reens in 6th place in the Ryman League Premier Division, with just 2 points separating them from 3rd place and the 3 teams above them all having played 3 games more.

Lee Harvey was given his first-team debut in another reshuffled side. David Hook, Iain Duncan, Jon-Barrie Bates, Steve Forbes and Ricci Crace all came into the side at the expense of Gary McCann, Jamie Burgess, Noel Staiano, Paul Yates, Eugene Ofori and Kieran Gallagher. Three were named on the subs' bench, while Yates was suspended and Staiano was preparing to fly home to America to be with his family in the face of war and terrorist threats.

The difference between the two teams was that although both were missing their main striker (Martin Randall for Hendon, Lawrence Yaku for Maidenhead), the Dons' replacements were more capable. However, maybe the fact that Magpies boss Alan Devonshire received his December Manager of the Month award before the game was enough to put the mockers on his team.

Kicking downhill in the first half, Hendon started brightly. Dale Binns enjoyed his exchanges with Andy Morley and almost set up Crace in the 5th minute. In the 10th minute, a cross from Micky Woolner was fumbled by Richard Barnard, under pressure from Rob Haworth, and former Hendon star Paul Kelly came within inches of knocking his clearance into his own goal.

The ball went just over the crossbar, giving Hendon a corner. Woolner hit it deep and Steve Butler called off Forbes before powering a header that thumped into the well-positioned Barnard's chest.

Crace's pace unsettled the statuesque Magpies defenders and he was unlucky to have one shot blocked and a couple of ricochets bounce away from him. Haworth's height and his ability to hold up the ball caused Maidenhead different problems.

In the 25th minute, Haworth's bravery earned its reward. A cross from Woolner was ineffecitvely punched by Barnard directly to Binns, who had a clear shot at goal. The ball didn't settle well and Binns' powerful drive was off target, until HAWORTH dived into the ball's path and his header flew into the bottom corner past a stationary Barnard.

The better chances continued to go Hendon's way for the next few minutes, but Maidenhead began to get into the game as it moved towards half-time. However, Harvey and Butler struck up an immediate empathy and Woolner and Duncan allowed little to past them out wide.

Hendon started the second half much like they started the first, although Binns was unfortunate because he was now on the railway (Mr Hyde) side of the Jeckyll & Hyde surface. This flank resembled a skid-pan as players were forced into ski-like turns to change direction, while the opposite flank played honestly with players sure of their footing.

In the 56th minute, a misplaced backheader from Adam Durrant gave Crace a great chance to make it 2-0. Barnard was quickly off his line, but Crace having got to the ball first should have scored. Instead, at full pace and without the opportunity of taking a touch to control the ball, he side-footed the ball inches wide of the far post.

Within a minute Forbes should have done better when a pass from Haworth set him up with a clear shot at goal. His effort was, at least on target, but it lacked enough power to beat Barnard, who needed two attempts to complete the save.

Maidenhead responded by making two substitutions, newcomer Jermaine Hunter and Adrian Allen replacing Obinna Ulasi and Ibraheem Adeoye. The former did little on his home debut, while the dangerous Allen was quickly causing problems with his direct running.

In the 78th minute, Allen should have equalised. He made a fine burst down the middle, beating three Hendon defenders and suddenly found himself with a clear sight of goal. As Hook came off his line, Allen shot, but dragged his effort tamely wide of the target.

Allen was also too fast for his teammates because, when he attacked down the flank and crossed the ball, on three occasions no Maidenhead player was able to get to it.

The final 5 minutes were spent with Hendon in comfortable control, forcing a couple of corners and plenty of throw-ins within 10 yards of the Maidenhead line.

"I think Tuesday night's extra time performance played us out of our sticky patch," said delighted manager Dave Anderson. "Both teams had plenty of chances, but I think ours were better. All in all, it was our best performance since we won at Ford."