Hendon picked up another valuable three points on Saturday afternoon at Vale Farm, a late penalty save being required to secure the Greens 2-1 victory over Ashford Town (Middlesex). The win leaves Hendon sitting 16th, albeit level on points with the two sides directly above them and with midweek wins having the potential to lift Gary McCann's side into the top half.

The home side saw Kevin Maclaren return to an otherwise unchanged starting line-up, James Parker dropping to a bench that included veteran midfielder and Assistant Manager Freddie Hyatt for the first time since 2008. Ashford, having lost their previous five games with just one goal scored, named two former Hendon players in their starting eleven - Davis Haule and Paul Johnson both lining up in midfield - while forward Brian Haule was named as a substitute on his return.

Hendon started the stronger of the two sides, showing an early cutting edge perhaps missing in recent weeks, Jamie Busby creating the first chance in the third minute. The midfielder broke through the right channel and drilled the ball across the face of goal on reaching the byline, albeit a yard too far forward for Casey Maclaren who was unable to get to the cross.

It only took a few more minutes for the deadlock to be broken though, as in the seventh minute Peter Dean was fed the ball from midfield and found himself clear of the defence. Despite looking a yard or two offside, the flag stayed down and Dean kept his composure to produce a perfect lob over Craig Ross from just outside the penalty area.

Ashford's best chance of the half came around ten minutes later, Jermaine McGlashan finding enough space just inside the right hand of the penalty area to drive the ball towards the far corner. Unfortunately for the Tangerines, Berkley Laurencin was alert and equal to the effort, producing a good save to concede a corner instead. Not long after, Brian Haule entered the fray, Scott Harris unable to continue after an injury.

Hendon continued to have the better of the game and found themselves extending their lead further in the 32nd minute. Lee O'Leary found himself in space near the left byline but on traveling towards goal and cutting the ball back saw his pass cleared behind for a corner.

Scott Cousins floated the set-piece into the middle of the penalty area where Casey Maclaren was first to the ball and found both power and direction with his header; crashing it off the bottom of the crossbar and into the back of the net, with Ross left helpless. Davis Haule felt he had been fouled by the older Maclaren brother, but was booked for his protests before the restart.

Both sides had chances before the end of the half Peter Dean for Hendon receiving the ball from O'Leary, but having his shot blocked, while at the other end a rare corner eluded Laurencin. Fortunately for the 'keeper, his defence were alert to the danger and able to scramble the ball clear.

While Hendon went into the break by far the happier of the two sides, Ashford altered their formation from a relatively orthodox 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 and managed to disrupt the Greens throughout the second half. The first warning shot came just three minutes into the half as Paul Johnson lined up a free kick from around 25 yards and flashed it just wide of the left post.

Five minutes later, Bradley Thomas was guilty of dwelling on the ball for too long and found himself dispossessed by Jones Awauah. The striker was nearly clear of the defence, but as he dribbled past Thomas into a better position for a strike, Craig Vargas managed to make a vital challenge to salvage the situation.

The clean sheet only remained for another two minutes though, as Kevin Maclaren scored a bizarre own goal - with Awuah and Brian Haule in close attendance, Maclaren's attempted clearance took a strange deflection and looped over Laurencin to bring the visitors back into the game.

Ashford soon found themselves reduced to nine men though, Russell Canderton finding himself twice booked for dissent within three minutes - first kicking the ball away, and then verbal - before Brian Haule was dismissed in a strange incident in the 76th minute.

Haule caught Thomas in a challenge in the centre circle with what was certainly a foul, if not a malicious one. The referee awarded the free kick, then immediately showed the younger brother both yellow and red card in quick succession. The thought of fans on the terrace was that it was a case of mistaken identity - his sibling already having received a final warning earlier in the half.

However, when his senior assistant flagged to point out the error, it was explained the official had shown the yellow for the foul, but the red followed for swearing as he reacted to the decision - something Haule denied as he left the pitch.

Hendon had their best spell of the half as the Tangerines reorganised, Kevin Maclaren and James Burgess both driving the ball over, while Diedhiou headed wide and Casey Maclaren had a shot blocked by Vinnie O'Sullivan.

Gradually, the visitors reasserted themselves, McGlashan beating several men before passing to Johnson who snatched slightly at his shot and could only clear the top of the crossbar.

And in the last minute of stoppage time, it looked as if Ashford may have got their reward for their effort as Johnson turned provider and fed McGlashan. The midfielder's run took him into the penalty area before he tumbled with both Thomas and Vargas in close attendance.

Paul Johnson struck his penalty well, but Laurencin chose correctly and pulled off an excellent save, plunging to his left and not only getting to the ball but holding onto it to prevent a second chance.

"Based on that 2nd half performance the best we deserved was a 2-2 draw." said McCann after the game. "We played well in the first period, passing the ball well and creating chances but never got going after the break."

"As a result, it was difficult for us to up our performance once Ashford were down to 9 men and we made things very tough for ourselves. That said, the 3 points are very welcome and I think one more win should be enough to confirm our safety for this season."