Hendon recorded only their second draw of the season when they held in-form Chelmsford City to a goalless stalemate at Claremont Road on Tuesday night. After conceding 46 goals in the previous two months, just one goal in two matches suggests that new manager Gary McCann and his assistant Andy Pape have stopped the rot.

Dave Sargent's decision to return to Northwood shortly before the match was a huge blow to the club, and James Parker took his place in an otherwise unchanged starting eleven. Ross Pickett was fit enough to take a spot on the bench. On the subject of left-backs, long-time Hendon favourite Simon Clarke was in the Chelmsford team, but playing at centre-back.

This was a game of few chances at either end, although it was an entertaining, open game, well refereed by 2002 World Cup Final official Phil Sharp. Chelmsford's excellent travelling support swelled the crowd to more than 320 - one of the highest for the Greens this season - on a bitterly cold night.

John Frendo fired two powerful drives narrowly wide in the opening 15 minutes as Hendon tried to unsettle the Clarets defence. They held firm, though, and the nearest the Greens came to a goal for 40 minutes was a dipping 40-yard volley from Eugene Ofori. He had spotted Paul Nicholls off his line, but the goalkeeper moved smartly enough to get to his line to make the save.

Just before half-time, a terrible back-pass by Michael Haswell should have gifted Hendon the lead. Nicholls was just beaten to the ball by Frendo, but the striker stumbled as he knocked it away from the goalkeeper, who was able to gather the ball before Frendo could recover.

Chelmsford began to take control as the game went on, but their finishing lacked the accuracy to trouble Dave King, while Jason O'Connor, Ren� Street and Dean Coppard dealt with the Clarets' other aerial forays.

In the 80th minute, Frendo, who had earlier been cautioned, collided with Simon Clarke as he tried to shield the ball. From behind the goal, it was clear that Frendo had merely overbalanced as he tried to turn his defender, but from side on there was a hint of malice.

Mr Sharp consulted with his assistant and was considering another yellow card for Frendo, until Clarke, who was still receiving treatment, told the referee the contact had been accidental. The former Hendon star's intervention almost certainly saved Frendo from an early bath.

A minute later, Richard Thomas went on a mazy run that took him through four Hendon tackles and gave him a clear sight of goal. He fired low to King's left, but the tall goalkeeper produced a brilliant save with his feet to kick the ball out for a corner.

King then produced an excellent low save by his post to keep out a drive from Julian Edwards. Hendon's best chance fell to Ofori, in the first minute of stoppage. There was no injury time glory on this night as his shot, unlike Sargent's on Saturday, never looked likely to hit the target and the ball sailed high over the crossbar.

Mr McCann was delighted with the result saying, "In the context of the two fixtures, tonight's and last Saturday's, this is a much better result. I could not have asked for more from the players. They gave me everything tonight. It was a battle and we were hanging on at the end, but I thought we were worth the draw."