This may not have been the result that the supporters coveted, but at the end of the season it may be a decisive point gain. It did help to retain our play-off place on a superior goal difference, but for how long? This was the tenth meeting between the two clubs stretching back to the 1973/74 and this was only the second time that we had avoided defeat. Hendon are technically our nemesis, so a point gained was in effect a good outcome.

The Martyrs had to thank Jaimie Cogman for making two point blank saves with his body before Dan Mazsuzaka scored from very close range in the 25th minute, when the ball delivered into the penalty area from a corner dropped conveniently at his feet.

The sliding doors moment in the game came just six minutes later when Frazer Thomas was fouled as he drove towards the by-line. It was on-loan Norwich City goalkeeper Dylan Berry who saved the resulting penalty kick diving low to his right to deny Ricardo Rees, which at that moment subdued the atmosphere.

Hendon had been quite cynical in their approach to the game which had worked to their favour in the opening forty five minutes.

Both Frazer Thomas, who broke through and saw his shot narrowly miss the outside of the post, and Lewys Twamley whose close range effort was stopped by Berry’s long legs, prior to some controversy surrounded the eventual equalising goal that was forced home from close range by Ricardo Rees with ten minutes of normal time remaining. The referee appeared to delay awarding the goal momentarily until he blew his whistle to indicate that the ball had in fact crossed the line.

The game ended in a nervous draw as both side continued to show their attacking intent in the final stages.