Hendon recorded their first Saturday home league win of 2003 when they completed a Ryman League double over Basingstoke Town 2-1 at Claremont Road. With defeats for St Albans and Sutton United, Hendon rose to 4th in the Ryman League Premier Division, with Saints just a point ahead having played twice more than the Greens.

There were 7 changes from Tuesday night's starting line-up, with only Jamie Burgess, Mark Cooper, Paul Yates and Jon-Barrie Bates keeping their places. Of the replacements Gary McCann, Rob Hollingdale, Paul Towler, Steve Butler, Eugene Ofori, Jack Midson and Dale Binns, the best news concerned Butler, who had missed 2 months with an ankle injury.

A bitter wind, combined with a rock-hard, bumpy pitch ensured that slick football was going to be at a premium. A 4th minute free-kick from Yates almost blew just inside Scott Tarr's near post and the goalkeeper only just gathered the ball before it crossed the line.

In the 24th minute, a pass from Binns gave Yates another opening, but he scuffed his shot directly at Tarr. Three minutes later, following another Binns cross, Yates had an even better chance. However, he had more time than he realised and his first time effort flashed beyond Tarr's far post.

From a rare Basingstoke raide, Alex Ewin tried his luck from 25 yards. He didn't strike the ball sweetly, but McCann had to be careful to get his body behind the ball to be sure he wasn't embarrassed by an untimely bounce.

In the 33rd minute, Ofori was set up by Midson, but he was shepherded wide of the target by Ricky Allaway and when Ofori did shoot, Tarr was not particularly troubled by the strike. Seven minutes later, the Ghanaian was celebrating a fine goal.

It began with good work down the flank by Binns, who wriggled his way past Nathan Stamp before delivering a tantalising cross. Butler, who had remained upfield following a set piece, won a header and OFORI was quickest to the loose ball firing an overhead kick that Tarr could do no more than palm into the roof of the net.

The second half was a ding-dong affair, with both teams scoring once, hitting the bar once and creating a handful of good chances that were not taken. Little of note happened in the opening quarter of an hour, but after Ricardo Alves replaced Paul Towler just before the hour mark, incidents came frequently.

In the 62nd minute, Binns curled in a free-kick that Tarr left and the big goalkeeper was very relieved to watch the ball bounce back off the crossbar and the danger was cleared. Three minutes later, Neville Roach fired a shot off McCann's bar and this set up an instant counter-attack for Hendon. As the ball bounced towards the edge of the penalty area, Steve Hemmings - who had scored an own goal in the reverse fixture in December - dallied in the expectation of Tarr dealing with the problem and was very relieved when Ofori's lob was carried by the wind inches wide of the far post.

From the goal kick, the bounce defeated Cooper and Roach stole in behind him. He fired past McCann but the ball was going wide of the target until Craig McALLISTER smacked it into the unguarded net. On the evidence of the previous 10 minutes, it was no more than the Camrose Blues deserved.

The game was now very open and McAllister had a great chance to notch his 29th League goal of the season in the 76th minute, when he burst clear of the Hendon defence. McCann came out to meet him and produced a magnificent save to keep the scores level.

Almost immediately, Midson, who had worked very hard with little reward, was withdrawn in favour of Ricci Crace. It was an inspired substitution because Crace notched his 17th goal of the season within 60 seconds of coming on.

A long ball out of defence by Butler found the Basingstoke defence at 6s and 7s. Hemmings looked up at the ball blowing in the stratosphere unaware that Crace and Ofori were charging towards where they thought the ball would land. Tarr came to the edge of his penalty area in the expectation of the ball reaching him, but he, like Hemmings was to be disappointed. CRACE latched onto the bouncing ball and lifted it over the stranded goalkeeper into the net.

A minute later, Crace was the instigator of a midfield flare-up. He intercepted a free-kick, without having retreated the 10 yards, and started to dribble towards the Basingstoke goal. The run was brought to an end by Ian Dickens' foul on him that led to a brawl. Referee Peter English (Chelmsford) consulted both assistants before showing yellow cards to Dickens and Hemmings of Basingstoke and Alves of Hendon.

As Basingstoke tried desperately to grab a second equaliser, chances came at both ends. First, McCann and Cooper combined to deny McAllister and Efan Elad in the 84th minute.

Then Hendon broke downfield and Ofori had Crace and Binns in support as Tarr came off his line. The pass to Binns was unselfish and Binns did little wrong as he side-footed the ball towards what had been an unguarded net. However, Tarr showed fantastic powers of recovery to get across to block the effort.

The last chance fell to Nathan Stamp. As the game moved into stoppage time, he went on a long run towards goal. He wasn't shut down and fired a fine shot that McCann did exceptionally well to parry aside.

"Today showed what we were all about," said a very happy Dave Anderson. "After 2 substandard performances in the last fortnight we came back very well. I thought we deserved to win the game, but both teams deserve credit for giving the fans so much entertainment in very difficult conditions."