Hendon ended 2007 still sitting in second place in the Ryman League Premier Division but frustrated that they could not overcome a very determined Harrow Borough team, still smarting from their 5-1 Boxing Day drubbing at home by near neighbours Wealdstone. Borough, who had more shots on target, will probably be the happier with a point, though neither team really deserved more.

That said, the game was not the greatest, a combination of tigerish tackling, a heavy pitch, busy Christmas schedule and a strong, bitterly cold wind blowing down the ground, all combining to leave entertainment and clear-cut chances at a premium.

The Greens made one change to the 16 which was named for the match with Boreham Wood on Boxing Day, unused substitute Ivailo Dimitrov being replaced on the bench by Iavor Guentchev, who also did not take part.

In the first half, it was Hendon who had the wind primarily at their backs, but they didn't use it particularly well. Both Brian Haule and Wayne O'Sullivan were well shepherded by Danny Leech and Wayne Walters and they had little opportunity to show off their skills.

Borough's defending in the first half, without ever looking entirely composed, was effective enough; clearances usually evaded a green shirt on its way to a red one. When they went forward, most things went through former Bradford City and Worthing man Jamie Lawrence, though efforts from distance were struck by Bobby Highton, who chimed into attacks late and to good effect.

Richard Wilmot had already made a routine save from a long-range strike by Highton before O'Sullivan felt he was fouled as he chased a through ball from Casey Maclaren. Walters was the defender and he did very well to use his body to ease O'Sullivan out of the way and the ball went through to Josh Lennie. As the last man, it would have been very harsh for Walters to be penalised and the referee got the decision right. O'Sullivan's protests were waved away by the referee, who kept a firm grip on the game and managed to go through the whole 90 minutes without showing a card.

In the 26th minute, Wilmot made a good low save, plunging to his right to push aside another shot from Highton. This effort was dipping and, rather than trying to gather the ball to his body, Wilmot elected to put the ball wide of the target, from where Hendon were able to clear their lines.

Three minutes later, Rakatahr Hudson made a burst into the Borough box, but his attempt to match his goal in the reverse fixture on August Bank Holiday Monday foundered as a defender's boot caused Hudson's shot to lack any power and Lennie gathered easily.

The next chance fell Harrow's way and it came from a rare error by Marc Leach, who was caught in possession. The tall defender, however, was able to react and he averted the danger he had created.

Wilmot was called into further action, this time racing off his line to spread himself at the feet of Charlie Hill. The goalkeeper gathered the ball cleanly and Hill went sprawling over the him, but there was never the hint of a penalty as the ball was safely in Wilmot's hands.

When Hendon returned to the attack, Scott Shulton tried his luck from distance, but ball arrived at a perfect height for Lennie, who took a couple of steps to his left before catching the ball at head height.

Three minutes from half-time, Borough had a bit of an escape. Lubo Guentchev for once got the better of former Hendon man Gary Meakin and ran in on goal from the right wing. He cut upfield from the byeline as Lennie came out to meet him and fired a shot goalwards. The ball beat Lennie, but not the tracking Danny Leech, who was, nonetheless, very fortunate that his clearing header went straight into Lennie's midriff and not to the feet of one of four Hendon players sniffing for a rebound.

In the second half, Borough exerted total control for about 20 minutes, but failed to maintain their shooting accuracy from the first half. The strengthening wind resulted in Wilmot struggling to reach halfway with his kicks and this immediately created a further spell of pressure on the Hendon defence, from whom James Parker, Sam Collins, Sam Page and Marc Leach, supplemented by Hudson and Maclaren, all did well to keep most of the danger to the fringes of the penalty area.

Guentchev, O'Sullivan and Haule were particularly isolated, but when there was a chance to break, all to often the wrong option was taken. Nevertheless, the one time Hendon did get it right, it took a brilliant save from Lennie to keep the game scoreless.

Guentchev was the instigator and when he delivered a low cross, the ball was only half cleared and was then drilled goalwards from inside the six-yard box. With defenders blocking an angled shot it had to be straight and Lennie somehow threw up his arms to block the ball with a reaction save.

Both teams removed their No.9s in the final quarter, Jonathan Constant getting 20 minutes in place of Hill and Jamie Busby around ten taking over from Haule. Neither player really made an impact, with Hendon probably weakened more in attack than Harrow.

The last chance of the game fell to Harrow Borough, with the game already in stoppage time. Albert Adomah, who is believed to be signing for Dagenham & Redbridge in Coca-Cola League Two as soon as the January transfer window opens, had the chance to give Borough the perfect leaving present. Unfortunately for the visitors, although his shot beat the dive of Wilmot, it flew into the side netting.

"We didn’t play well today," admitted manager Gary McCann. "I warned the players that Harrow Borough would be like a wounded animal after their Boxing Day defeat and so it proved. But we didn't take advantage of the conditions when they were in our favour in the first half and we struggled to get out of our half for long periods in the second half. Their keeper made a brilliant save in the second half to keep the game scoreless, but we didn't deserve more than a draw."

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