Hendon clung onto top spot in the Ryman League Premier Division mainly because none of their closest challengers were playing, but a second disappointing draw, this time 1-1 at home to Harlow Town, was notable for the Green's disappointing performance.

Richard Wilmot's injury gave Luke Blackmore the chance to make his first Ryman League staff, while Jamie Busby returned to the line-up following his midweek suspension. He took the place of Daniel Dyer who dropped to the bench in a reshuffled formation. Also on the bench was newcomer Polish-born striker Gondzia Arkadiusz.

Harlow, back in the top flight after a number of years, made much the better start and Blackmore had to go down low to save a shot from James Bunn. The goalkeeper then had to react quickly to block Dean Williams as he ran onto an astute through ball from Clark Akers.

Hendon didn't create anything of note for half an hour, indeed the first shot on target didn’t arrive until the 32nd minute. Once they had started making inroads into the Harlow defence, the Greens started to take control. Belal Aiteouakrim and Brian Haule both shot narrowly wide, while a free-kick from Wayne O'Sullivan dipped just too late.

How free-kicks from around the penalty area should be taken was shown by Akers in the last minute of the first half. He was just beyond the angle of the penalty area when he struck the ball but it was a perfect strike. The ball kissed the inside of the far post, just below its angle with the crossbar and left Blackmore without a hope of making a save.

Harlow, with the narrow advantage, were determined to hold onto it and their defending, if not totally composed, was utterly committed and Hendon struggled to make inroads. A few half-chances came and went, but there was nothing clear cut. It was almost as if Hendon were trying too hard, and the wrong option was taken too many times.

A double change was made midway through the second half, Arkadiusz and Dyer replacing Dean Green and Brian Haule, and the former's first contribution was a spectacular, if vain, dive to reach an overstruck right wing cross. Arkadiusz was probably half a metre from making a spectacular start to his Hendon career.

Harlow were happy to soak up the pressure, then attack on the counter. From a couple of these raids, Blackmore made two excellent saves, denying first Bunn then substitute Joe Watson.

It looked as if Hendon were going to suffer a second defeat of the League season as the game moved into its latter stages until, out of almost nothing, they found an equaliser.

There were just three minutes of stoppage time remaining when Harlow failed to deal with a ball into the penalty area. It was knocked back out of the box, but only just beyond the edge of the box, right where Dyer was waiting. His low right-foot drive flew past Dave Hogan and ended in the side-netting just inside the far post.

In the seven minutes of stoppage time, both Hogan and Blackmore made saves, but a draw was the very most Hendon deserved. “We were very flat today,” said manager Gary McCann. “I can’t explain it, but there wasn’t one player who had a really good game today. It feels like we lost, so I must be happy with a point.”

(Report by David Ballheimer - not to be reproduced in any form without the author's agreement)