Hendon and Ashford Town (Middlesex) both played their part in an entertaining 1-1 draw at Short Lane on Tuesday evening. Whilst Ashford had the majority of possession in the game, they found the Hendon defence, and in particular young goalkeeper James Reading in fine form.

Gary McCann made two changes to the starting line-up with Kevin Maclaren and Brian Haule dropping to the bench, having been replaced by Sam Berry and Peter Dean.

The Greens came very close to opening the scoring inside the first 20 seconds. Dean broke down the right wing and sent in an inch perfect cross which was met by the head of Harry Hunt. However, the Tangerines keeper Craig Ross made an excellent save to tip the ball over the bar.

The home side's first opportunity came in the 8th minute when a good move involving Warren Harris and Byron Harrison ended up with Scott Harris just failing to control the ball in front of goal. Shortly afterwards Harrison fired in a shot, but his effort was blocked by a defender.

Ashford controlled the game for the first 20 minutes or so, and Reading was forced into action on the quarter hour mark, making a very good save from one of the home forwards.

The game then ebbed and flowed from end to end. Dave Diedhiou got on the end of a Wayne O'Sullivan cross, but was ruled to have pushed a defender as he rose for the ball, whilst at the other end Harrison made an excellent run, fired in a shot across goal which Warren Harris just failed to get a foot on.

Dean had a good chance to open the scoring after Wayne O'Sullivan intercepted a clearance from Ross, but having received the ball, Dean could only scuff his shot straight at the keeper. Just before the half-hour mark, James Bent made an excellent clearance off the line when Warren Harris looked certain to score and two minutes later Reading made a quality point-blank save.

Early in the second half, Diedhiou met another corner, this time from Dean, but could only direct his header across the goal. Shortly afterwards a good move involving Berry and Jamie Busby led to Hunt's shot being well saved by Ross.

Ashford then had a period when they were in contorl of the game. In the 54th minute, former Hendon midfielder Paul Johnson sent a corner into the box, but in the ensuing scramble the ball eventually went over the bar. Harrison also had a good chance on the hour mark, but he could only direct his header wide of the goal.

Eventually in the 70th minute came the first goal of the game. Bent picked up the ball in midfield and fed it out wide to O'Sullivan, who in turn carried the ball towards the byline. He delivered the ball low across the goal and Dean slammed the ball towards goal. Ross managed to get a touch to the ball, but Dean was quickest to react and was able to bundle the ball home with his head from very close range.

Two minutes later, the Greens nearly doubled their lead when Bent was allowed to run from midfield, but his shot lacked accuracy and went wide. Play then moved down the other end where Hone Fowler made a similarly good run, but shot straight at Reading.

In the 80th minute Johnson sent an excellent free kick low towards goal where Reading was forced to make a superb stop, pushing the ball wide for a corner. However, this just delayed Ashford's thoroughly deserved equaliser for a few seconds, as Johnson fired in the corner and Billy Jeffreys, having lost his marker, met the ball at the near post to head it home.

Both sides went in search of the winner - in the 82nd minute O'Sullivan made another good break down the wing, fired the ball to Dean, but his shot across goal went wide of the post. Down at the other end, Fowler forced Reading into another good save low down at his post.

There was a moment of controversy, the only one in a game that was superbly refereed, in stoppage time when there was a big shout against Craig Vargas when it appeared that he had handled the ball in the penalty area. However, much to the relief of the Hendon players, and to the disappointment of the Ashford players, the assistant referee ruled that Ashford substitute Malachi Bulley was the guilty party.

Both sides then played out the remaining couple of minutes of stoppage time, seemingly satisfied with a point each.