In a pulsating Easter Monday clash at The Meadow, midtable Chesham United picked up a point at the death, denying Hendon three vital points and plunging them into another final day relegation battle.

Played in warm and sunny conditions in front of a bumper crowd - a sizeable chunk of which were noisy away fans - the game was by no means a classic, but provided plenty of entertainment and talking points.

Hendon started brightly and applied most of the early pressure, with long throws from Lee Tingey and Lee Chappell causing the Chesham backline a number of issues, Tingey himself and Romario Jonas both drawing some smart saves from Charlie Taylor in the Chesham goal.
There was an early blow for Hendon as influential defender Bayley Brown picked up an injury, Romario Jonas coming on to take his place.

After yet another assault on the Chesham area from out wide, and after a bout of pinball in the box, the ball clearly struck a Chesham hand and the referee had no qualms in awarding a clear-cut penalty. This appeared a stonewall decision, but many Chesham players were incensed by the decision and were lucky to avoid censure for dissent.

Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick calmly tucked the spot kick away giving the visiting the team the advantage within the opening fifteen minutes. This prompted the home side into a more concerted attempt to assert themselves, putting some very attractive passages of play down the flanks and creating some decent chances for the likes of Dave Pearce, Ronny Mfinda and Bradley Clayton. At the other end, the industries Ogo Obi saw a cross unintentionally drift goalward and cannon off a post, leaving time in the first half for Hendon defender James Hammond to pick up a yellow card.

The second half started as a red kite, rather than the standard non-league parakeets, circled overhead, with Chesham the quickest out of the blocks in terms of applying some meaningful pressure. This pressure yielded some tangible reward after around five minutes of the second half, the impressive Dave Pearce slotting home from close range after yet more well-executed approach play down the left wing.

The second half progressed, with both sides creating some respectable chances: a combination of goal line clearances, some smart goalkeeping and profligate finishing meaning that the stalemate was maintained. Hendon's hardworking Lewis Toomey was replaced by Connor Calcutt in the meantime.

The stalemate was broken with another Hendon penalty. Obi motored into the Chesham box and seemed to have earned a corner after being tackled cleanly. A half-hearted penalty appeal was made and the referee duly obliged. Oddly, the Chesham protests were virtually non-existent compared to the howls of outrage for the penalty incident in the first half. Hippolyte-Patrick delivered another accomplished finished from the spot, setting up a frantic final 20 minutes with Hendon hoping to cling on for a life-saving three points.

Calcutt nearly made it a two-goal advantage for the Greens but seemed to stumble slightly as he connected with a cross and the ball pinged harmlessly wide. With full time looming and Hendon fans somewhat prematurely celebrating their league survival, Chesham were awarded a penalty after Ryan Hope handled in the box. Pearce tucked the penalty away, breaking Hendon hearts in the process.

There was still time for both sides to create openings that could have won the game, but 2-2 it finished, leaving Hendon with another nail-biting finale to a season.