Hendon returned to winning ways on Saturday when Eugene "Goal Machine" Ofori bagged his 6th goal in 5 games to give the Dons a 1-0 victory over Maidenhead at York Road. It was, sadly, a pyrrhic victory, with Hendon finishing with 10 men after Ricci Crace and Dale Binns left the game with injuries after 10 and 88 minutes, respectively.

The game itself was hardly a fine advertisement for football, with both teams absolutely desperate for wins - Maidenhead still looking for their first of the season and Hendon after 2 bad defeats.

Crace was given his first start of the season, in place of Martin Randall, while skipper Jon-Barrie Bates - back from holiday - returned in the middle of the park, allowing Iain Duncan to move to full-back where Jamie Burgess was omitted. The return of Bates certainly added steel to the midfield, something that had been lacking in recent games.

Hendon started the game brightly, with Crace and Ofori causing the Maidenhead defence a few problems. Sadly, in the 11th minute, Crace went down with a leg injury and he was helped off, not to return. Randall came on, but his style of play differs completely from Crace's and although Randall had his most effective performance of the season, Hendon's cutting edge was definitely dulled.

Randall did have Hendon's best opportunities, but he put a couple of efforts narrowly over the crossbar. Scott Cousins also lifted a free-kick too high.

The Greens' cause was also hindered by the assistant referee in their attacking half who gave a number of debatable offside decisions.

But his most obvious error came when Andy Cook dispossessed Steve Sanders a yard from the goalline and drilled a low cross which seemed to travel backwards into the 6-yard-box. Although the ball didn't appear to go out of play and with it appearing to go backwards therefore meaning no player could possibly be offside, the flag went up..

The referee was also doing his bit to upset players and officials alike by his failure to use his cards for challenges that merited them. Martyn Lee went in late twice and got a pair of severe talkings-to. Then, in the 38th minute, he clashed with Steve Butler, who went down injured as play continued.

Cook then challenged Lee illegally as the whistle blew. Lee was cautioned and, after consulting with his assistant, Mr Malone didn't even admonish Cook although many people in the ground believe the former Maidenhead star might have been dismissed for his act.

In the last minute of the half, Michael Currie worked himself an opening and he fired a 25-yard shot that Dave King did well to save low down. He pushed the ball aside and recovered quickly enough to prevent even a corner.

Maidenhead's best move of the match came in the 48th minute, with Kelvin McIntosh and Lee combining before a cross found Lawrence Yaku unmarked at the far post. The ever-dangerous former Northwood striker had to lean back just a little and it meant he could not keep his powerful header low enough to open the scoring.

With the slope in their favour, the Magpies had the better of the opening 10 minutes of the half and Craig Farley fired just wide of King's post. Mark Cooper then was crudely brought down and needed significant treatment before he could continue.

After those early worries, Hendon returned to the albeit limited ascendancy, with Bates, Cook and Steve Forbes holding sway in midfield. Midway through the half, Binns was introduced at the expense of Cousins and although he played no part in the winning goal, 2 minutes later, he had already made Sanders' life difficult with a mazy run.

The goal came from a King clearance, which was helped on by Richard Evans. His pass to Randall was flicked on and the ever-alert Ofori timed his run perfectly to go past the last defender and remain onside.

Phil Wilson came off his line to narrow the angle, but OFORI confidently drilled the ball just inside the far post with a low drive.

Maidenhead brought on Rob Cruse and Ryan Ashe, in place of Gareth Paxton and Yaku, but they failed to give the Magpies the spark they needed. In fact, it was Hendon who finished much the stronger, although 2 minutes after Ricardo Alves - back after a preseason injury - had replaced Randall, Binns limped off.

"It was a very good reaction to Monday's five-goal defeat," said manager Dave Anderson. "It wasn't a great game, but both teams were desperate for wins and sometimes you just have to grind it out."