Hendon returned to the top of the Ryman League Premier Division, albeit for three hours, on Boxing Day as they enjoyed a 2-1 victory at Meadow Park, Boreham Wood. The Greens were good value for the three points, but they had to endure some nervous moments late on.

The return of James Parker to the defence meant that Jamie Busby dropped to the sub' bench. On the injury front, it was good to see Davis Haule and Belal Aiteouakrim - both out of action since mid-November - participating in the pre-match warm-up.

In the second minute, a left-wing free-kick eluded all attempts to make contact and Noel Imber was grateful to make a save. Two minutes later, however, the Woods goalkeeper was left hopelessly exposed as the Greens took the lead.

A through ball from Lubo Guentchev, ripped open the heart of the Boreham Wood defence and Wayne O'Sullivan timed his run to perfection. Imber came off his line to narrow the angle, but O'Sullivan's perfectly placed shot flew low by him and ended up just inside the far post.

It was the perfect start to the game, and it came at almost the same time as the Greens took the lead in the same fixture last season - a match Hendon would lose 3-2. This time, as Wood were well aware, there was no flattery to deceive and they knew they had their work cut out even to get back into the match.

Their tactics used the conditions very well because the low sun caused Richard Wilmot significant problems and long diagonal balls, especially from the left wing and with Eliot Onochie applying pressure, were dealt with very uncomfortably.

In the 11th minute, Wood should have been reduced to ten men when, following a midair heading duel between Rakatahr Hudson and Ryan Moran, the Boreham Wood No. 5 punched Hudson in the back of the head. Hudson, to his credit, certainly didn't over-react, merely ruefully rubbing the back of his head as if dismayed that a fellow player should act in that manner. The referee saw clearly saw something, judging by the long lecture he gave Moran, but the only sanction was a free-kick.

A Tommy Williams shot from 20 yards brought Wilmot to his knees in making the save and the big goalkeeper was pleased to see Paull Abbott's free-kick go under the Hendon defensive wall but close enough to him for a comfortable save to be made. The best chance Wood created in the first half saw Onochie break free of Sam Page, but his shot, although fierce, was too close to Wilmot and at a perfect height for the goalkeeper to catch the ball.

At the other end, O'Sullivan, Guentchev and Brian Haule were constant thorns in the Boreham Wood side. O'Sullivan was pulled down just outside the penalty area by Yemi Atta, but the defender was saved by an offside flag that rendered his professional foul moot. A few minutes earlier, Imber had rescued Atta when O'Sullivan got the better of him, but the striker could not get enough power from a prone position to beat the goalkeeper.

At free-kicks, Sam Collins whistled a drive from the right side inches past the far post, though Imber may have had it covered. He was but a passenger when, in the 38th minute, Guentchev bent a free-kick from level with the right post. The ball went over the wall but missed the post by a foot as Imber guarded the opposite upright.

Early in the second half an off-target effort from Abbott offered Hendon a warning. But it was not heeded when, in the 53rd minute, he stood off a free-kick and when the ball was passed to him, Abbott drilled the ball into the top right corner of the net, despite Wilmot getting a hand to it.

This was the worst thing Boreham Wood could have done, because it upset Hendon and the Greens needed only four minutes to restore their advantage. The goal was a magnificent team move, involving half a dozen players.

It started with a ball from Wilmot which Hudson did well to control. He found Sam Page, who passed to Haule near the halfway line. Haule beat a player before giving a short pass to Scott Shulton.

The youngster spread play to the opposite wing where the ball eluded Lubo Guentchev, but not Collins, whose delivery into the penalty area - in terms of accuracy, height and weight - could not have been surpassed by an international talent such as Bontcho Guentchev. The cross begged for a finish and Haule supplied it, arriving at full speed and dispatching the ball just inside the far post. A superb finish to a sublime move and cross.

O'Sullivan, Guentchev, Haule, Collins and Marc Leach all could have extended the Hendon lead, but they found Imber and Boreham Wood captain Marvin Samuel in fine form. The goalkeeper produced three excellent saves, none better than his flying block of a goalbound header from Haule.

A midfield confrontation, in front of the two teams' benches, led to four players being cautioned, including Moran. Imber was surprised his centre half stayed on the field, believing him to have been cautioned for his clash with Hudson in the first half.

As Wood searched desperately for a second equaliser, their crossing began to lose its danger and Wilmot was able to claim three high balls almost without pressure. Chris Bangura - on as a second-half substitute, missed with a clear header, Chris Watters mishit a shot with the target gaping and then Abbott drilled a ball that four teammates tried unsuccessfully to reach as it flew inches beyond the far post.

"Once again, I was delighted with the heart and commitment my team showed," said manager Gary McCann. "I thought we played very well throughout the game, but didn't put them away. If we had taken some of those chances in the second half, we wouldn't have been living on our nerves in the final few minutes."

(Report By David Ballheimer - not to be reproduced without permission from the author)