Hendon had by far their toughest pre-season test so far as they travelled to Ware on Tuesday evening. The Hertfordshire side ran out 3-2 winners on a clear evening at Wodson Park.

The Greens had one new face in the squad in the form of free-scoring midfielder Dave Lawrence who was with Wealdstone and Diss Town last season.

The first half saw both sides play some very good football, Hendon particularly, but it was Ware who had the first chance but the shot flew wide of Richard Wilmot's goal. In the 15th minute Dean Green was disappointed to see his fine header rebound off the crossbar and just a minute later the same player saw his shot tipped round the post by the Ware keeper.

Ware took the lead in the 27th minute when Chris Ellerbeck stepped up to confidently convert a penalty after the referee spotted a handball in the 18-yard box. Hendon's best chances of equalising before half-time fell to Ben Hudell, whose free-kick flew narrowly over the bar, Belal Aiteouakrim who headed just wide, and Rakatahr Hudson who sent a glancing header just wide of the goal.

As is usual with pre-season games, both sides made a number of changes in the second half, but the Greens continued to create chances, both Aiteouakrim and Hudell firing wide. However, Ware extended their lead on the hour mark when Sam Berry spotted Luke Blackmore out of position in the Hendon goal and fired a fine shot just inside the post from 20 yards.

Ten minutes later Blackmore conceded a penalty when he pulled down a Ware player in the area, and former Hendon striker John Frendo stepped up and converted to make it 3-0.

In the 77th minute Hendon had a penalty of their own when Brian Haule was fouled and Green stepped up to confidently convert. The second Hendon goal came a minute from time when Jazz Rose headed home a corner.

Despite the defeat, Hendon put in a good performance with some good passing moves and certainly no harm was done to the preparations for the season ahead. Ware will also be pleased with their performance and look like a side who will do very well in Division One North.

(Report by Steve Rogers - not to be reproduced without permission from the author)