Basingstoke Town registered their fourth consecutive league win on Saturday, as they beat Hendon 3-2 at Winklebury.

Coming off the back of a 1-0 home victory over Plymouth Parkway, Basingstoke prepared to host Hendon – looking to seek revenge for the reverse fixture, which the London club won 2-0 back in September.

Dan Brownlie’s side were boosted by the returns to the squad of centre-back Scott Armsworth and winger George Reid, who were both named on the bench.

The game began quickly, with ‘Stoke goalkeeper Simon Grant called into action early on – batting away a left-footed strike from Niko Muir.

Both sides had their chances in the first half, but a lack of cutting edge in the final third meant the deadlock remained unbroken until deep into stoppage time – when referee Rob Harrison awarded the visitors a penalty, for a trip on Romeo Akinola.

Captain Joe White stepped up and converted, sending Grant the wrong way, to give Hendon a 1-0 lead going into the break.

The Greens were only ahead for seven second-half minutes, though, as Basingstoke were given a spot-kick for a handball in the box, following Massimo Giamattei’s long throw-in. Brad Wilson made no mistake as he fired past Dylan Berry into the bottom-left corner, to level the game.

Just 15 minutes later, ‘Stoke took the lead for the first time in the game – through midfield man Paul Hodges. Striker Liam Ferdinand showed some great play to hold off centre-back Dan Matsuzaka, before laying the ball off for the on-rushing Hodges to arrow into the bottom-right corner.

The lead was then extended just minutes later, as Brad Wilson scored his second of the match. Ferdinand again held the ball up well, before poking it to debutant Elliott Bolton who played an excellent ball to send Wilson in behind the Hendon defence. Basingstoke’s No.7 took a touch to take the ball in his stride, before delicately lifting it over Berry.

The second-half scoring wasn’t over yet, though, as the visitors pulled a goal back – with Niko Muir netting what turned out to be a consolation. Samuel Adenola carried the ball forward, before firing a great strike onto the crossbar. Substitute Finlay Macnab headed the rebound on target, with Simon Grant’s save falling to the feet of Muir – who tapped home from close range.

Hendon may have equalised deep in added time, however, Simon Grant pulled off a heroic last-gasp save – to secure Basingstoke’s sixth win in seven league games.

Focus now turns to Tuesday evening for Dan Brownlie’s side, when they head to the capital for the re-arranged clash with Hayes & Yeading United.