Hendon made sure there was no happy returns for the 10 former Hendon players and staff now part of the AFC Wimbledon set-up, the Greens winning the much-anticipated FA Trophy tie 3-0 at Claremont Road on Saturday. A week after enduring their worst FA Cup defeat in 70 years, Hendon bounced back to inflict on AFC Wimbledon their joint-worst defeat in FA or league competition.

The midweek departure of manager Tony Choules and his replacement by Gary Farrell had no bearing on the starting line-up, because there was only the addition of recent signing Rob Courtnage to the 15 who were named for the Stevenage game, Courtnage becoming the fifth substitute.

One of things stressed by new manager Farrell was discipline and that was clearly on display through this match. Mention must be made of the excellent game had by referee Michael Cairns, who was always in control without being officious. He cautioned two players, Mark Burgess of Hendon in the first half and Steve Butler of Wimbledon in the second.

AFC Wimbledon set the early pace, but the first real opening went Hendon's way, but Eugene Ofori shot wastefully over after good work from John Frendo in the 12th minute. Wimbledon came as close as they ever would to taking the lead in the 14th minute, when Robert Ursell tried his luck from 25 yards. His shot beat Dave King, but crashed off the top of the crossbar. Their long-ball tactics caused Hendon some inconvenience but, on the whole, the defence didn't allow too many worthwhile attempts on goal.

With so many former Greens plotting Hendon's downfall, the AFC Dons tried to prey on King with a succession of high balls, but the giant goalkeeper stood up to the barrage admirably, while Mark and James Burgess, Ren� Street, Danny Julienne, Dave Sargent, Richard McDonagh and Wayne Carter swept up danger on the ground.

Although the Dons were shading the possession and position in the first half, the clearer chances were going to Hendon and Mark Nicholls should have done better after half an hour, when he side-footed over after more good work from Frendo. Frendo was then a little unfortunate in being unable to keep the ball down after a superb piece of stretching had brought down a pass from McDonagh.

In the 43rd minute, Richard Butler got around the back of the Hendon defence but he could not lift the ball over King while keeping it below crossbar height. At the other end a Nicholls free-kick in first-half stoppage time went inches past Danny Naisbitt's right post with the goalkeeper little more than a spectator.

New boss Farrell made a couple of small changes to the Hendon game plan in the second half and they made him look a tactical genius, because it took only six minutes for the Greens to put tie beyond the AFC Dons' reach. That said, King had to go low to block a Chris Gell header, but the effort was possibly going just wide.

In the 48th minute, Sargent spotted Nicholls being covered by his predecessor in the Hendon skipper's armband, Jon-Barrie Bates. Sargent's diagonal ball allowed Nicholls to outmanoeuvre Bates, knocking the Don to the ground.

Suddenly clear, Nicholls ran into the penalty area, went around Ryan Gray and lifted a cross towards the far post. Arriving late was OFORI, who despite conceding six inches in height, outjumped Antony HOWARD to plant a magnificent header against the stanchion inside the post.

A weight was clearly lifted off the Hendon shoulders and the Greens were able to express themselves fully. Three minutes later, Frendo got the better of Steve Butler and found Nicholls with a great pass. Taking one touch to control the ball, NICHOLLS wasted no more time in drilling a superb shot across Naisbitt and into the far corner.

The Greens were now completely on top and almost added to their lead when, first, Howard almost flicked a Frendo cross into his own net, escaping as the ball kissed the far post and, in the 57th minute, Naisbitt produced a super save to deny Street a goal from a flicked header.

Gradually Wimbledon weathered the storm, helped by three substitutions in eight minutes around the midpoint of the half, but they created few clear-cut chances. The best fell to one of the subs, Leon McDowall, but he could not find the neat from an acute angle as King rushed off his line to meet him.

Instead it was Hendon - whose noisy band of 200-plus outsang the 900 visiting supporters throughout the second half - who extended the lead in the 83rd minute. Ross Pickett, who had replaced Ofori (Courtnage had taken over from Frendo after 65 minutes), three minutes earlier, showed his experience by holding up the ball and timing an exquisite pass into Nicholls path.

With a stunning sleight of foot, NICHOLLS shimmied a shot with one foot to send Naisbitt one way, he stroked the ball with his other foot towards the unguarded half of the goal and was already celebrating as the ball rolled over the line.

"I thought we were excellent," said a happy Mr Farrell. "I never had any doubts about them. We have a good squad and we have bonded well. We talked things over about the situation at half-time and I made a couple of changes, and the players responded so well, as I knew they would."