Hendon survived to see the draw for the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round after snatching an 89th minute equaliser that was as stunning as it was undeserved. The goalscorer, Dave Sargent, opened his Hendon account with a 30-yard screaming drive with his less-favoured right foot that sent the ball like a tracer shell into the roof of the net.

Eugene Ofori replaced the suspended Mark Burgess in the only change to the Hendon starting line-up, but the positional changes saw Dave Nolan drop to full-back and Danny Julienne and Mark Nicholls share an attacking midfield role in an almost 4-2-2-2 set-up.

It did not work at all and if Leyton's finishing had matched their approach play, Hendon could have suffered a near double-digit embarrassment. The first miss, by Danny Jones after 90 seconds, was not even the worst as he was unmarked but still side-footed the ball wide of Dave King's near post from eight yards out.

Neither Nolan nor Sargent enjoyed their time defensively as Mark Sophocleous, Michael Deane, Roy Parkyn and Simon Peddie had field days in possession. Manny Williams was a constant thorn in the heart of the Hendon defence, but having outstripped both Danny Butler and Ren� Street on occasions, he failed to put power and/or direction on his various shots.

When Hendon did manage to get the ball, the passing was woeful and even five-yard passes were regularly beyond the ability of the man in possession. This gave Leyton possession in dangerous areas, but they regularly failed to capitalise.

That said, the Greens created occasional chances. Julienne fired a goalbound shot that took a deflection out for a corner and Richard McDonagh watched a 25-yard drive dip inches behind the bar with Leyton goalkeeper James Hasell desperately backpedalling into his goal. The Greens also had valid claims for a penalty denied when Scott Honeyball shoved Street in the back as he chased in a Nicholls free-kick. The ball was going into Hasell's arms, but had referee Mr Horwood (Bedfordshire) seen the incident it would have been a penalty.

On the stroke of half-time, Hendon fans had cause to laugh after a harsh free-kick had been awarded against Wayne Carter for a high kick. Hendon lined up a wall and Sophocleous curled a sweet strike over the wall and the ball flew into the net. King, with an Oscar-worthy dive, went after the ball but made sure his hands were far enough away for Mr Horwood to see clearly that nobody had touched the indirect free-kick, thus earning Hendon a goal-kick. The match announcer and more than half the Leyton team, however, ignored the indirect free-kick signal and celebrated a goal, then wondered why play restarted on the Hendon six-yard line.

Five minutes into the second half, Leyton got the goal they deserved. Once again, a wayward pass in midfield ceded possession but this time Williams ran at King and fired a powerful and accurate shot. The goalkeeper pulled off a fine save, pushing the ball aside, but no defender tracked the run of DEANE, who had the simplest of tasks to slide the ball into the mainly unguarded net.

Hendon made two changes, introducing James Burgess and Ross Pickett - recently re-signed after almost three years away - and changed the formation. But it had little effect on the game. And, two minutes after Pickett came onto the pitch, Dave Nolan left it in disgrace after a red-card incident which saw him first shove Deane by the corner flag - for which he would have been yellow-carded - then Sophocleous in the face. Mr Horwood, who had an outstanding game, produced a straight red for this one.

The last throw of the dice for Hendon was the replacement of Wayne Carter by Usif Bangura - the out-of-sorts Julienne and John Frendo had been the first two players substituted - but this did little to change the way the game was going. The Greens were torn apart regularly down both flanks and through the middle, but the Leyton finishing matched Hendon's overall play.

Leyton keeper Hasell was growing increasingly frustrated by his forwards' lack of finishing ability, distinctly aware that one shot could turn the game. And he was a relieved man to watch a Nicholls shot hit Ben Wood's thigh and bounce a foot beyond the post rather than just inside it.

Then, in the 89th minute, Hendon caught Jones offside 20 yards inside their half. McDonagh drove the free-kick towards Ofori, just outside the penalty area. He was able to deliver a cross which Scott Curley headed clear. The ball bounced out to Sargent, 30 yards from goal. It may have been on his wrong foot, but the ball stood up perfectly and the strike from SARGENT arrowed into the roof of the net with Hasell, unsighted to start with, a helpless spectator.

Out of absolutely nothing, Hendon had saved themselves and lived to fight another day, Tuesday night at Claremont Road, for the replay, the winners knowing a trip to Broadhall Way, Stevenage, the reward.

"We didn't play well today," admitted manager Tony Choules. "I am very disappointed, but I am certain we will play much better in the replay. The important thing is that we are still in the competition."