Hendon scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to rescue a point against Wingate & Finchley at a steamy Earlsmead on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon. With both teams struggling for form, there was an air of "we must not lose" in the nervous way they approached the game.

The result left Hendon in 18th place in the 24-team Ryman League Premier Division, and it was their first point after four straight defeats following the comprehensive victory on the opening day.

There were three changes to the Hendon starting line-up which had lost so unluckily at Enfield Town on Saturday. James Fisher, Lee O'Leary and Jack Bennett made way for Carl McCluskey, Kevin Maclaren, who was given the captain's armband, and Lee Angol.

It took just two minutes for the Blues to create the first opening. Leon Smith's shot was blocked and the ball fell to David Laird who curled the ball just wide of Charlie Horlock's goal.

Three minutes late, the same player fired wide of the target, but on this occasion it was a rather wasteful strike.

When Hendon launched an attack of note, they nearly conceded a goal. Ahmet Rifat was at full stretch as he cleared a low cross into the penalty area by Junior Morias.

It was not intended, but the clearance rolled perfectly into the path of Tommy Tejan-Sie, who strode into the centre-circle with half a dozen Hendon players out of position. His pass to Leon Smith was perfectly weighted and the striker held off McCluskey before smashing a shot off underside of the crossbar.

The ball bounced down and was cleared by Sam Flegg. There was little in the way of appeal from Wingate & Finchley players or fans behind the goal that the ball had crossed the line and play continued.

Hendon's first chance came a few minutes later when Bobby Smith made a fine save from Jefferson Louis. The rebound fell to Billy Lobjoit, just inside the penalty area, who had most of the goal to aim at, but he went for power instead of placement and sent the ball a yard over the crossbar.

The Greens gradually began to take control and, in the 34th minute, a super low cross from Morias was met at full stretch by Angol. Unfortunately for the youngster, he ended up on the ball and could not slide it towards the unguarded far post.

Wingate & Finchley continued to have the odd good moment, but Smith, Laird, Hector Mackie and Spencer McCall were kept at arm’s length by the Hendon defence and there were no efforts on target.

Just before half-time, the Greens should have taken the lead when a cross was not dealt with and Dave Diedhiou had a simple chance. He put his effort wide of the target when it had seemed easier to score.

Before the resumption, Hendon were forced to make a change with Isaiah Rankin coming on Louis. The Greens were much sloppier in the second half and their passing game really didn't work well.

This created a lot of pressure on the midfield and defence, who were given a stern examination by the powerful Smith. On two occasions the striker got clear of the defence, but was expertly thwarted by Horlock.

The teenager did exceptionally well with the second of the opportunities, making two sprawling blocks of Smith, before parrying the ball out to Tony Taggart at left back.

Typical of Hendon's misfiring was a good run by Chris Seeby, which took him past three defenders. Unfortunately, there was no end product and it allowed Wingate & Finchley to clear the danger.

The introduction of Michael Murray, at the expense of Lobjoit, came at a free-kick, well within his range. However, for some reason he attempted a cross which forced a corner, but there was no green shirt close to Marc Weatherstone, whose clearing header only narrowly went over his crossbar.

The corner was hit deep and Morias met the ball on the volley. His drive beat Smith, but rippled the wrong side of the side netting.

With five minutes of normal time, Hendon's defence was ripped apart by the Blues. Dean Mason, on for Mackie, combined with McCall and when the ball came to Smith, he controlled it and drove it into the roof of the net.

A minute later, Morias was replaced by a former Blue, Anthony Thomas, and he immediately tried his luck with a drive. There were two team-mates better placed for passes, and their frustration was obvious as the ball sailed wide of the target.

The referee told the players there would be five minutes of stoppage time. It had been a scrappy, niggly period with half a dozen yellow cards, five substitutions the goal and a couple of injuries so the minutes were certainly justified.

Three of those five minutes had elapsed when the Greens got their life-saver. A beautifully weighted cross from Murray picked out Angol. His glancing header was beautifully directed past the static Bobby Smith and nestled just inside the far post.

There was still time for Thomas to snatch an undeserved winner. His drive, however, was poorly directed and flew high over the crossbar - and the clubhouse.