Hendon belied their league position on Wednesday night at Northwood's Chestnut Avenue ground as they demolished Harrow Borough 7-0 to move off the bottom of the table. It should be said that whilst Harrow had two men sent off in the game, Hendon's performance was thoroughly professional, particularly in the second half. The Greens had six different scorers in the game, two of whom scored their first senior goal for the club.

Gary McCann made three changes to the starting line up. The returning Lee O'Leary returned to the club and replaced Charlie Mapes, while Lubomir Guentchev replaced Mark Kirby and Richard Wilmot replaced Berkley Lawrencin in goal. Kirby and Mapes both dropped to the bench.

The game started quietly with little action of note happening in the first quarter of an hour. However in the 18th minute Hendon shook things up by taking the lead with a fine goal volleyed home by Harry Hunt, after his strike partner Brian Haule set him up.

Just four minutes later Jamie Busby broke into the box and after lifting the ball past the onrushing Gary Ross, he was brought down by the Harrow keeper. The referee watched to see where the ball was going and seeing it running wide of goal, he awarded a penalty kick and dismissed Ross for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

It took three minutes for Harrow to sort themselves out as they sacrificed Kwasi Frempong for midfielder Daniel McGonigle, who took over in goal, Harrow not having named a specialist keeper on the bench. Haule stepped up to take the penalty and sent McGonigle the wrong way.

Hendon's best chance in the remainder of the half was a shot from distance by Marc Leach that flew narrowly over the bar. Meanwhile at the other end, Harrow came close but Bobby Highton's shot flew wide of Wilmot's goal.

Two minutes into the second half, Harrow skipper Wayne Walters was booked for a late challenge on Hunt and in the 50th minute Walters brought Hunt down again while the striker was headed for goal. For his pains Walters was shown a second yellow card, reducing Harrow to nine men.

Lee O'Leary stepped up to take the free-kick and it flew into the net with a nasty deflection off Ryan Watts giving the Greens a three goal lead. Supporters around the ground felt at the time that this was the goal that secured the points for Hendon. However, the Greens were determined to improve their goal difference and they created numerous chances throughout the remainder of the game. On the hour mark Hunt forced an excellent save by McGonigle low down by his right hand post.

With two thirds of the game gone, was a moment of history. In the 67th minute, the Dons passed the ball through the middle of the Harrow defence, with it eventually falling to the feet of captain for the night James Burgess. The utility player just beat McGonigle to the ball to lift it into the net. It was his first goal for the club in his 231st appearance, six and a half years after he made his first team debut against Cambridge City in the FA Trophy, and it was celebrated wildly by players and supporters alike.

Following the goal, Glenn Garner replaced Haule, and within five minutes he also scored his first senior goal for the club. Receiving the ball ten yards from goal, Garner fired off a shot on the turn that flew into the net giving McGonigle no chance. The 23 year old scored his first goal rather quicker than Burgess; the strike coming in just his 6th appearance.

Charlie Mapes replaced Jamie Busby as the players resumed their places for the restart, and within two minutes he too was on the scoresheet. Hunt broke clear and tried to lift the ball over the advancing McGonigle. The temporary keeper knocked the ball into the air but towards the goal and as he tried to make a desperate grab at it, Mapes touched the ball into the net.

Rakatahr Hudson was then replaced by Frank Wilson as Hendon looked to consolidate their lead and ten minutes from time the final goal of the night came. Garner sent the ball out to the right wing to Lubomir Guentchev. The young Bulgarian broke into the box and once he reached the by-line he unselfishly crossed the ball for Hunt to score his second goal of the evening.

The result left the Greens moving two places up the table into 20th position with Harrow replacing them at the bottom of the table.

(Report by Steve Rogers, not to be reproduced without author's prior permission)