This weekend's match preview - Hendon (Away)

With just three weeks to go the battle for promotion remains as confusing as jigsaw puzzle of a snow drift

However Saturday’s games may go some way to sorting that out.

Every shot is scared, every chance is great, if a chance is wasted, Gavin gets quite irate. Every point is precious as teams queue up to snatch a late seat on the playoff charabanc. Even the likes of Billericay Town, lying 14th before the start of play, still harbour hopes of gatecrashing the party.

Hendon’s meteoric charge up the table, oxymoronic though that analogy may be, has seen Gary McCann’s playoff dreamers swiftly becoming realistic pretenders to the Isthmian League title. The Green Army has been on inexorable march since the start of February, a surprise defeat away to Peacehaven and Telscombe the precursor to a eye watering run of 13 games unbeaten since then. In addition they have reached the final of the Robert Dyas Cup and the semi final of the London Senior Cup.

The schedule has proved punishing with this weekend’s match the fourth in a week and the sixth in a row against opponents whose own aspirations are promotion. Last Saturday it was current frontrunners Maidstone United making the trip to the Green’s temporary home at Harrow Borough’s Earlsmead. In front of a crowd swelled to 759 by Kentish travellers, the Stones took an early advantage when Jay May bagged a 15th minute equaliser. However shortly before the interval former Dulwich Hamlet winger Andre da Costa found the net with a peach of a free kick to level matters. Eight minutes into the second half the Stones began to crack as Tom Mills conceded a penalty, taking the long walk of shame to the dressing rooms, his crime compounded as Sam Murphy struck home the spot kick for the match winner. The win closed the gap at the top to five points, Hendon’s two games in hand giving them a perceived advantage in the title race.

Bank Holiday Monday took Hendon to Wingate and Finchley, the Greens consolidating second spot after grinding out victory. Casey McLaren gave them an 18th minute open before Murphy dispatched another penalty. Though David Knight made for nervous second half after pulling one back early on after the restart Hendon held on to set themselves up for Thursday night trip to Margate.

What transpired at Hartsdown Park that evening beggared belief as Margate and Hendon shared a mind boggling eight goals in a dingdong battle that swung first one way then the other then back again. However though the point all but guaranteed both sides home advantage in the forthcoming playoff semifinals, in the race for the title the pendulum had swung firmly back in the direction of Maidstone United. Three times Hendon took the lead, three times the Gate pegged them back. Murphy’s streak continued as his free kick gave Hendon an early lead before Ryan Moss levelled, only for Elliott Braithwaite’s header meant the visitors led at the break. Four minutes into the second half Ryan James, twice late of this parish, restored parity only for Charlie Wassmer’s own to put Hendon ahead again. The teams were all square at 3-3 when James scored again in the 71st minute before Moss put Margate in front for the first time with eight minutes left. However da Costa threw Hendon a lifeline as his free kick found the back of the net with five minutes to go.

36 hours on from that titanic battle and McCann’s must put on their boots once more.

This weekend’s game kicks off at 3pm at Harrow Borough FC, Earlsmead, Carlyon Avenue, Harrow, Middlesex, HA2 8SS. Directions to the ground can be found here

Match Day Admission Prices

• Adult: £10
• Senior Citizen: £5
• Student (with valid NUS): £5
• Under 16: £1