LUBOMIR Guentchev was the hero for Hendon as they snatched a late win against neighbours Harrow Borough in a game shrowded in controversy at Earlsmead. Guentchev netted penalties in the 77th and 88th minutes to win a game that in truth the Greens should

LUBOMIR Guentchev was the hero for Hendon as they snatched a late win against neighbours Harrow Borough in a game shrowded in controversy at Earlsmead.

Guentchev netted penalties in the 77th and 88th minutes to win a game that in truth the Greens should never have come close to losing, such was their dominance against a disjointed and lethargic Borough side.

But both spot-kicks will anger the home side, who claimed Greens' captain James Parker dived over 'keeper Nick Jupp's challenge for the equaliser, and who also felt Dean Marney's challenge on Craig Vargas which led to a second penalty was legal.

However, those decisions could not disguise a poor display from the home side, who found themselves behind after only four minutes when Guentchev pounced on a half-cleared corner to cross for Aaron Morgan, who headed in from six yards.

It looked a case of how many Hendon wanted to score, and Belal Aite-Ouakrim should have doubled the lead, but could only clip a shot high and wide when he was put clean through.

He wasted another chance shortly afterwards, attempting to round Jupp but stumbling at the vital moment, while Parker sent a near-post header over the crossbar.

And those chances proved costly as, against the run of play, Harrow fashioned an equaliser on the very stroke of half-time.

Troy Hewitt was the man on target, reacting quickest to a ball flicked on from a throw-in and burying his first-time shot in the top corner.

That should have been the cue for Borough to take the initiative, but instead it was Hendon who continued to carve out the better chances in the second half with Guentchev firing wide and Kevin Maclaren stinging Jupp's fingertips with a vicious drive from the edge of the area.

The missed chances continued to pile up for Hendon and, when Guentchev volleyed another opportunity over the crossbar - and out of the ground - Harrow sensed an unlikely win.

Those hopes were further raised when Borough took the lead.

Ryan Watts's corner was cleared straight back to the midfielder, and he took his time to swing in a pinpoint cross which Marney powered into the net.

If the Greens could consider themselves unfortunate to be behind, there was certainly a hint of luck in the manner of their equaliser, which arrived four minutes later when Parker was put through by Guentchev, and he tumbled over Jupp inside the area.

Borough's screams of protest for an apparently soft penalty were waved away, and Guentchev stepped up and buried the penalty high into the corner for 2-2.

More drama followed. Two minutes from the end, a seemingly harmless ball into the box saw Marney tussle with Vargas. To Borough's disbelief, the referee pointed for a second penalty. Guentchev kept cool to convert again, and this time there was no way back for the home side.

Watts had one final chance to salvage a point, but his free kick clipped the roof of the net on its way over, and Hendon held on for a deserved three points.

Hendon welcome Carshalton Athletic on Saturday.

Harrow Borough: Jupp, Frempong, Marsh-Brown, Walters, Marney, Ijaha, Cook, Leech, Green, Hewitt, Watts .

Hendon: Laurencin, Munnelly, Vargas, Peacock, Parker, K Maclaren, Guentchev, O'Leary, Morgan, C Maclaren, Aite-Ouakrim.