Hendon had to work very hard to collect even a point from their New Year's Day match against landlords and Ryman League Premier Division strugglers Harrow Borough. They needed two equalisers before ensuring they finally avoided defeat.

Kevin Maclaren and James Fisher were both injured in the Christmas Saturday win over Wingate & Finchley, so there were recalls for Casey Maclaren and Andre Da Costa. With Dave Diedhiou, Belal Aite-Ouakrim and Aaron Morgan also unavailable, it meant Sam Flegg and goalkeeper Danny McNicholas were named on the bench.

The damp and freezing conditions that had affected Harrow after the game on Saturday meant the pitch was in a far from ideal condition, but - although desperately heavy - it was just good enough not to require an inspection.

The first incident of note came after about ten minutes when Hendon felt they should have been awarded a penalty. Kezie Ibe battled to get the better of a Anthony Maissiat and worked his way into the penalty area.

On two separate occasions, Maissiat attempted to win the ball, but Ibe was tripped both times. The first time he was able to keep his feet, the second time not so and he went down. The referee ruled that there was no foul on either occasion.

Nick Jupp had a mixed afternoon. The Borough goalkeeper was totally dominant when he came for crosses, always electing to punch and doing so well every time. However, when the ball came to him along the ground, he was far less confident and one first-half fumble nearly led to a goal, but he regathered the ball as Ibe was about to pounce.

Borough had another escape when a corner was not dealt with by the home defence and Elliott Brathwaite headed the ball goalwards. Former Hendon favourite Carl McCluskey was one of three Harrow players guarding the goalline behind Jupp and he headed the ball clear standing inches in front of the whitewash.

It proved to be a key moment because, in the 39th minute, Marc Charles-Smith broke into the penalty area and attempted to get past Brathwaite. Although there were some fans close to the incident who thought Borough's skipper had slipped, the referee ruled otherwise and booked Brathwaite as well as awarding a penalty.

Charles-Smith took responsibility for the spot kick. Although Ben McNamara guessed correctly, the penalty was beautifully struck and placed, the ball flying into the corner of the goal.

Hendon couldn't find a way back into the game before half-time, despite a couple of dangerous crosses from both Chris Seeby and Tony Taggart.

Just before the interval, Ben Long was injured in a fierce 50-50 tackle. Both players went in for the ball at full pace and it was the Harrow man who came off worse, being replaced immediately by Sekou Kaba.

It took less than seven minutes of the second half for Hendon to draw level. A corner was cleared to the edge of the penalty area, from where Casey Maclaren crossed.

The ball was deep, but Charlie Goode gambled and headed it back into the middle of the penalty area. First to react was Brathwaite and he headed the ball into the net despite the presence of a phalanx of players between him and the goalline.

Strangely, the goal didn't really lift Hendon and it was Harrow who enjoyed a rare spell in possession. Nick Salapatas caused a few problems with his runs from deep, but there were few clear-cut chances at either end.

Midway through the half, Hendon were made to pay for over-committing up front at a corner. Jupp came for the cross and punched the ball beyond the edge of the penalty area.

Harold Odametey collected the ball and set off downfield. He passed to Salapatas and continued his run, setting up a two-on-two situation. When Salapatas returned the ball to Odametey, he knocked it past McNamara as the goalkeeper came out.

It would prove to be the goalscorer's final involvement in the game as he was injured in the act of scoring the goal and was stretchered off, to be replaced by David Fallah. Hendon sent on Peter Dean for Da Costa, allowing Sam Murphy to move to the opposite flank.

A few minutes later, the Greens withdrew Taggart and introduced Adam Wallace in an attacking position. Murphy returned to the opposite flank, but now in a full-back position.

With seven minutes of normal time remaining, Hendon equalised again. It was a flowing move from the midfield, involving Lee O'Leary and Dean, before Ibe's astute pass found Leon Smith.

The striker reached the ball just before Jupp and much in the same way that McNamara and Odametey had collided, so did the goalkeeper and Smith, the attacking player knocking the ball into the net just before the contact. The only difference was that Smith didn't need treatment.

In the six-plus minutes of stoppage time, Hendon again came close to a winner but they were denied by a second goalline clearance. Jupp then spilled a ball at his near post, but no green shirt could reach it in time to set up a goalscoring opportunity.