Hendon confirmed their position in the Bostik Premier League Play Offs on Saturday after a 2-1 away win over Leiston.

Quick fire goals from Ashley Nathaniel-George and Dan Uchechi secured the win for the Greens, who will have home advantage in the first leg of their play-off semi-final against Folkestone Invicta on Thursday after finishing in third place in the league, thanks to Jamie O’Hara’s stoppage time equaliser for Billericay Town against Folkestone.

With Arthur Lee missing through illness, it was a reshuffled Hendon back four that took to the field with Luke Tingey coming in at right-back, James Hammond shifting to left-back and Ollie Sprague partnering Rian Bray at centre-half. Casey Maclaren returned in midfield after suspension alongside Sam Murphy.

It was Gary McCann’s men who had the clearer chances in a goalless first half and after Niko Muir and Josh Walker had come close, Uchechi almost handed them the lead when his powerful effort forced a fine save from Leiston’s Marcus Garnham.

The Greens started the second half brightly too, with Sam Murphy and Uchechi both testing Garnham and their pressure would finally pay off on the hour mark.

Nathaniel-George surged towards the edge of the box after good work from Walker and unleashed a fine effort which curled into the top corner to give the away side a deserved lead.

Leiston barely had time to recover from that set-back, as within 90 seconds of the restart, Hendon had doubled their advantage.

Nathaniel-George was involved once again as he drove towards the box, before cutting the ball back to the waiting Uchechi on the edge of the area, whose first time effort nestled into the back of the net despite the best efforts of Garnham.

Leiston immediately made a double change, with Chris Henderson and Jake Marsden entering the fray, a decision which paid dividends with 20 minutes to play, as Marsden’s cross-cum-shot struck the post before going over the line to half Hendon’s advantage.

After pulling one back, Leiston almost equalised when Byron Lawrence’s pile-driver was superbly tipped onto the bar by Hendon’s Tom Lovelock.

But despite late pressure, Leiston couldn’t force home a late equaliser, which ensured Hendon finished in third place and secured home advantage for their play-off semi-final on Thursday, after O’Hara’s late equaliser against Folkestone.