Hendon climbed into the top half of the Ryman League Premier Division with a 1-0 victory over Harrow that did nothing to ease the relegation worries of Borough at the foot of the table. Harrow are now two points adrift of safety with just six games remaining, while Hendon are now 12 points clear of the drop zone.

The Greens were able to name the same 16 that had come close to getting a result against Hampton & Richmond Borough last week and the continuity in the squad has undoubtedly been a big factor in the club's recent climb up the table.

This game could never be called a classic. With Harrow's difficult situation and a local derby to boot, there was too much at stake for both teams. That being said, Hendon really should have had the game wrapped up long before half-time.

In the seventh minute, they should have had a penalty when Ross Pickett lifted a ball over the Harrow defence and John Frendo got in front of Dean Marney with only Keita Karamoko to beat. Before Frendo could shoot, however, he was knocked over by the defender. The referee however ruled that there was no offence and Frendo was cautioned for his complaints.

Frendo got his revenge in the best possible way 10 minutes later. He did well to get around the back of the Harrow defence and drilled a low cross into the six yard box. Karamoko couldn't get a touch but Eugene OFORI ended his long goal drought with the simplest of tap-ins from five yards out.

Dean Coppard and René Street both should have done better with headers from corners and James Parker, Dave Hunt, James Burgess, Frendo and Ofori all failed to put efforts on target when shooting opportunities appeared.

Five minutes before half-time, Rob Courtnage was rightly cautioned after a flare-up with Victor Asombang, but the Harrow player, shepherded away by the calming Street, received not even a lecture for his retaliation.

The second half was a very scrappy affair. Hendon should have doubled their lead when a long ball out defence from Street found Frendo in space. The striker turned his way past a couple of defenders to open a clear shooting lane, but with Pickett unmarked close by, he elected to shoot and struck Karamoko in the face.

Harrow huffed and puffed, without ever looking like blowing down the Hendon house. Dave King had a relatively quiee afternoon, collecting a few crosses, rarely under undue pressure and picking up a few shots that were close to the target, none with any power or great accuracy.

The most unfortunate caution of the afternoon belonged to Ofori. He was shepherding the ball out for a throw-in when Gaurav Katyal launched himself at the striker, catching on the back of the foot. Ofori stumbled in the challenge and put his arms out to keep his balance, and was given a yellow card for it. Hendon got the free-kick but Katyal got off scot-free.

Hendon brought on Gary Meakin and Andy Sherry, for Pickett and Ofori, as they ran out time, but Harrow never looked like having the guile to get a goal.

"We made things more difficult than they should have been," said manager Gary McCann. "We had so many chances to make the game easier for our back five, the goalkeeper and four defenders, but we didn't take them. But we got the victory and that is the most important thing.

"We are trying to play a bit more football offensively, but we have to be more clinical in front of goal. This is not just the front three, but the midfielders when they join the attack and defenders, too, at set pieces."