Hendon were outplayed, outmuscled and outthought by an impressive Staines side who leapfrogged a tired looking Hendon team into the play-off places, the Greens dropping into sixth spot after a comprehensive 4-0 reverse.

After a fairly even opening to the game, Hendon were the first with a decent chance, Zak Joseph seeing a decent effort flash just wide of the righthand post. This seemed to bring the Swans to life: they created a genuinely impressive passage of quick, one-touch football that left the Hendon defence as mere spectators, culminating in the ball being swept home by Eliot Buchanan to give the home side the advantage. Hendon are unlikely to concede such an excellent goal all season, such was the quality of the opening strike and the approach play that led to it.

The advantage was soon doubled after Staines defender Tyrell Miller-Rodney found himself in the Hendon box after another smooth passage of play down the right wing. His powerful finish left Tom Lovelock no chance and Hendon were looking to be set for a severe punishment. The visitors were seemingly bereft of ideas, producing only a litany of overhit long balls, offsides and wayward set pieces.

Staines went close to extending their lead, although their attacker seems somewhat surprised to be found in the six-yard box by a cross and his instinctive touch trickled harmlessly wide. Soon after being brutally hacked down in a challenge that saw his assailant yellow carded, Ashley Nathaniel-George was centimetres from bringing a glimmer of hope for Hendon as the break loomed. A typically mazy run created a chance for him to unleash a powerful long-range effort that smashed against the Staines crossbar. Michael Corcoran, following up on the rebound, could only steer his header wide and the two teams departed the pitch for halftime with the Swans 2-0 to the good.

Gary McCann brought on Dave Diedhiou for Harly Wise at the break and the visitors started the second half a little brighter, actually playing the ball on the ground and retaining possession for a spell. Joseph went close for Hendon again with a long-range effort, before Staines should have extended the lead. Helped in part by an inadvertent interception from the referee, a Staines attacker found himself one-on-one with Lovelock, but his lob sailed well adrift of the goal.

At the other end, Niko Muir was pushed as he loomed in on goal. Instead of going down and earning a penalty, he stayed on his feet and was eventually tackled legitimately. Staines immediately made their way back into Hendon's territory and the ball was finally poked home by Max Worsfold to make it 3-0. Another goal soon followed, Wadah Ahmidi smashing the ball past a hapless Lovelock.

Muir nearly reduced the arrears with a smart turn and shot, but Staines went closer still as 90 minutes approached, Lovelock's dropped catch finding a Staines forward whose goal-bound shot was desperately cleared off the line.

While the 4-0 score line might be considered slightly flattering for Staines, they were no doubt by far the superior side on the night and utterly deserved their convincing victory.

As for Hendon, they lick their wounds ahead of Saturday's pivotal fixture against Billericay. The Essex side lie in second place with six games in hand on leaders Dulwich Hamlet who are ahead by five points.

Billericay were crowned Essex champions on Tuesday night; and also play on Thursday, away at Tonbridge Angels. Hendon will be hoping their opponents are slightly jaded, as well as hoping that Gary McCann can conjure up a game plan to somehow outfox the tactical excellence of Billericay supremo Glenn Tamplin.