Hendon and VCD Athletic had to settle for a point each after a compelling 1-1 Ryman League Premier Division draw at Earlsmead on Saturday. There is no doubt that a draw was the right result because both managers will have felt that it was two points dropped, but simultaneously were grateful to get at least one.

There were a number of changes to the Hendon team which had started in the 1-0 Robert Dyas (Isthmian League) Cup victory at Enfield Town on Tuesday night. The injuries picked up by Kevin Maclaren and Aaron Morgan ruled them out, while Oliver Sprague was named on the bench. Into the team came Chris Seeby, Tony Taggart and Leon Smith.

VCD made an almost perfect start with a goal from the first attack of note, barely two minutes after the kick-off. There seemed to be little danger as Mikhail Kennedy controlled the ball near to the left touchline, 30 yards from goal.

The youngster, on loan from Charlton Athletic, cut inside, went past Seeby and a couple of other green-shirted players to create an opening for a 20-yard shot. Two more defenders moved across to cover the danger and probably did enough to leave Ben McNamara at least partially unsighted. The shot from Kennedy, however, was powerful and true, beyond the goalkeeper's dive.

Hendon's response was immediately and it took a super save from Nick Blue to ensure VCD's lead survived longer than three minutes. Smith fired a shot, which took a slight deflection, and the keeper was still able to push the ball aside. Then, when Seeby fired at goal, Grant Basey took one for the team, deflecting the ball away for a corner with his face/head.

Basey could not join his defensive team-mates as he was forced to leave the pitch after receiving treatment. Elliott Brathwaite won the header but it went over the crossbar.

Blue's positioning was again excellent in the 14th minute when Dave Diedhiou put a powerful header on target from eight yards. A yard either side of the goalkeeper would probably have brought a goal, but Blue caught the ball without too much difficulty.

A couple of minutes later, Hendon had a raid halted by Nick Reeves' near-rugby tackle on Kezie Ibe as he looked to join the break in support. The referee, and his assistants, failed to get a clear view of the incident - it was nearly 20 yards away from play - but, after trying to play an advantage, when the attack petered out, Hendon were given a free-kick. Not exactly sure what had transpired, the referee felt he could not could issue a further sanction on the defender.

Andre Da Costa and Sam Murphy attacked with good pace, but they both struggled to keep their feet. While Seeby and Taggart offered good support out wide, the final ball into the danger area was easily dealt with by Reeves, Lea Dawson and Lewis Tozer.

Lee O'Leary, Seeby, Murphy and Da Costa all had shooting options from in and around the penalty area. However, they chose to pass and the moves frustratingly broke down.

VCD contributed to the entertainment with their own enterprising play, with Kennedy the main danger, but Michael Power and Orlando Smith - who had recovered after suffering an early knock - also showed their attacking prowess. When Charlie Goode mistimed a tackle after losing possession on the half-way line his foul earned him a yellow card.

Brathwaite, Murphy and Da Costa all had good opportunities for Hendon before half-time, but their accuracy was wayward. Brathwaite was under pressure as put a header over the bar and Da Costa's speculative strike was narrowly wide, but Murphy's effort left a lot more to be desired as the ball flew over the clubhouse when he had time to compose and steady himself.

Hendon's equaliser arrived in first-half stoppage time. Seeby and Costa worked well before the ball was played into Smith, who had Tozer marking him tightly. Using his strength and pace, Smith was able to turn past Tozer and, from a very acute angle, his deft flick knocked the ball past Blue just inside the near post.

It would be fair to say that both managers will have been unhappy with the way that their defences failed to deal with the danger for the two goals, but they would have been equally pleased with the efforts of the goalscorer.

In the second half, Hendon were again on the back-foot in the first few minutes, but VCD could not get a clear sight of goal. Having survived the early barrage, it was the Greens who were on top for most of the next 25 minutes.

Both goalkeepers had struggled with their kicking from hand and ground in the first half, but improved after the break, McNamara in particular getting significant distance with his kicked clearances. Taggart was withdrawn after an hour, with James Fisher replacing him at left-back, but Hendon didn't seem to utilise the width as well as they had before the break.

Midway through the half, a slick passing move ended with Da Costa dancing past Basey and Dawson before pulling the back for Smith. His drive beat Blue, who watched with great relief as the ball flashed past the post.

Peter Dean took over from Diedhiou and really should have sealed the game when Da Costa set him up. Eight yards from goal and with time to pick to his spot, Dean's scream of frustration was audible around the ground as he scuffed the ball three yards wide.

It was pretty much Da Costa's last contribution to the game as Adam Wallace was Hendon's last change. Then, from a Hendon corner, the Greens nearly threw away their point.

They made a hash of a short corner and when Aaron Jeffrey won a tackle ten yards outside the VCD penalty area, he had a clear run towards the Hendon goal. Players from both teams flooded back towards the Hendon penalty area, trailing the ball carrier by some distance.

Unfortunately, for VCD the options for Jeffrey were numerous. By the time he had worked out the best one, the ball had been taken off him and the chance was gone.

Both teams did have the ball in the net, but the "scorers" were offside by some distance. In the 84th minute, Reeves' previous indiscretions caught up with him and he received a yellow card for a foul just outside the penalty area. Murphy failed with the free-kick, striking the ball into the defensive wall.

With two minutes of normal time remaining, Kennedy had another chance to score. His mazy run took him towards the danger area, but his final shot did not match his approach and the ball flashed wide of the far post.

Two minutes into stoppage time, another clumsy Reeves challenge resulted in a second yellow card and the inevitable red. Murphy's free-kick failed to trouble Blue and there simply wasn't enough time for Hendon to take advantage of the extra man.