Hendon recorded their first 3-goal haul of the Ryman League season when they outplayed a tired-looking Braintree Town team at LOOT Stadium on Tuesday night. Hendon have actually scored 3 goals 5 other times this season, but they have gone on to notch 3 6s, a 5 and a 4.

Executioner in chief was Ricci Crace, who scored a pair of exceptional goals in the opening 13 minutes. The Hendon line-up shoed 3 changes following the disappointing draw on Saturday: Mark Burgess, rested, Paul Towler and Steve Forbes, both injured, made way for Micky Woolner, Paul Yates and Byron Bubb, while Iain Duncan was named as a substitute a year to the day after suffering a serious knee injury.

Braintree didn't know what hit them in the opening quarter of the game. Dale Binns on the left and Bubb on the right tore at the Iron's defence and it was found wanting. In the 7th minute, a neat 1-2 between Crace and Bubb was finished by CRACE with a rasping, rising drive that flew past Paul Catley into the roof of the net.

David Krelying was left trailing, 2 minutes, by Binns, who cut in from the left wing and fired a shot which brought Paul Catley to his kness making the save. The goalkeeper was very unhappy with his defence, which was being pulled all over the place, but they were being outclassed.

In the 13th minute Crace bagged his second goal, an opportunity he would not have been able to take earlier this season. Picking up possession 30 yards from goal, he wanted to take the direct route, but Terry Howard got goalside and forced him tu run across the edge of the penalty area D. CRACE not only had the strength to hold Howard off, he also had the speed to get ahead of him and his strike beat Catley all ends up.

Crace nearly had a hat-trick in the 16th minute, but he put his effort just wide of the near post. Binns then brought Catley to his knees with a low shot that would have crept just inside the keeper's right upright.

One disappointment for Hendon was the early departure of Bubb, in the 29th minute. Eugene Ofori replaced him, forcing Crace into a more withdrawn role. It gave Braintree a small degree of relief.

They created very little in the way of attacking moves. All too often, they never got past the midfield duo of Yates and skipper Jon-Barrie Bates, who had an excellent game. Mark Cooper and Steve Butler more than equal to almost anything Robbie Reinelt and Tommy Noble threw at them, and the midfielders who normally cause so much trouble joining the attack were too busy helping out their defenders.

David Hook made one excellent diving save, in the 36th minute, but apart from that Braintree's shooting was either wayward or crosses were easily dealt with. The half-time whistle was a disappointing signal for the home fans, because Hendon had enjoyed that 45 minutes.

The second half was rather disappointing. Although Braintree had the wind at their backs, they didn't use it particularly effectively, and Hendon were always dangerous on the break. Simon Clarke and Binns made a dangerous duo down the wing, while Martin Randall, now partnered by Ofori, kept Howard and Gavin Cowan more than fully occupied.

Ofori nearly stretched Hendon's advantage in thre 65th minute, when he wormed his way past a couple of defenders before striking a shot which Catley did extremely well to save. The rebound took a bad bounced as it fell to Randall; otherwise he would have had a simple tap-in.

He had to wait just 11 more minutes before breaking his home duck for Hendon. The creator was Binns, who teased and tormented Brett Girling - on for the overmatched Kreyling - before firing in a snap-shot. Catley couldn't hold the ball and it fell to RANDALL, who had the simplest of tap-ins. His 12th goal of the season, brought him level with Binns.

In the 85th minute, to huge applause from the Hendon fans, Duncan came on for Woolner. He did not have a chance for one of his trademark bursts down the wing, but after so long out, he was just glad to be out there.

"I thought that 45 minutes was almost as good as we have played at home all season," said a delighted manager Dave Anderson. "After the disappointing performance against Maidenhead at the weekend, we showed some great attitude tonight."