Hendon had another excellent afternoon at Earlsmead, not only picking up maximum points from a 1-0 victory over Tonbridge Angels, but also finding out that of the two of the three teams above them and the two immediately below them at the start of the day, only second-placed Margate picked up as much as a single point.

Looking up, the Greens - on 68 points - stay fourth in the table, behind Dulwich Hamlet because of an inferior goal difference of one, but Hendon have the benefit of four games in hand. They are two points behind Margate - level games - and 12 behind table-toppers Maidstone United, but the Greens have two games in hand. Both Kent clubs have a vastly superior goal difference over their two closest chasers.

Below them, there are now seven points between the Greens and the teams battling for the last of the playoff places - eight are separated by four points - and all have played at least two games more Hendon.

There was only one change from the 11 who started against Margate in the Robert Dyas (League) Cup semi-final three days earlier, Aaron Morgan taking over from Leon Smith. Sam Flegg was named on the bench, but the centre-half, like Max McCann was not required.

Despite being in opposite halves of the Ryman League Premier Division table, the two teams were very well-matched. Then again, as well as being ex-teammates at Dulwich Hamlet, the two managers – Hendon's Gary McCann and the Angels' Steve McKimm – have very similar management styles and policies.

Both teams were defensively very sound, Charlie Goode and Elliott Brathwaite dominating Joe Taylor and Tommy Whitnell in the way that Lee Carey and Simon Cox held sway over Aaron Morgan and Kezie Ibe.

The cold wind, blowing straight down the pitch from the clubhouse end was not actually an advantage because it was too strong. Add in a hard, bobbly pitch and it becomes difficult for any team to be completely effective in their passing game.

Tonbridge wide men Dee Okojie and Marvin Williams found the going tough against Dave Diedhiou and Oliver Sprague, but it was the same at the other end, with Andre Da Costa and Sam Murphy getting little joy against James Folkes and Jack Parter. When any of them was able to get a cross into the penalty area, defenders either won the aerial challenge or goalkeepers Ben McNamara and Tom Hadler took control.

After 10 minutes, Casey Maclaren was penalised as he challenged for a header just outside the Hendon box. He also suffered a cut to his head and had to get it treated as the free-kick was rather wasted and when he returned, his head was swathed in bandaging.

When Tonbridge failed to completely clear a corner, Goode intervened and made a mazy run into the Angels’ penalty area. Although an opening for a shot suddenly appeared, Goode decided to pass to Da Costa and he overstruck the pass to waste the chance.

Hendon had two more openings in the last ten minutes of the first half. The first was a deep corner, which was met by Diedhiou beyond the far post. His header took a slight deflection and was well blocked by Hadler before a defender hacked the ball clear of danger.

Then, moments before the half-time whistle, Ibe got clear of Carey. Hadler was quickly off his line, so Ibe attempted to lob the goalkeeper. He barely touched the ball, but the wind took the ball and it did not drop until it was on top of the net.

Hendon fans were grateful for the protection of the clubhouse as they stood behind the goal in the second half, and the sunshine also improved the temperature. On the pitch, however, things remained the same - a largely attritional contest.

In the 52nd minute, McNamara produced an excellent save to deny Cox the opening goal. His header from a corner was flying towards the near post before McNamara palmed the ball away.

It proved to be a pivotal moment because Hendon took the lead less than a minute later. The Greens won a free-kick a few metres inside the Tonbridge half and sent their tall defenders forward into the penalty area.

When the ball was played into the box, Hadler decided to claim it, but sheltered from the wind, it was an unfortunate error of judgement because the ball dropped beyond the penalty spot. He did get his hands only the ball, but stumbled into Carey and spilled it.

The two Tonbridge players took a second to get their bearings following the collision and that was all that Ibe needed. He took a step to the side, and drilled the ball past two defenders who had tried to get back on the goal-line.

Flavio Tavarares was sent on to replace Williams a few minutes later, but he got no change out of the Hendon defence. Okojie still looked dangerous, switching from right to left and back, but he did lack support.

The Angels, however, found it almost impossible to get the better of McNamara, who had endured a nightmarish moment in the reverse fixture in September, This time, however, the goalkeeper came for almost every cross, and, on every occasion, he caught the ball cleanly.

Ibe almost doubled the Hendon lead after 69 minutes, when he latched onto a short pass from Lee O'Leary and drilled a snap-shot past Hadler. The ball, once again, failed to dip quickly enough and clipped the top of the crossbar before bouncing into the crowd.

Leon Smith replaced Morgan as the Greens made three replacements to send on fresh legs. Tony Taggart took over from Da Costa before Peter Dean spelled Ibe for the last six minutes. Tonbridge meanwhile had sent on Tom Parkinson and Tom Pearson for Jon Heath and Cox for the final 15 minutes.

Hendon slowed the game down in the final few minutes, much to Tonbridge's frustration. But the Angels were probably more frustrated by their own inability to create any sort of an opening for an equaliser than the Greens' use of the clock.