Hendon kicked off their league campaign at Binfield yesterday and won a tight game in difficult conditions 3-2.

With a lack of rain over the past two months, credit has to go to Binfield's ground staff for preparing a decent surface. Although hard and bouncy, it played well and made for an absorbing game of football.

The Greens took the lead against the run of play when Jordan Williams headed Dion Miftari's corner kick across the six-yard box and Radu Stefanoaica turned the loose ball home. Isaac Stones went close to extending that lead before the break but saw his left-footed piledriver rebound clear off the crossbar.

Charley Tuttle equalised with a brilliant free kick three minutes after the restart, but Stones restored Hendon's lead when he was played clear and slipped the ball beyond CJ Fubler in the Binfield goal.

The Greens then benefitted from what looked like a generous refereeing decision midway through the second half when Fubler appeared to get two hands to the ball as Stefanoaica burst through and the goalkeeper dived at the winger's feet. The official pointed to the spot and, after some delay in which the referee spoke to an assistant, cautioned a Binfield player on the halfway line, the Romanian kept his nerve to send Fubler the wrong way and extend Hendon's lead.

Any hopes of a comfortable final quarter of the game were dashed when Archie Simpson fired home with 13 minutes remaining. Despite one or two scares, Adam Fisher's men held on to secure an opening day win ahead of the midweek visit of Raynes Park Vale to SJP on Tuesday evening.