Hendon picked up a massively important victory over Basingstoke Town at Silver Jubilee Park on Saturday. It moved them three points clear of the drop zone and, such is the congestion at the foot of the table - already-relegated Staines excepted - a similar margin from mid-table.

There was one change to the starting line-up, albeit with a formation reshuffle, as Luke Tingey returned from suspension to replace Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick, who was not risked for the full 90 minutes nursing a minor muscle strain.

How different the game would have been if, after 40 seconds, Sam Smart had been able to score when clean through on goal. Andrew McCorkell came off his line, got his angles absolutely right and made a good save with his legs.

Less than two minutes later, it should have been Hendon celebrating an early goal. An attack down the left wing resulted in a cross which landed at Bayley Brown's feet.

Unfortunately, his first touch was not quite as good as it could have been and he lost a fraction of a second before the ball was in a position to be struck. It was just long enough for Tom McGill to get into position and he made the save with his legs.

The game settled down a bit after the early excitement and it was not until midway through the half that another chance came. It was to Smart, who again got clear of the Hendon defence, but he was again denied by a good save from McCorkell.

Just past the half-hour mark, Hendon forced a corner, from which Lewis Toomey headed goalwards. It took an excellent save from McGill to keep the ball out, but he was not so fortunate from the set piece which followed.

The ball was curled beyond the far post, where Charlie SMITH arrived unchallenged. His drive was probably going to creep just inside the opposite post, but Ben Wright, almost on the goal-line could do nothing more than help the ball over the line.

Kraig Noel-McLeod showed great strength and not a little skill as Basingstoke looked for an immediate response. Hendon’s defending was not the best, it must be said, but when the ball reached Sam Deadford, he lofted it over the crossbar from 10 yards out.

Five minutes later, Dean Stow tried a shot from an acute angle and the ball went just beyond the far post. His reaction suggested he felt he should have done better and at least forced McCorkell to make a save.

As the half moved into stoppage time, Hendon should have doubled their advantage. Matty Harriott found himself with an unchallenged run towards McGill but, like Stow a few minutes earlier, he failed to hit target, the ball rolling just wide of the far post.

Although the wind and slope were both in Basingstoke's favour in the second half, for more than 30 minutes, they did almost nothing in attacking terms. Defensively they did just enough to keep themselves in the game.

Six minutes after the resumption, Toomey lost his marker and had a free header from 10 yards as a left-wing cross reached him. He attempted a glancing header, but the ball went wide of the far post.

After 55 minutes, the Basingstoke defence showed great bravery in denying Hendon a second goal. There were three or four shooting opportunities, but every one was blocked by a boot or body and no Greens player could apply the final, definitive touch. A minute later, Brown had another chance, but McGill made a good save.

Just before the hour mark, both teams made changes, Connor Calcutt replacing Toomey for Hendon and Adam Harris coming on for Jim Orvis as Basingstoke looked to a more attacking formation.

Basingstoke finally created a good chance, but Wright, with time and space to pick his spot, made a real hash of the opportunity. He swung rather lazily at the ball and sent it high and wide of the goal.

Hendon then had three good moments in the Basingstoke penalty area. First a deep cross-come-shot from Jacob Gardiner-Smith beat everyone and crashed off the angle of post and crossbar before being hacked away to safety by a Basingstoke boot.

From a free-kick Calcutt lost his marker, but his header flew just wide of the goal. Harriott then saw his goalbound shot deflected away for a corner by Joe Harcutt.

The game changed when Zidan Akers took over from Smart. His pace and direct running caused Lee Chappell a few problems, but Romario Jonas made a number of key interventions.

One moment of defensive indecision nearly led to an equaliser, but Deadfield, seeing an unguarded goal, tried to roll the ball towards the target. There was not enough pace and Jonas reached the ball as it crossed into the six-yard box.

When Harriott went off to be replaced by Howard Hall, Hendon began to play a lot deeper and Ryan Hope became even more withdrawn and it allowed Basingstoke to send more men forward.

McCorkell came into his own making a number of good saves, most notably from Sam Argent. For all of Akers fine attacking raids, the ball into the penalty area or the resulting shot didn't find their targets and although it was a very nervous period for the Greens, on and around the pitch, the defence held firm.

To waste a little time, Ogo Obi took over from Smith, and Calcutt made a break that went straight to the corner flag as opposed to the Basingstoke goal. This wasted another 30 or so seconds and after four additional minutes, the final whistle signalled the first Hendon home win for three months.

"Relief is my main thought," said manager Jimmy Grey after the match. "I thought we created plenty of chances.

"There were little bits I didn’t like, but there was lots I did like.

"They came back into the game at the end and we defended really well.

"I am so pleased for the fans."