Hendon completed an arduous four-game stretch, all at home, with a fourth straight victory, this time 1-0 over Canvey Island in the Ryman League Premier Division. A check on club records suggests it is almost certainly the first time the Greens have ever won four competitive home games in an eight-day (or less) stretch.

With the resources already stretched - Sam Flegg flew back to his job in the Netherlands on Tuesday morning - the only changes to the starting line-up saw Kezie Ibe and Aaron Morgan return at the expense of Casey Maclaren and Leon Smith, respectively, though both would be used as substitutes. On the bench, alongside Peter Dean - who made his 100th Hendon appearance - were the unused Max McCann and reserve goalkeeper Brendan Hazlett. Tony Taggart was other player from Monday night's 16 not to be involved.

The first half dominated by the fresher Canvey Island. Hendon looked tired and leggy, but the defence was again outstanding. Dave Diedhiou may have been replaced for the second 45 minutes against Metropolitan Police, but goalkeeper Ben McNamara, full-back Oliver Sprague and centre-backs Elliott Brathwaite and Charlie Goode have played the full 360 minutes, and their performances went beyond exceptional.

Gulls strikers Enoch Showumni and Jay Curran are a real handful, but they got little change out of Brathwaite and Goode. The danger came more from midfield and a good run from Steve Smith ended with him firing over the crossbar. Two or three other openings were created but the efforts were either off target or blocked.

Even though they were on the back foot for much of the half, Hendon still created three good chances of their own. Morgan was distinctly unlucky when clean through on goal to have the ball bobble in front of him and it allowed Tim Brown to thwart him. He then fired wide of the goal, as did Sprague, whose speculative 25-yards didn't dip enough but swerved too much.

A harsh talking-to in the dressing room at half time had the desired effect on Hendon, because the Greens came out with a different attitude. Immediately, Canvey were put on the back foot and their defensive resilience rather disappeared. Dave Collis, who had kept Andre Da Costa quiet in the first half, had to work much harder, but Ashley Dumas was not troubled as much by Sam Murphy.

Hendon increased the pressure on the Gulls defence and it was not a surprise that they were broken in the 61st minute. The Greens forced a corner which Goode headed towards goal.

The goalbound attempt was partially blocked before Brown punched the ball clear to the edge of the penalty area, where Morgan took possession. He sized up his options, then got a call from skipper Kevin Maclaren, who was racing into space.

Morgan rolled the ball into the path of Maclaren, whose shot was perfectly weighted and directed to fly into the roof of the net, just inside the post. Hendon's celebrations were probably an even mix of joy and relief.

For the next 10 minutes, the Gulls were in a flap. Whenever Murphy, Da Costa, Morgan or Ibe ran at them, the Canvey defence was close to panicking. Three minutes after the goal, Da Costa overhit the ball at the end of a flowing move. Had he controlled his shot and gone for placement, he would surely have scored.

Showumni was then replaced by Morlon Agyakwa, but he got even less change out of Brathwaite and Goode than the much travelled Kilburn-born former Nigeria international. Hendon soon withdrew Da Costa and Morgan, sending on Casey Maclaren and Leon Smith.

Both of the Greens replacements should have extended the Hendon lead, but Smith saw his attempt blocked by Josh Banton, while Maclaren had two near misses. One could not really be called a chance, but he had to hit a Brown clearance first time, and he was 45 yards out. The second one, however, needed - like Da Costa 20 minutes earlier, just a little more composure.

Dean's 100th Hendon appearance - he has also passed that landmark for Northwood and Wealdstone - was a short one, coming on in stoppage time for Ibe. With Harrison Tweddle taking over from Mike Jones for the final few minutes, Canvey ramped up the pressure on the Hendon defence, but it did not bend.