Hendon guaranteed their best finish in the Isthmian League for 41 years when they played out a goalless draw with Grays Athletic at Aveley FC's Millfield on Saturday. They also achieved their highest-ever three-points-for-a-win-era total of 89, beating the 1974 total of 88 (though that was from 42 games - and in 1973, Hendon's 74 points would have equated to 108 a year later).

The Greens' unbeaten run reached an amazing 20 matches, but it came at some cost, with both Tony Taggart and Sam Murphy going off injured in the first half and three others finishing the game carrying injuries.

Both teams made three changes for their second encounter in four days, Hendon's alterations saw recalls for Taggart, Sam Flegg and Leon Smith, with Charlie Goode unavailable, Peter Dean injured and Final hero Andre Da Costa a victim of the pitch and weather conditions, so - like Dean - a substitute. For Grays, Lamar Joseph-Johnson, Nathan Ferguson and Harry Agombar made way for Conor Gough, James Stevens and Corey Davidson, respectively.

After the exhilarating entertainment of Wednesday night's Robert Dyas League Cup Final on Whyteleafe's 3G pitch, this match was a damp squib by comparison. There were a number of factors, not the least of which was the importance of this match to both teams in terms of final placings in the Ryman League Premier Division.

Although they couldn't know it, the stalemate at Dulwich Hamlet meant that Maidstone United's lead might have been down to four points with a Hendon victory. On the other hand, a Grays victory would put them in the last playoff position, albeit narrowly.

The other factors were completely beyond the players' responsibility. A combination of rock-hard and very bumpy pitch, together with a strong, swirling wind made control for all of the players very difficult. Lastly, after their efforts of a few days earlier, most of the players were exhausted.

In the first half, neither team created much in the way of chances. Davidson had Grays' best effort, heading narrowly wide after 28 minutes. By this stage, Hendon had already been forced to replace Taggart with Max McCann. The full-back's brave attempt to play after missing a number of weeks out with a calf problem proved too rash, and he cut a disconsolate figure as limped away.

Kezie Ibe, Aaron Morgan and Smith all had the odd moment, but the Grays defence, shut them out very effectively before they could reach the danger area. It was the same at the other end where Flegg and Elliott Brathwaite dominated Dumebi Dumaka and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson. In front of the Hendon back four, Kevin Maclaren, James Fisher and McCann - when Fisher took over at full-back - were comfortably on top.

In fact it was Maclaren who had Hendon's first shot on target, late in the half. A defender's block ensured Gough had an easy catch as the ball floated towards him.

In first-half stoppage time, Davidson went down with a recurrence of the injury that had kept him out for the previous two or three weeks and he went off. As this was happening, Sam Murphy also went down, the victim of a muscle injury and he looked more distraught than both Davidson and Taggart had as he was led up to the dressing room.

Neither manager waited for half-time to make changes, so, unusually, two minutes into added time, almost simultaneously, Ferguson replaced Davidson and Da Costa came on for Murphy.

Five minutes into the second half, Hendon were awarded a free-kick when Sean Cronin brought down Morgan. The ball was placed two yards beyond the "D" of the Grays penalty area, perfect range for Da Costa.

His strike was, once again perfect. From the side, it looked as if Gough would have been able to reach the ball, but those facing goal, on and off the pitch were certain the goalkeeper was beaten. It made the anticipation and diving clearance by Cronin even better, this header probably even more important than his late League Cup Final goal.

That said, Cronin later powered a header goalwards from a Grays corner, but Maclaren perfectly positioned on the goalline, effected a vital clearance. Joao Carlos gave fans in the stand a moment of elation when he fired into the net. Unfortunately for those in blue, the netting involved was the outside of the side netting so it resulted in a Hendon goal-kick.

Ben McNamara was less busy than he had been on Tuesday night, but he still made a good fingertip save when Jay Siva's free-kick almost floated into the top corner. It was a rare effort on target as attempts by Dumaka, Kenny Beaney and Jay Leader all failed to make the goalkeeper work.

Hendon made their last change in the 81st minute, a tactical one that saw Roman Michael-Percil replace Morgan. He soon had a chance to become a hero when Gough and Siva failed to communicate when the goalkeeper threw the ball out. Although Michael-Percil just about won the ball, Siva recovered enough to deny the substitute a scoring opportunity.

The next Grays error should have sealed a Hendon victory. Leader lost the ball and it was picked up by Smith who ran straight at goal, down the inside-left channel. Gough came off his line but instead of trying to beat the goalkeeper, Smith elected to pass to across the six-yard-box to Ibe.

Cronin, once again intervened, but this time his first touch almost knocked the ball over his own line. The ball was not travelling quickly and although he stumbled, Cronin was still able to clear the ball for a corner, before Ibe could get a touch.

Glen Little was given the last few minutes for Grays and he came close to snatching a winner from a free-kick just outside the Hendon penalty area. The referee allowed him to take the kick quickly, but McNamara flung himself low to his left to palm the ball aside for a corner.

As with so many of the set pieces from the quadrant, the wind ensured no one could reach it as it landed on the roof of the net. It rather summed up the afternoon.