Hendon left it oh so late to book their place in the FA Cup 2nd qualifying round at Claremont Road. It was cruel on Holmer Green, whose defensive efforts merited a replay, if only because Hendon failed to take a huge number of good chances that fell their way.

Injured Dave Nolan was replaced by Scott Williams, while fit-again Mark Burgess came in for Wayne Carter and Martin Vrhovski replaced Usif Bangura in a reshaped formation.

Holmer Green - wearing Wycombe Wanderers' kit after a problem with their change strip - set the early pace, but the Hendon defence, superbly marshalled by Mark Burgess, was rarely stretched.

Marcus Fearon's speed was a factor in this early pressure, but he failed to match his approach play with any degree of accuracy in front of goal. Indeed, Hendon goalkeeper Dave King did not have to make a save in the 90 minutes.

Hendon's first chance fell to Eugene Ofori in the 25th minute. Released by James Burgess's quick free-kick, the striker beat two defenders but, with only goalkeeper Chris Tullett to beat, failed to hit the target. Two minutes later, Vrhovski curled a free-kick just over and wide of the target.

The half-time whistle certainly didn't come a minute too soon for Holmer Green, who were put under huge pressure just before the break. In the 41st minute, Tullett produced the first of many excellent saves to deny James Burgess, whose 25 yard drive was booked for the top corner.

In stoppage time, Vrhovski hit the side-netting after good work from Dave Sargent and Dave Hunt, then Tullett threw himself in front of Vrhovski to block another effort.

The second half was pretty much one-way traffic, but Hendon's frustration grew as chance after chance went begging. The main culprits were Vrhovski, twice, and Ofori, who should have scored when clear openings fell them, while a brave challenge from Paul Shone blocked a Rene Street strike.

It seemed that it was going to be one of those days for Hendon, especially when Ian Robertson made a goalline clearance to keep out a shot from Wayne Carter in the 85th minute. Two minutes earlier, Carter had capitalised on a drop by Tullett, and then was manhandled by the goalkeeper, who escaped without any sanction.

Hendon officials were just preparing themselves for the administration required for a replay, when it was rendered unnecessary.

James Burgess, who has never scored for the first team, again tried his luck from 30 yards, but Tullett again thwarted him with a superb fingertip save to push away a rasping shot that was flying towards the top corner.

From Sargent's corner, Vrhovski lost his marker and flicked the ball into the net, off the legs of James Williams on the goalline. The fans' reaction was as if a major shock had been achieved; the reality is a major embarrassment had been averted.

Hendon boss Tony Choules summed it up perfectly. "It was one of those days," he said, "when it could have have been 1-0 or 10-0. This was a banana skin of a cup-tie but we have got through to the next round. We had to keep patient."

The reason for the players' excitement at winning then became clear when Mr Choules said, "I told the players if we had drawn or lost they would have been in for extra training on Sunday."