Hendon pushed the self-destruct button at Harrow Borough on Saturday afternoon and lost vital ground in their battle to avoid relegation. The 4–2 defeat leaves them in the bottom two, though only seven points away from 14th.

Injuries and suspensions meant that the Greens’ starting line-up all-but picked itself with Brian Haule, Peter Dean and Sam Collins coming in for Kevin Maclaren, Lubo Guentchev and Glenn Garner, with the latter two taking places on the bench.

A sponsorship deal with Ryman for Comic Relief meant that the match was played – at least in the first half – with red footballs, but it was red faces for the Hendon defence in just the third minute when James Parker failed to deal with a ball from the left and Gary NOEL squeezed a shot past William Viner from an acute angle.

Parker atoned for his error within three minutes. The first chance fell to Dean, who was flattened by Andray Baptiste as he tried to poke the ball past him. However, as the goalkeeper first got a touch on the ball before there was contact a corner was awarded.

Collins curled in the corner to the near post, but it was headed half away by Ryan Watts. Marc Leach headed the ball back towards goal and PARKER neatly deflected the ball away from Baptiste just under the crossbar.

Hendon seemed to struggle to get the garish ball under control, its bounce appearing to be exaggerated, especially when it went towards the clubhouse goal. It was, it should be said, the same for both teams though and Harrow didn’t seem to have the problems Hendon players encountered as often.

Borough looked the more dangerous attacking force and Mark Kirby and Leach both made timely interventions as the speedy Dwayne Clarke and Noel made breaks. At the other end, a fine low cross from Collins was sliced inches over his own bar by Clarke. The corner, however, came to nothing.

In the 28th minute, Leach was caught out by a ball from Dean Fenton. He tried to clear the ball with his left foot, but it bounced higher than he expected and was forced to try and chest it down before kicking it. He failed to complete both parts and within an instant, the ball was at NOEL’s feet and with only Viner to beat, he made no mistake.

Harrow were buoyed by the second gift and ended the first half in control. Typical of the sort of day Hendon were having was shown in the 38th minute when a powerful drive from Lee O’Leary struck Danny Dyer amidships, the latter player having no chance of getting out of the way.

Before the second half started both teams made changes, Hendon replacing Leach with Garner and Borough taking off Danny McGonigle and bringing on Kwasi Frempong. Hendon, additionally reshuffled their formation, dropping James Burgess into a defensive position and Dean into midfield, while Dyer was more advanced.

Within five minutes of the restart Hendon were denied a penalty as Tobi Jinadu clattered into the back of Brian Haule as the striker controlled the ball, both referee and assistant being unsighted. It must be said, there was little complaint from the Dons.

Howeer, five minutes later, Hendon drew level. Good work from Collins saw him make space for a cross. It was perfectly delivered towards the penalty spot and Jamie BUSBY dived full length to head the ball into the unguarded net at the near post, Baptiste having made an injudicious decision in coming off his line from the middle of the goal.

Given a second lifeline, Hendon really should have taken confidence from this and tried to exert control. Instead, it was Harrow who made the running for almost all of the last 35 minutes.

In the 59th minute, Borough should have retaken the lead when the Hendon defence was torn to shreds. Dorian Smith had what seemed the simple task of guiding the ball into the net, but Viner made a brilliant save pushing the ball just wide of the right post.

Of the four goals Hendon conceded, the third was probably the most disappointing. It started with the Greens in possession, just inside the Harrow half. A throw from Collins should have reached Busby ten yards away.

He was beaten to the ball by Frempong, who quickly knocked the ball into the Hendon half, where he, Clarke and Noel were the only three players. Clarke passed to Frempong, who sent the ball to NOEL and he had another tap-in for his hat-trick.

From here on, Hendon’s passing became even more desperate – in terms of need and accuracy – while the ever-dangerous Noel was looking to get behind the back of the visitors’ rearguard at every opportunity.

Borough then had a penalty claim turned down when Clarke was felled in the penalty area. The referee decided that there was simulation and the striker was shown a yellow card. Within five minutes, Clarke was caught narrowly offside and his body language suggested he was about the kick the ball goalwards – an action that would surely have curtailed his afternoon’s work – but he stopped himself.

Hendon, meanwhile, sent on Sam Byfield for Burgess and went to an even more attacking formation. The downside to this was that there were be more holes in the defence and Noel should have scored his fourth in the 86th minute when he was clean through. This time he hit the foot of the right post and the ball bounced away to safety.

He was not to be denied, however, as Dyer played the ball 15 yards behind his intended target of Glenn Garner. With Garner unable to reach the ball, a simple ball forward saw Harrow clear again. When the ball was rolled across the 18-yard-box, there was NOEL and he made no mistake in beating the hopelessly exposed Viner.

Manager Gary McCann said, “We played our part in the game. I don’t think we defended as well as them and our passing was not as good as it has been. Sometimes there are games when the way that we play doesn’t come off.”

(Report by David Ballheimer, not to be reproduced without author's prior permission)