In one of the club's most thrilling cup-ties in many years, Hendon eventually progressed to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup, defeating Ashford Town(Middlesex) 9-8 in a penalty shoot-out, despite being reduced to ten men late in the second half of normal time. The game only went to penalties due to a dramatic last minute equaliser from Glenn Garner.

Their reward is a home tie against Woking, which will take place on Saturday 24th October. It is the first time they have reached this stage of the competition for five years.

The Greens made one change to their starting line up, with Yacine Hamada replacing Garner, whilst the Ash Trees made two changes, Billy Jeffreys and Tommy Williams replacing Ivo Ginev and the injured Warren Harris.

The first half saw Hendon play some of their best football in a long time. There was exellent passing and movement throughout the team, and as early as the 3rd minute they forced Ashford's Craig Ross into a save as Lewis Ochoa fired in a free kick. Almost immediately the home side had a free kick of their own, but it was knocked wide of the goal.

The next chance fell to Kevin Maclaren, who latched onto a cross from Danny Dyer, but his shot was deflected wide for a corner. At the other end, Dave Diedhiou made a superb tackle to stop Williams having a strike at goal.

However, it was Hendon who were on top, and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 24th minute. Another run from Dyer down the right wing, saw him cross the ball into the box, where he found Lewis Ochoa unmarked. The youngster controlled the ball and slotted the ball home past the static keeper.

Just after the half hour mark, Byron Harrison had a run at goal, but Pat O'Donnell was able to get in the way and shepherd the ball out for a goal kick. Meanwhile, a free kick from Wayne O'Sullivan saw Craig Vargas head at goal, but Ross was able to make a good low save.

As the game moved towards half-time, former Hendon favourite Brian Haule fired a superb looping effort but he would have been disappointed to see it bounce off the top of the crossbar and out for a goalkick.

Haule was involved again moments later, when he appeared to be fouled in the penalty area by O'Donnell. However, the referee ruled that O'Donnell had played the ball and turned down the appeal.

Ashford started the second half much brighter and put the Greens defence under more pressure. However, the first notable chance of the period fell to the visitors, when a cross from Wayne O'Sullivan just eluded the lunges of Lubomir Guentchev and Vargas.

In the 67th minute, Ashford were back in the game. They were awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal after James Parker committed a foul. Paul Johnson stepped up and curled the kick just inside the near post, beating the desparing dive from Reading.

The game then began to get a bit scrappy, with a number of free-kicks being conceded by both teams. Things then became much tougher for the Greens when Wayne O'Sullivan was sent off for an elbow on Hone Fowler in the 77th minute. It must be said that O'Sullivan left the field without a fuss.

A minute later, Ashford had a great chance to score, but Brian Haule's shot appeared to hit the crossbar twice before bouncing out to safety. Hendon had a couple of chances before the end of normal time, but were unable to get the necessary finish.

So the game moved into extra time, and immediately the Greens made the first subsitution of the game, with Casey Maclaren replacing Lewis Ochoa. However, Ashford had the better of the first few minutes, and took the lead through a Byron Harrison header in the 96th minute.

Gary McCann then made a double substitution, replacing the exhausted Dyer & Hamada, both of whom had run their hearts out, with James Bent and Garner.

Before the end of the first period, Guentchev had a good chance after making a run, but his shot was deflected for a corner.

Ashford made their first substitution before the game moved into the second period of extra time, Scott Harris replacing Brian Haule, but it was Hendon who were to have the better of the final fifteen minutes.

Chances fell to Garner, Diedhiou and Guentchev, whilst at the other end Reading made a good save. Meanwhile Ashford made two more changes, Adam Logie and Scott Weight replacing Tommy Williams and Paul Johnson.

With the game about to move into stoppage time, Hendon scored a dramatic equaliser. A Hendon player was fouled, 35 yards from goal. Garner grabbed the ball and got ready to take the free kick. As soon as the whistle was blown, he ran up and curled the ball around the wall and into the goal past Craig Ross, who was left stunned by the accuracy of the kick. Less than a minute later the referee blew the whistle for full time.

The penalty shoot-out was one of high quality, with the first 16 penalties all being converted. Ashford took the first kick, with Byron Harrison, Billy Jeffreys, Adam Logie, Hone Fowler, Davis Haule, Scott Weight, Scott Harris and Guy Hollis all finding the back of the net.

Meanwhile, Hendon's scorers were Lubomir Guentchev, Dave Diedhiou, James Bent, Craig Vargas, Glenn Garner, Casey Maclaren, James Parker and Kevin Maclaren.

Vinnie O'Sullivan then stepped up to take Ashford's ninth penalty. However, despite his kick being strong and on target, James Reading was able to make the crucial save.

This left Pat O'Donnell with the task of converting the winning penalty, which he did with aplomb. This was the cue for delirious celebrations by both players and supporters from the Greens.

"Once again the team have bailed out a teammate who had been sent off for a petulant incident", said a delighted Gary McCann after the game, thinking back to the opening game of the season when the team won at Bognor Regis Town despite Jamie Busby being dismissed.

"I am delighted with everyone this evening, especially with the way we never gave up despite being down to ten men".