Hendon's miserable winter form continued with an eighth defeat in ten Ryman League outings as Northwood scored a pair of injury time goals to complete a double over the Greens. With the teams below them winning, Hendon are now in one of the four relegation spots and the spectre of a first-ever drop-zone finish looms large.

In the wake of the midweek defeat against Staines, Dave King and Eugene Ofori made way for James Courtnage and John Frendo, respectively the former making his debut and becoming the third different Hendon goalkeeper in three matches. It proved to be a less than successful start for the goalkeeper, brother of Hendon sub Rob, because his cataclysmic error effected lost the match.

This was a very poor game, with two teams scrapping for everything without ever producing flowing football. Chances were at a premium at both ends, but the better ones definitely fell to Northwood. All too often, they were rushed when a measured approach would probably have brought better results. Richard McDonagh and Ross Pickett came closest for Hendon, both with headers, with the former's being much the better, but Rob Bullivant was not needed to make a save on either occasion.

Just as it seemed as if Hendon were going to complete their first 45-minute clean sheet since New Year's Day, the Greens conceded a soft goal as a result of an awful goalkeeping blunder. A free-kick from 40 yards out was floated into the penalty area and Courtnage came for the ball.

As he reached it, he collided with Jason O'Connor, with the result that the ball bounced to the ground a yard away. Northwood needed no second bidding to pounce on the chance and Ben ABBEY opened the scoring with a close-range side-foot after being fed by Kris McHale. If the Greens, who had the slope in their favour in the second half, had managed to go into the dressing rooms at 0-0, who knows what it would have done for the team's confidence.

Hendon certainly couldn't raise their game significantly, although they have a little more possession. In 54th minute, Frendo tried his luck from 25 yards and with Bullivant easily gathering the thrice-bouncing ball, at least the Greens had recorded an effort on target.

Eight minutes, later, Frendo went to ground in the penalty area under a challenge from Rory Smith. It was probably a corner kick, but as the referee ruled the ball had come off Frendo, he could only have gone down as a result of a foul challenge. A few minutes later, a 25-yarder from James Burgess was going just wide when Stuart Reeks blocked it. Midway though the period, Ofori replaced Frendo, but he couldn't make the breakthrough.

Instead, Courtnage had to make a fine low save to redeem another error. This time an attempted clearance of a back-pass was mishit and James Bent hurried his shot and put it where the retreating Courtnage could make a save. A few minutes later Gavin Hart contrived to hit the inside of a post when it seemed easier to score.

In the 78th minute, Hendon were denied a penalty. A Hendon raid was coming to nothing as Luke Evans was hacking the ball clear. However, just behind him, Hart shoved René Street, two-handed, in the small of the back, sending him to the ground. The referee had already turned to run downfield so missed the penalty-area shenanigans.

Hendon's second - and last - good chance came in the 80th minute. Again it came from a cross, this time from the right wing and Pickett lost his marked. He was just wide of the far post as he rose to meet the ball and he headed it a foot the wrong side of the upright. Indicative of Hendon's struggles was the poor quality of delivery at dead ball situations, with Dave Sargent, Mark Nicholls and McDonagh all guilty of finding the first defender.

Then, in stoppage time at the end of the second half, Hendon lost possession just inside the Northwood half and when a through ball invited Abbey to run onto it, he burst clear. Courtnage came off his line, but he had no chance as ABBEY sealed the points with an emphatic finish.

"I had my half-time speech all worked out," said disappointed manager Gary Farrell, "then after the goal went in I had to change everything and try to lift the players' confidence. I thought their second goal was offside, but the assistant referee he told me Abbey had started his run from inside his own half.

"Overall, I thought we were worth a draw, but at the moment we can't even buy a win."