Wealdstone 2 Hendon 1 Wealdstone are developing a knack of producing episodes of high drama at Grosvenor Vale.

Not content with putting on a master-class in the 6-0 drubbing of local rivals Harrow Borough, Gordon Bartlett's men were architects of more fist-pumping action on Saturday to register their first come-from-behind league win this season.

Stones looked out of sorts in their first match back on home soil since that derby day demolition.

To their credit, Hendon more than played their part in this fascinating derby clash. They made a mockery of their lowly league position with some neat, intricate football that saw them take a deserved lead via James Busby.

However, the hosts emerged for the second half with more urgency and desire but still could not find a way through.

Cue the drama. Greg Ngoyi replaced injured defender Darren Locke and took his place in attack alongside Davis Haule with skipper James Gray slotting back into his preferred central defensive role.

One of Ngoyi's first tasks was to convert a penalty after Danny Spendlove was hacked down, yet the striker's timid spot kick was easily saved by Hendon goalkeeper William Viner, who also did well to gather as Ngoyi and his teammates dithered on the follow up.

However, the diminutive forward atoned for his penalty woe by playing a part in Ryan Ashe's equaliser before brilliantly heading home what turned out to be the winner.

That was confirmed in no small part to another missed penalty. Davis Haule was adjudged to have fouled Stones old boy Lee O'Leary in the box, giving his younger brother Brian the chance to put Hendon back on level terms.

However, after a spot of gamesmanship by Stones keeper Sean Thomas, who delayed proceedings by tying up his bootlaces, Haule drove his kick low and hard, but Thomas guessed right and saved his second successive penalty - and his side's skin.

Ngoyi then received his marching orders for a reckless and unneccessary challenge on Hendon replacement Sam Collins, and he was soon followed by former Stone James Burgess, who was guilty of a crude tackle on Lee Chappell.

"We trained well on Thursday so to go from that to how we played in the first half on Saturday was very disappointing," said Stones boss Gordon Bartlett. "Weweren't at the races. We looked lethargic and gave Hendon too much room. It could have been worse than 1-0 at half time and I told the lads that in the dressing room.

"Hendon did not have that many clear cut chances but the warning signs were there.

"Our energy levels were better in the second half, there was more urgency about us. We moved the ball a lot quicker and took a stranglehold on the game. Once we scored the momentum swung in our favour."

"If we had lost Hendon would have been four points behind us," he continued. "Instead we are 10 points ahead of them, which is a huge psychological factor from one game.

"We're closer to the play-offs than we are the relegation zone and we have now won as many as we've lost (10). My number one target all along is to make sure we win more than we lose, and if we do that we will have a chance."

Bartlett, who felt the penalty awarded against his side was 'harsh', singled out Thomas for praise after the keeper came up trumps again.

"I think it just proves he is not very good at doing his laces," commented Bartlett on Thomas's delaying tactics. "Brian (Haule) had to wait some time to take the penalty and that can play on people's minds. These sort of things do go on though. But I'm grateful to Sean for a second week running."

Thomas was powerless to prevent the opening goal of the game, however, after just eight minutes. After parrying Harry Hunt's drive Thomas, left unprotected by his defence, watched helplessly as Busby lashed home the rebound.

James Gray then saw a snap-shot deflected for a corner before Ryan Ashe almost got on to the end of a long Chappell throw.

Hunt should have doubled Hendon's lead on the half hour mark, but he shot tamely at Thomas unaware of the time and space afforded to him.

Glenn Garner then skinned the out of sorts Locke before unleashing a shot that whistled just wide of Thomas's left post, while Haule tested Viner minutes later. Hunt again went close while a last ditch tackle from Ashe on Lee O'Leary kept the hosts in the hunt at the interval.

Stones upped the pace in the second half and were rewarded with a penalty after Spendlove was felled near the goal-line. Ngoyi fluffed his lines but regained his composure to provide the crucial flick-on from Chappell's cross for Ashe to crash home the equaliser seven minutes later.

Hendon then suffered an injury blow to Hunt and soon found themselves behind as Stones turned the screw. Haule won the ball on the far touch-line and sent a curling cross into the box where Ngoyi rose and glanced a powerful header past the flat-footed Vines.

The experienced Haule then conceded a penalty only for Thomas to deny his sibling, who had come on as a substitute.

Ngoyi's clattering challenge then induced the first red card and a 20-man brawl before Burgess following him down the tunnel for what amounted to GBH on Chappell.

Wealdstone: Thomas, McCoy, Chappell, Locke, Massey, Ashe, Forbes, O'Leary, Haule, Gray (cpt), Spendlove.