Hendon, playing their 4th game in 7 days began to show signs of great weariness as they could not put away Boreham Wood in a lacklustre fixture at Meadow Park. They dropped one place in the Ryman League Premier Division, to 6th, because only 2 of the top 8 were able to win.

Rob Hollingdale, Paul Towler, Martin Randall, Ricci Crace and Lee Endersby came into the reshuffled starting line-up, with Jack Midson, James Burgess, Eugene Ofori and Iain Duncan dropping down to the subs' bench, alongside well-again Dale Binns. Steve Forbes rested his dead leg, while a similar injury kept out Jon-Barrie Bates for a second straight game.

In the opening 2 minutes, Hendon had 2 good chances to score. First a shot from Randall came within inches of taking a deflection off Dominic Grime that would have taken the ball closer to the goal. Then, Endersby had a clear shooting opportunity, but his effort went well wide of Noel Imber's right upright.

Both teams showed a lack on invention in attack, apart from long throws. Jude Stirling for Wood and Lee Harvey for Hendon created problems for the opposition, with a throw from the latter, being flicked on by Randall, but nobody was able to get to the ball before Nick Grime hacked the ball clear a couple of yards from the goalline. At the other end, Marvin Walker should have done better from a Stirling throw.

Out of almost nothing, and from the best piece of football in the game, Hendon took an 18th minute lead. A ball from Paul Yates was beautifully weighted to go over the statuesque Boreham Wood defence. Randall latched onto it and cut inside Scott Honeyball.

Randall looked up and chipped the ball into the path of Crace, who flicked it towards the edge of the penalty area. Running into the space was Ricardo ALVES, who controlled the ball on his chest, took a stride and drove a shot a foot inside Imber's right post. The young Brazilian was almost in tears as he was enveloped by delighted teammates.

Despite the good start, Hendon couldn't capitalise. A low cross from Endersby was hacked clear by a couple of defenders with Imber beaten, but no Hendon player was close to the ball.

Boreham Wood were happy to knock the ball long downfield and hope to profit from a defensive lapse. All free kicks within 45 yards of Wood's goal were taken by Imber and just launched towards the Hendon penalty area. From an aesthetic point of view, it is a great shame the tactic worked.

In the 44th minute, Imber's free kick went a little further than the Hendon defence expected and a header went back towards David Hook. The goalkeeper scrambled off his line, but the ball came off Gary DIXON and bounced into the net. On the balance of possession, it was probably no more than Boreham Wood deserved.

If anything, the second half was less entertaining than the first. Clear cut chances at both ends were few and far between and both goalkeepers spent most of the time screaming instructions to the defenders in front of them.

In the 54th minute, Binns replaced Endersby, but he looked as if he hadn't fully shaken off the effects of his virus. He did set up a chance for Randall and Crace, but the latter was ruled offside as he headed the ball over Imber but off the top of the crossbar.

In the 78th minute, a fine run from Stirling was ended by a bad challenge from Alves, who was booked by Mr A Parker. Stirling exacted revenge a couple of minutes later and received a similar punishment.

Then, in the 82nd minute, Alves challenged Stirling in the Hendon penalty area. The former Luton Town player went down very easily and, after a moment's hesitation, Mr Parker blew his whistle. He ran up to Stirling, produced a second yellow and a red card to dismiss the player, who sank to his knees in abject misery. There may well have been contact between Alves and Stirling, but the referee felt that Boreham Wood player had simulated a foul.

As the game moved into stoppage time, Hendon forced a corner and Paul Yates' excellent kick was met by Martin Randall, who had a free glancing header. To the disappointment of the Hendon contingent the ball flew inches over the crossbar and the wind that came up was the exhalation of relief from the home faithful.

"We looked a tired team today," admitted manager Dave Anderson. "I'm disappointed in the flat performance, and the fact that we didn't test their keeper, but it is our 4th game in a week and they are fighting for their lives."