Hendon advanced to an FA Cup third qualifying round assignment at Leyton by overcoming Bedford Town at the New Eyrie on Saturday. For an hour, there was really only one team in it, and the Eagles were struggling desperately to keep out a rampant Hendon.

However, the harsh dismissal of Mark Burgess - video evidence suggests he won the ball - for a professional foul after 68 minutes, changed the game and Hendon were indebted to Dave King for their advancement.

The Greens certainly were intent on attacking. Dave Nolan and Mark Nicholls replaced Usif Bangura and Martin Vrhovski, with the former joining Danny Julienne in having a free role. With attacks raining on them from both flanks and down the middle, Bedford couldn't cope.

In the sixth minute, John Frendo broke free, but he dragged his shot across the face of goal with new Bedford goalkeeper James Robinson - who was clearly injured before the game kicked-off - well beaten. It delayed the opening goal for barely a minute.

A superb low cross from Burgess was flicked on by Frendo into the path of Nicholls. No defender tracked his run into the penalty area, so NICHOLLS controlled the ball, checked, looked up and drove a shot inside the post with Robinson nowhere near getting to it.

Twenty-two seconds after going behind, Bedford should have drawn level. Chris Dillon ran into the Hendon box and was brought down for an obvious penalty. Eddie Lawley stepped up but King guessed correctly and saved his first penalty in a Hendon shirt. For Bedford it was a fourth consecutive spot-kick failure.

The sunshine at kick-off gave way to driving rain as the first half progressed and Bedford's performance rather matched the weather. And they were very fortunate not to fall further behind in the 13th minute.

A cross from Julienne was just too far in front of Wayne Carter, but not René Street, who attacked the ball just behind him. His header was parried by Robinson and Carter tapped home the rebound. The assistant referee ruled that Carter was in an offside position when he collected the rebound. Had Street scored with his header, then the goal would have stood.

In the 32nd minute, Burgess was cautioned for a mistimed challenge on Lawley. A minute later, a super Hendon move almost led to another goal, but Richard McDonagh's fierce 25-yard drive flew inches wide of Robinson's right post.

It delayed the second goal all of five minutes. Nolan was the creator with an excellent, strong run, evading two foul challenges. He crossed to Julienne, whose goalbound shot was parried right into FRENDO's path and his cushioned header found the middle of the goal. Credit must also go to the referee whose application of the advantage law gave Nolan the opportunity to continue his run and pass to Julienne.

Bedford started the second half brightly and put the Hendon defence under some pressure, without ever really looking like reducing the arrears. And, once they had ridden out the storm, Hendon showed how it should be done.

The first downfield foray led to a corner. This was only half cleared and when Nicholls attempted to go around Lee Howarth, he was cynically brought down, earning the Eagles' skipper a caution. Hendon's first attempt at the free-kick was blown dead because Bedford encroached. The second resulted in another corner after a diving Robinson pushed aside Nicholl's drive.

From the flag kick by Vrhovski, Craig Rydeheard jumped with Frendo. He got the first touch, but succeeded only in flicking the ball against FRENDO's forehead. The result was the two players and the ball all ended up in the net and Frendo got credit for a goal he knew absolutely nothing about.

The game changed in the 68th minute, when Burgess brought down Dillon after he had rounded King. Burgess vainly pleaded to Mr Wheeler that not only had he played the ball but also Danny Butler was back in cover behind him. The referee, having already awarded a second Bedford penalty showed Burgess a straight red card.

HOWARTH took over the penalty duties and he made no mistake, driving the ball high into the net, right in the middle of the goal. With a man advantage, Bedford took control of the game, but they found King in magnificent form.

He dived low to keep out a drive from René Howe and stuck out a leg to block a drive from Derwayne Stupple. The one time he was beaten, Dillon's drive from 15 yards crashed off the underside of the crossbar and was hooked clear by Dave Sargent.

Hendon had a few chances to ease their increasing nerves. Vrhovski saw an effort cleared off the line by Richard Weale and Robinson saved well from Nicholls. But the Greens were angry at the referee when he ruled that a clear handball by Ashley Blake was, in fact, ball to thigh.

Tony Choules, the Hendon boss was purring after the game. "For the first half, we played as good football as I have seen this season. We were superb. Our passing was excellent, our movement was great and we could have scored many more goals."