a low shot which Wilmot fumbled and the ball again fell to Archer, once more the only player to react, and it was suddenly 2-1. For protesting about something in the lead-up to the goal O'Leary was cautioned.

In the next 15 minutes, Cox hit the crossbar with a mishit cross, Samuel fired wide when it seemed easier to score and Archer all but completed his hat-trick with a shot that missed the near-post and hit the side-netting.

Throughout all this, there was one bad foul, a diving lunge from Wharton, which although winning the ball, was palpably dangerous and could well have resulted in a red card; he saw yellow instead.

In the 75th minute, Ryan Moran and O'Leary clashed on the touchline. The referee was already feeling in his back-pocket for a card when he realised that the obvious caution of both players would have resulted in O'Leary's dismissal, so he warned the players as to their future conduct.

Three minutes later, a long probing run out of defence by Vargas went unchecked and he reached the Wood penalty area. Imber, came off his line a short distance and watched, gratefully, as Vargas' shot went past him, but also a foot the wrong side of the post from a Hendon perspective.

In the 84th minute, Hendon drew level. Green attacked down the middle and then moved to the left side of the penalty area for a possible cross. O'Leary went into the penalty area, where Imber pushed him, two-handed, over. The referee saw the incident and waved play on, despite O'Leary's protestations.

With Imber out of position, trying to catch O'Leary offside, Green shot. It wasn�t accurate, but O'Leary with one defender - and no goalkeeper - behind him, so offside, controlled the ball, withstood the recovering Imber's challenge and fired into the roof of the net.

Hendon's noisy contingent of supporters celebrated what they hoped was going to be a valuable point. However, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, O'Leary was smothered by a leaping Wood attacker on the edge of the box as the ball reached him and turned to play the ball to substitute Ross Pickett.

However, the referee ruled that O'Leary had made a back for the opponent. Watters waited for the wall to be set and curled the ball into the bottom left corner.

There was time for Hendon to kick-off, but not even consider an attack when the final whistle sounded.