Hendon climbed up to 10th in the Ryman League Premier Division and ensured Slough Town still needed three more points to ensure their safety after coming from behind to win 3-1 at Stag Meadow, Windsor, on Thursday night. The Rebels' third home game in five days was also their third defeat.

There were a number of changes to the Hendon line-up with Dean Coppard dropping out altogether and John Frendo and James Burgess going to the bench while René Street, Andrew Sherry and Marvyn Watson all started. Also on the bench, after missing more than two months, was Shayne Demetrious.

The opening 15 minutes were quite even. Dave Hunt did well to jump over a reckless Slough tackle to put Eugene Ofori clear. The referee was far too hasty with his whistle and although he apologised for awarding the free-kick the damage had been done and the advantage was lost. The free-kick flew high over the crossbar.

Ofori then had a 20-yard drive acrobatically tipped over the bar by Michael Parkin, The officials, however, must have thought that a wind thermal in front of the goalkeeper lifted the ball from travelling under the bar to over it because they gave a goal kick.

Slough gradually began to take control and Mike Murphy brought the best out of Dave King with a rasping shot. The goalkeeper was at full stretch to keep out the effort and did well to make sure the ball stayed in his control. In the 28th minute, Matt Murphy tried his luck, but he too was denied by King.

In the 43rd minute, a speculative cross from Josias Carbon nearly brought Slough the opening goal. The ball flew higher than King expected and the goalkeeper was pleased that it bounced off the crossbar as he stretched back to make a save.

Slough did take the lead early in the second. After forcing a couple of corners, Hendon failed to deal with the third one and when the ball came to Matt SEEDEL, he wasted no time in smacking it into the net from 15 yards.

For the next 15 minutes, the Rebels looked more like to add to their lead than Hendon were to equalise. In the 61st minute, Rob Courtnage was very fortunate to receive only a yellow card for a bad foul on Ian Hodges. Courtnage appeared to have been fouled moments earlier, but his retaliatory act was unnecessary even if he had not been given a free-kick.

Almost immediately, both teams made substitutions and this changed the game in Hendon's favour. Demetrious and Burgess came on Sherry and Richard McDonagh. They shored up a midfield that was struggling to cope with the result that the defence was under constant pressure.

In the 68th minute, Watson forced a corner which Courtnage took to the near post where Steve Daly cleared under pressure. The second corner from Courtnage was aimed to the far post. It went a little further than he probably intended, but nonetheless picked out the unmarked Ross Pickett.

Although he was on the angle of the six yard box and goalline, PICKETT somehow managed to drive his volley past a defender on the near post, Parkin almost next to him, another defender in the middle of the goal and another on the far post. It was as freakish as it was underserved at that stage, but Hendon couldn't care less.

With 12 minutes to go, both teams made another change, Hendon's being John Frendo replacing the tiring Hunt, while Slough's Danny Steer came on for Hodge. The Rebels, however, were fast running out of steam and the rest of the game belonged to the stronger Greens.

With five minutes to go, Demetrious swung in a free-kick. Although FRENDO had James Saulsbury marking him very tightly, the forward was able to spin and fire a fine shot past Parkin to give Hendon the lead.

Then, in the final minute, with Slough barely able to raise a canter, Watson, Ofori, Frendo and Pickett found themselves with just two defenders and the goalkeeper in front of them. Watson fed Frendo, who held off Ofori and Daly before shooting. Parkin pushed the ball away, but Sam Shepherd's attempt to complete the clearance bounced off PICKETT's shins and rolled into the net.

"We knew they would tire," said manager Gary McCann, "but so did we. However, I think our substitutions made all the difference, especially Shayne Demetrious and James Burgess in midfield. Our fresh legs made all the difference."