Hendon got their preseason campaign off to a good start as they defeated a hard-working if limited Boreham Wood outfit 2-0 at Meadow Park on Tuesday night.

The Greens, who had Dave King, Mark and Jamie Bugess, Jaz Rose, Scott Cousins, Dave Hunt from last season's squad in the starting line-up, plus John Frendo, Rene Street and Dave Nolan all returning after absences of three months, three and thirteen years, respectively, had only two players making their first-ever Hendon appearances, midfielder Richard McDonagh and striker Mark Nicholls.

And it was NICHOLLS who opened the scoring after just two minutes, curling home a magnificent free-kick after Frendo had been fouled.

Hendon dominated most of the first half, but failed to convert it into something more tangible until just before the break. Then, a slide-rule pass from Nicholls released FRENDO and he slipped the ball under the advancing Matt Hudson to make it 2-0.

Eugene Ofori, just back from a spell in his native Ghana visiting his sick mother was one of a number of second-half newcomers, along with goalkeeper Luke Thornton and new faces, Spencer Nerson-Wright, Usif Bangura, Tom Woodcraft and Wayne Carter, the last of whom impressed with a couple of efforts that came close to extending the lead.

It was a scrappy second half, with the changes disrupting any flow the game might have had. A great chance for Boreham Wood to score their first goal of the preseason fell to Stuart Lockhead at the far post, but he side-footed the ball wide from a few yards out.

With two minutes to go, Ofori hit the foot of a post for Hendon.