Hastings United 3 Hendon 4 . . .

Ryman League Premier Division . . .

Not for the first time this season, manager Gary McCann suggested after a match that it was "one for the fans and not the managers".

The scoreline of 4-3, along with three goals scored in three minutes, certainly provided plenty of entertainment for the supporters, but headaches for both benches at the Pilot Field.

McCann made several changes to the side that were defeated by Boreham Wood the previous Tuesday evening, with Casey Maclaren, James Burgess and Lubo Guentchev all returning to the starting 11 in place of James Parker, Danny Dyer and Brian Haule, the latter two players being named as substitutes.

Hastings were coming off the back of three consecutive wins, including a 6-1 thrashing of Folkestone Invicta in their previous home game and just made the one change to their starting 11 from their win at Heybridge, Frankie Sawyer replacing Tim Olorunda.

The Greens, confusingly playing in their change strip of white, kicked off the first half towards the large terrace backing onto Elphinstone Road, but it was Hastings that created the first chance, with Sam Adams crossing from wide on the right, only for the ball to just elude Ade Olorunda as he was arriving at the far post.

Hendon probably marginally had the better of the opening exchanges, yet it wasn't until the tenth minute that they created their first decent effort on goal, Belal Aiteouakrim pulling the ball wide of the left post.

On the quarter hour, the Greens were forced into making a change, as Maclaren picked up an injury to be replaced by Dyer.

Shortly after Dyer's arrival, the Dons created a good chance when the ball was switched to Burgess wide on the left, who flicked the ball on towards Rakatahr Hudson. The midfielder managed to head the ball towards the touchline where Guentchev was arriving and crossed the ball over his own head. Haule was in the six-yard box ready for the ball, but a defender arrived first and cleared it for a corner instead.

Hastings had the next chance midway through the first half, a cross from wide on the left arriving deep into the six-yard box. Unfortunately for the home side, the ball was scrambled clear before they could get a shot away.

On 37 minutes, Lee O'Leary drew a save from Lee Worgan at his near post with a header from a corner. In truth, it was a relatively simple stop for the keeper.

However, it was just a few minutes later that Hendon broke the deadlock. The ball was crossed across United's penalty area from deep on the left wing, where Aiteouakrim managed to head the ball back into the middle. Hudson met it around eight yards out with his head, doing just enough to bring it a few yards towards goal where Haule was lurking. Unfortunately for Worgan, the older Haule brother also managed to get his head on to the ball to flick it into the roof of the net.

Hastings refused to give up, but their best chance in the remainder of the half came to little when Sam Page managed to cover a penetrating break from midfield and got a good tackle in. At the other end, Hendon had a couple of efforts flash over and wide of the net, causing no real problems for the home side.

Both teams made changes for the second half, with Hendon forced into withdrawing Aiteouakrim with an injury picked up early in the first half in favour of Brian Haule, while Hastings replaced Frankie Sawyer with Matt Maclean.

Again, it took just two minutes for Hastings to create a chance, with Russell Eldridge breaking through, but driving the ball over from around 30 yards out. Both continued to battle hard, with Hastings in particular playing at a higher tempo before Hendon extended their lead on the 55th minute.

A half clearance after Guentchev was tackled on the left was picked up by Burgess. He played a through ball towards the touchline that Guentchev beat his marker to and the resulting ball was crossed perfectly for Haule to meet with his head, again beating Worgan from close range.

Hendon nearly extended their lead further just three minutes later when O'Leary and Dyer combined on the right wing to deliver a ball to Guentchev that Worgan did well to save. The rebound dropped to Hudson lurking on the edge of the penalty area, but he could do little more than shoot over.

At the other end, the home side pressed to get back into the game, and Luke Blackmore was forced to come out quickly to save at the feet of Olorunda.

However, it didn't take much longer for Hastings get the goal they were looking for. With 60 minutes gone, Worgan took a very quick free kick from inside his own six-yard box after an offside flag, and the break saw Blackmore exposed again. He got down smartly to save the initial shot from the inside right channel, but could do nothing with the rebound that fell to Eldridge arriving from the left.

Within a minute, United were level as Hendon quickly conceded possession from their kick off and a through ball left the tricky Olorunda running at Blackmore. The away keeper could do little but admire as the striker lobbed him from around 25 yards out. The Greens learned their lesson though and kept the ball from the restart this time, with good work on the left providing yet another cross into the middle for Haule to meet with his head, providing his hat-trick and restoring the Greens' lead.

It wasn't until the 79th minute that another good chance came, and yet again it brought about an equaliser. A through ball left Sam Adams, who proved a handful all afternoon, running at Blackmore and the away keeper found himself lobbed again with the ball dropping into the net.

Hendon weren't about to settle for a point, and with just six minutes to go, the ball was played across from the right, to find Guentchev just outside the penalty area, level with the left post. He let fly with a scorching, rising drive that went through a crowd of players and in off the underside of the bar, just half a yard from the near post.

Both sides made changes as Hastings pressed for their third equaliser and Hendon attempted to run the clock down. The home side did create one more good chance before the final whistle, Eldridge advancing at Blackmore from the right corner of his penalty box. Blackmore narrowed the angle, and did enough as the winger shot over and wide of the far post.

"The fact that we're still in with a shout of the play-offs with just four games left shows how far this set of players have come," said manager McCann afterwards. "I'm delighted with the character shown, recovering from equalisers after being 2-0 and 3-2 ahead, where other sides may have fallen apart.

"The quality of the winner was certainly fitting of the match."

HENDON: Blackmore, Maclaren (Dyer 15), Burgess, Leach, S. Page, Busby, Hudson, O'Leary, L. Guentchev, Aiteouakrim (B. Haule 46), D. Haule (J. Page 84). Unused subs: Hudell, I. Guentchev PHIL ROGERS