Hendon missed the chance to pull away from the Southern League Premier Division South relegation zone after a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to fellow strugglers Harrow Borough on Boxing Day.

Marc Charles-Smith scored the only goal of the game with 20 minutes remaining, while the visitors also finished with 10 men after George Moore’s late dismissal.

Defeat leaves the Greens level on 18 points with Yate Town, who currently occupy the last relegation spot.

Kingsley Eshun had Hendon’s first opportunity of the game but saw his effort well blocked by Ben Tricker, and then goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond was forced into two top stops, both from Andronicos Georgiou.

Fulham loanee Ashby-Hammon also had to be alert at the end of the half as Eshun was put through on goal again, but he was quick off his line to smother the effort.

The second period began with Harrow on top and they were only denied the lead within minutes of the restart by a terrific save from Rihards Matrevics. Michael Bryan laid a free-kick off to Moore, but the Latvian keeper flung himself across the goal and got enough of a fingertip to turn the ball over.

Another free-kick for Harrow, though, resulted in the Greens going behind. This time, Moore curled in a delivery from a wide position that was flicked on by Tricker, and Charles-Smith was waiting at the far post to guide the ball home.

Georgiou and Shaun Lucien both wasted good chances to equalise at the death, the former curling over and the latter shooting wide.

Victory for Borough sees them pull clear of Hendon in the table, opening up a five-point gap between them.

Next up for Hendon is tomorrow's New Year's Day clash away at high-flying Chesham United, which kicks off at 3pm.