hey beat Chesham United 2-0 at the Meadow on Saturday. The Greens, who had not played a Ryman League game since 4 January, rose to 15th in the Premier Divison table, up 3 places from last weekend.

Following the FA Trophy exit in midweek, Hendon made just one change to the starting 11, Paul Towler coming in at right-back, in place of Mark Burgess, who dropped to the bench. Coming in as another substitute was Leon Woodruffe, who had missed the last 5 weeks because he was cup-tied.

The conditions in Chesham were very difficult thanks to a howling gale that was at Hendon's backs in the first half. The weather certainly played into the Dons' hands because the Chesham's players, especially at the heart of the defence, footwork was found wanting and made them very tentative.

In the opening few seconds, Eugene Ofori shot over from close range as a bouncing ball fell kindly for him, but he did not really have time to set himself before striking the ball. Ofori, who proved to be a thorn in the Chesham side all afternoon, then fired wide after a 20-yard run, the shot being something of a disappointment after his approach work.

Chesham had a couple of chances of their own in the first half, but most of the best opportunities went Hendon's way. In the 11th minute, Ofori didn't get enough on a shot which Delroy Preddie slowed but was still going in, until Ernie Cooksey hacked the ball away for a corner. From the set-piece, Steve Forbes' goalbound header was cleared away by Fitz Hall.

Just before the half-hour mark, Forbes and Hall combined for the opening goal and it also came from a dead-ball situation. This time the ball came from the right wing and appeared to be going out of play. Mark Cooper did exceptionally well to keep the ball in play with an athletic overhead kick when sent it back into the heart of the penalty area.

FORBES rose well and directed a header towards goal. It would almost certainly have been an easy save for Preddie, but Hall attempted to block Forbes' effort and succeeded only in lifting the ball over his goalkeeper and into the roof of the net.

It was the break that Hendon needed and, 2 minutes later, Byron Bubb fired a 25-yard shot that flew over the bar with Preddie beaten. Martin Randall then tried his luck from long-range, but the ball dipped too late.

In the 35th minute, David Hook took a goal-kick which was carried by the wind into the path of Ofori, who timed his run perfectly to get behind the Chesham defence. Instead of shooting, Ofori passed to Randall, who had left Lee Kersey trailing in his wake. RANDALL ran into the penalty area and, as Preddie came off his line, he slid the ball into the bottom corner.

Just before half-time, Chesham were convinced they should have had a penalty when Hook, coming off his line for a low cross, slipped and grabbed the ball after the General's player fell to the ground. Referee Mr K. Batchelor, waved aside Chesham's protests. There was then the strange sight of Chesham defenders building a wall 30 yards from their goal to face a free-kick. Bubb's effort was probably low enough and on target to trouble Preddie, but the wall blocked the shot.

With the wind showing no signs of abating, it was felt that two goals was the absolute minimum cushion for Hendon to take into the second half if they were to get something from the game. Woodruffe came on for Bubb after the interval and he had not even come close to touching the ball when Chesham wasted a golden opportunity.

Mark Cooper was dispossessed almost on the Hendon goal-line just inside the penalty area. The ball was laid into the path of Dereck Brown, but the former Hendon and England non-league international was denied a goal by a superb save from Hook, who blocked the ball with his feet by his near post.

That chance should have galvanised Chesham, but instead, it appeared to sap their confidence further. Much of the credit for this must go to Hendon's back-4, Towler, Steve Butler - watched by his father, former Hendon player Roy - Cooper and Simon Clarke. Together with Hook behind them and Forbes, inspirational Jon-Barrie Bates and tenacious Paul Yates in midfield, Hendon enjoyed a relatively comfortable half-hour as Chesham huffed and puffed to little effect.

The weather deteriorated as a hailstorm strengthened the wind but also made the pitch slicker. Chesham could not find the right weight for their passes, while Ofori, Woodruffe and Randall continued to give defenders a miserable afternoon. All too often forwards' pressure led to the back players making hurried and thus inaccurate passes, something that did not go down well with the home supporters.

It was not until Paul Fewings - a loan player at Hendon in November - and Mark Boyce came on for Richard Newberry - hinself on loan from Basingstoke - and former Hendon midfielder Jason Soloman that Chesham started to put pressure on the Greens. Fewings found himself unmarked at the far post as a cross squirted across the penalty area, but he screwed his left-foot shot wide from about 6 yards.

Hook produced 3 excellent saves in the last 10 minutes, but Preddie and the defenders in front of him, were kept fully occupied by Hendon's regular counter-attacks. Long before the end, Chesham were resigned to their fate and they looked rather bedraggled by the final whistle.

"I am delighted to come here and get a result," said a beaming Hendon manager Dave Anderson after the game. "In the second half we knew we had to be resilient and the defence was excellent. I must also pay credit to the supporters; they were magnificent. They knew when to lift the boys on the pitch and their support was so appreciated by all the players and my coaching staff too."