Hendon returned to winning ways three weeks after their last League outing on Tuesday night. The Greens' 1-0 defeat of relegation-threatened Thurrock was the first the time they had ever completed a League double over their Essex rivals, previously known as Purfleet.

With Elliott Brathwaite, Dean Cracknell and Sean Sonner on the long-term unavailable list, and Casey Maclaren and Lee Angol not quite ready for selection, the team pretty much selected itself.

Thurrock's desperate plight - they are three points above Hastings United - is largely the result of a painful lack of goals, so with Hendon only a little more prolific, a goal-fest was never likely on a cold, windy evening. That said, the weather was not as bad as had been feared and the pitch looked in fine condition.

The two teams spent the first ten minutes probing for an opening without any success. Then, in the 11th minute, Belal Aite-Ouakrim made a run towards the Fleet penalty area, where he was illegally halted.

As the wall meandered into space, Scott Cousins took the free-kick and floated it perfectly for two green-shirted players to reach unchallenged. Carl McCluskey got his foot to the ball but completely scuffed his contact and the ball bobbled into the arms of a grateful David Hughes. A better touch or better direction would have brought the opening goal.

The next chance came 15 minutes later, at the other end, and it was the turn of the Thurrock No.7 to blow a great scoring opportunity. Robbie Norris knocked down a cross with a cushioned header and Danny Green, unchallenged, ran onto the loose ball. He went for power over precision and sent the ball over the crossbar from six yards out.

Eight minutes before half-time, Kevin Maclaren was set up by Isaiah Rankin, but his 25-yard drive flew just over the crossbar with Hughes a grateful spectator.

The next off-target effort came from Thurrock's left-back Mark Onyemah. He ran onto a deep cross but guided his attempt into the side netting for a relatively acute angle.

Both teams will have taken refuge from the cold at half-time satisfied with their overall performance, but frustrated that they hadn't been able to make the break-through. The game had been open and fast for 20-odd minutes, but had become rather more stuttery as it progressed.

Jack Bennett was causing the Thurrock defence quite a few problems with his probing runs from midfield, but the link play with Aite-Ouakrim, McCluskey and Rankin was just a little bit off. That was until the 59th minute, when Hendon put together what was the match-winning move.

A diagonal ball from Dave Diedhiou fell perfectly for McCluskey, who had got clear of the trailing Stuart Thurgood. He decided not to shoot, but set up Bennett, whose first touch made a strike from him slightly more problematic.

However, he had the presence of mind to roll the ball into the path of Rankin, also unfettered by any purple-shirted defenders. Rankin knew exactly what to do and his crisp strike beat Hughes and flew into the net for his first League goal of the season and first since the match-winner against Eastbourne Borough at the beginning of October.

Two minutes later, Aite-Ouakrim was again fouled just outside the Thurrock penalty area, this time in a much more central position. The six-man wall did its job as Howard Hall drilled the ball over the defensive barrier, but could not get it to dip in time to go under the crossbar.

Harry Honesty then took over from Norris and his left-wing trickery caused Hall a few problems. When given a clear sight of goal, Terry Dixon could fire the ball only straight at Berkley Laurencin.

When Honesty delivered a cross, either Sam Flegg or James Fisher was more than able to deal with the danger. Even so, Hendon fans remained uncomfortable with only a one-goal lead and were hoping for a second goal to settle their nerves.

It should have come a minute after Lee O'Leary had replaced McCluskey, Thurrock's Scott Curley having taken over from Dixon in 77th minute. A left-wing cross from Scott Cousins was not cleared properly and the ball fell perfectly for Aite-Ouakrim, who had time to pick his spot before shooting. Unfortunately for Greens fans, the spot he chose was the wrong side of the far post and it was time for Fleet fans to breathe again.

Max McCann became the first Hendon player to appear for the first team managed by his father in at least 50 years when he took over Rankin for the final six minutes of normal time and, in stoppage time, Warren Goodhind replaced Maclaren.

The worst foul of the evening came a minute or so after Goodhind's arrival. Already cautioned, Matt Turpin Appeared to go through the back of O'Leary, who was left writhing on the ground in agony. The referee, however, allowed play to continue.

A delighted Gary McCann said, "It is a big win for the boys. I spoke to them before the game and gave them a points target. I believe that the playoffs are still within reach and I asked them to show that they were up for the challenge of reaching the playoffs.

"I think we played with good tempo and purpose. If we had been more clinical, we might have scored four or five goals tonight and won maybe 5-2. But I was very pleased with the performance, especially my two central midfielders, Dave Diedhiou and Kevin Maclaren."