Hendon moved up to second position in the Ryman League Premier Division with a hard-fought, but ultimately deserved 2-1 victory over Eastleigh at a baking Claremont Road on Saturday afternoon.

Business commitments and injury meant that the regular back-three was denied the services of Rene Street and Mark Burgess, respectively. It meant a first start for Martin Vrhovski and recall for Danny Butler.

It was the visitors who started the brighter and they had the first chance, after nine minutes. There didn't seem much on when a long diagonal ball from Christar Warren caught out the Hendon defence and Dave King had to scamper off his line. James Stokoe tried a lob but he didn't quite have the accuracy and the ball bounced a couple of feet wide of the post.

A minute later, Hendon had their first opening. A shot from Vrhovski struck the outside of the left upright with goalkeeper Colin Matthews well-beaten. However, as Danny Woods was guarding the post there wasn't too much danger.

Another long diagonal ball soon had the Hendon defence in trouble and this time King did well to chest the ball away from danger and covering defenders ensured that the goal was not completely unguarded.

But it was no surprise when Eastleigh took a 27th-minute lead. Hendon lost possession in midfield and the ball was quickly pushed down the left wing, where Warren had a clear run.

He cut inside and delivered a superb low cross which was met on the half-volley by the prolific Andy FORBES. The striker, who scored more than 70 times for Winchester City last season added to his tally this term with a clinical finish.

It took Hendon all of 60 seconds to draw level. A short pass to Eugene Ofori on the half-way line saw the striker in space. He turned and beat one defender to set up a clear run on goal. Matthews came off his line, but his angles weren't quite right, judging by the space OFORI had to slot the ball inside the giant goalkeeper's right post.

From the kick-off, Woods noticed King warning his defence against displaying the same lack of concentration that had just cost Eastleigh. He reacted by trying an audacious lob from the half-way line. King realised the danger, turned back and raced towards his goal-line and with perfect timing, albeit at full stretch, flicked the ball over his crossbar.

Just before half-time, John Frendo showed good strength and technique in dispossessing Danny Rofe as he tried to shield a ball out for an Eastleigh goal-kick. Frendo dribbled the ball into the penalty area but could not get off a shot because Rofe bundled into him, sending him to the ground. Referee John Wynne had a long look at the incident before deciding there was no foul.

If Eastleigh had just shaded the first half, there is no doubt they were distinctly second best after the interval. Hendon had already had to replace the injured Will Davies with Richard McDonagh, but the defence, well marshalled by Dave Nolan barely missed a beat. Indeed most of the action was at the other end of the pitch.

Reckless challenges by Sam Wyeth and Lee Bright saw them join Woods in the referee's notebook as Eastleigh began to lose a little composure. But that same composure was lacking as Frendo, Wayne Carter, Ofori and Mark Nicholls all spurned openings of variable ease.

Mr Wynne did not take long to level the caution count, showing yellow cards to Butler, dissent, James Burgess, a foul, and Nicholls, most unluckily as appeared to slip over as he went into a challenge.

With 15 minutes of normal time to go, 18-year-old former Watford junior and Northwood defender Scott Williams came on for Vrhovski and immediately impressed with neat control and a turn of foot, but this was against distinctly tiring opposition.

Tiredness was probably at the core of the Hendon winner. In the 80th minute, Rofe seemed to have plenty of time to deal with a short pass towards him.

Nicholls came to make a nuisance of himself and could barely believe his good fortune as Rofe slipped attempting a 20-yard backpass to Matthews. The former Chelsea striker needed no second bidding to run in on goal. Matthews tried to narrow the angle, but NICHOLLS jinked his hips and side-footed the ball into the left corner.

Eastleigh tried to come back in the dying minutes and did force a succession of free-kicks and corners. However, apart from one fumble by King from a shot by Lewis Hunt, the Greens weren't too troubled. In any case, King recovered quickly enough to deny Forbes the chance to grab an equaliser.

"Sides are beginning to give us some respect," said a happy if hoarse manager Tony Choules, who had missed Thursday's training session with a cold. "We had to work very hard today, but we have come away with a victory and it is great that we are now second in the table."