Hendon got their 2015–16 preseason campaign off to a winning start with a 4-1 defeat of Northwood at Silver Jubilee Park. On a lovely lunchtime, the Greens put out two separate teams - goalkeeper apart - in the two halves.

The first 45 minutes were dominated by the Greens, but they didn't accept the three or four good chances that came their way, Adam Lawrence making a couple of decent interventions, most notably when he forced Leon Smith to shoot wide when a defensive error gifted him the opportunity.

However, at the other end, Melvin Minter more than excelled himself with three saves. Max Holland caused Hendon plenty of problems with his pace and trickery down the Woods left flank and, when he got himself into the penalty area, he was even more dangerous.

Minter was very quick off his line to block a Holland effort after 18 minutes and he did even better when spreading himself well to deny Dave Lawrence six minutes later. Just before the break Holland was again left cursing his luck as the goalkeeper beat him in another one-on-one situation.

After the break, Hendon going up the hill, Hendon looked more composed going forward, and more solid in midfield, where former players Scott Shulton and Jamie Busby made notable contributions.

That said, it was Northwood who took the lead in the 50th minute. A good raid down their right wing saw a low cross elude the Hendon defence and Holland made no mistake with a simple finish from eight yards.

The Greens' response was rapid. Andre Da Costa worked himself into space and when Kezie Ibe played a short pass to him, he stepped by a defender's lunge and slipped the ball past Adam Lawrence.

Da Costa got his second of the afternoon midway through the period, this time from the penalty spot. Shulton worked his way into the penalty area, at which point a defender bundled him over. The spot-kick was unstoppable, powerful, low and into the corner.

From here on, Hendon were in control. Aaron Morgan was proving difficult to stop and the Woods' defenders had fits trying to get the ball off Ibe. With 20 minutes remaining, the pair worked to get and the ball ended up at Da Costa's feet.

Noted for his powerful shooting, Da Costa could not have struck this ball more softly. Having stepped past the goalkeeper the nonchalant final touch, from four yards out, barely had the pace to cross the line - but no defender was remotely near enough to make an intervention.

Northwood did come close to getting a second goal with 10 minutes to go. George Nicholas was unmarked in the middle of the pitch, 20 metres out, when he controlled the ball, steadied himself and let fly.

His powerful drive may have taken a slight deflection and Minter might have got a fingertip on it. Either way, the ball crashed off the goal frame and bounced Hendon's way.

Within a minute or so, Morgan showed how it should be done. Taking a short pass he let the ball sit up and smashed it inches inside the upright, giving Adam Lawrence no chance.