Ryman Premier Division

Hendon 0-0 Wealdstone

On paper it was just a point – but understrength Wealdstone showed the resolve of would-be champions as they drew with neighbours Hendon last night.

Denied the services of four regular starters and four other squad members, Stones resisted all Gary McCann’s Greens could throw at them for an hour, before finishing strongly in the final third of the match where they could have stolen all three points.

Pretty it was not, but the feeling afterwards among many of the 400 or so Stones faithful who made the short journey to Earlsmead was this could prove a massive point on what they hope is the road to glory.

The who’s who of absentees was an impressive one.

There was no prompter in chief with Glen Little unable to play two games in 48 hours these days.

Others on the physio’s list included Michael Malcolm (eye), Tom Hamblin (neck), Stefan Bailey (foot)) Jonny Wright (back) , Mark Bentley (ankle) and Scott McCubbin and Lewis Putman (both away).

Those problems were compounded when Scott McGleish, sick before the game, was forced off with just 31 minutes on the clock, leaving Millwall loanee Charlie Penny the thankless task of leading the line on his first full appearance for the club.

Given the absentees it was perhaps understandable Stones were on the back foot from the start, a hesitant James Hammond losing the ball from the kick off to concede a corner with just 11 seconds on the clock which fortunately came to nothing.

One of the game’s key talking points then unfolded with eight minutes played as Stones survived one of two big scares on the night.

A long punt forward saw rare hesitation from Sean Cronin and Wes Parker allowing Adam Wallace to burst through and go down in the box after nodding the ball beyond the advancing Jonathan North.

Stones’ fans held their breath as referee Daniel Leach’s whistle blew and he reached for his pocket, but the decision was a yellow for Wallace for what was deemed a dive.

Two minutes later the penalty appeals were from the other end as Penny stepped inside his marker to fire a shot which Stones’ players and fans were convinced was deflected behind off a hand, but theirs like the Hendon claims beforehand were waved away.

Tom Pett then fired into the midriff of Joe McDonnell, but these were rare attacking moments for Stones in a half controlled by the hosts’ up and at them style of play.

A flurry of Hendon corners came to nothing as the excellent Parker and Cronin, backed up by the again impressive Jerome Okimo proved equal to the unsubtle but relentless bombardment.

McGleish’s enforced withdrawal saw Jey Siva on from the bench as boss Gordon Bartlett did his best to juggle his limited options.

Forced to play left-side of midfield Siva produced an excellent cross three minutes after the break which McDonnell claimed at the feet of Carl McCluskey, but for a while at least Hendon continued to make most of the running and chances.

Only a brilliant Parker challenge denied Leon Smith a clear sight of goal, while on 53 minutes Pigden’s loss of possession allowed Wallace in on North, but Stones’ No 1 got a hand on the shot to take the pace off allowing Hammond to scramble the ball behind.

The set-piece found the head of Chris Seeby who headed narrowly over, but the pressure was mounting and a goal looked likely.

However, Stones dug in and rallied, seeing a second penalty shout waved away on the hour when McCluskey’s close-range drive was blocked behind, the visitors’ frustration compounded by the giving of a goal kick.

The tireless Elliott Godfrey and Pigden both forced saves from McDonnell, while North denied Jack Bennett at the other end as the game belatedly threatened to open up.

Pigden shot narrowly wide again as the clock ticked down, while a last scramble in the home box was halted for a foul by Penny on McDonnell.

The final whistle confirmed a goalless draw for a Stones side who had scored 17 in the previous five consecutive wins.

However, this point was just as valuable and demonstrated behind Stones quality is an iron will which will be tested again several times in the final push to come.