Hendon became the first team in 22 seasons to retain the Middlesex Senior Cup when they overcame Enfield Town 2-0 at Northwood's Chestnut Avenue ground on Easter Monday evening.

The chasm in class between the Ryman League Premier Division and the Foresters Essex Senior League was cruelly exposed as Hendon were, quite simply, in a different class and the match failed to hit the heights.

If the Greens had taken their chances, the game could have been over inside the opening 4 minutes. With barely a minute on the clock, a pass from Eugene Ofori put Ricci Crace in the clear. With no defender in front of him, Crace could have gone much closer to goal before shooting. His early strike beat Andy Hall, but flew wide of the target.

In the 4th minute, Paul Yates and Crace linked on the edge of the penalty area and when the former crossed towards the near post, Ofori got in front of his marker, but at full stretch he diverted the ball inches wide of the near post.

Enfield Town had their best spell of the match between Hendon's two misses and the first goal, a period of barely 15 minutes. David Hook was forced into making a couple of saves and Daniel Clarke shot wide from a good position. Apart from that, Steve Butler and Mark Cooper totally dominated Enfield Town's front two and Jamie Burgess and Rob Hollingdale ensured little danger came from the flanks.

The opening goal arrived in the 19th minute, much to the dismay of Enfield Town's defenders, who were convinced that Crace was offside. The ball in from Dale Binns was inch-perfect and CRACE was all alone as he headed home. Assistant referee Richard Seuke stilled any protests from Enfield defenders by pointing at their teammate who had played everybody onside.

Jon-Barrie Bates and Paul Towler exerted a tight grip on the midfield, with Bates making a number of incursions towards the Enfield penalty area. Crace and Ofori both had half chances before Hendon scored a sweet second goal 10 minutes before the interval.

The move started with Ofori, who passed to Bates, who quickly fed Yates. He was closed down by Mathew Negus, so passed back to Burgess, who delivered a curling cross right into the path of OFORI, who buried a header beyond Andy Hall's dive.

That was really the end of the game, even though there were 55 minutes remaining. If Hendon's finishing had been more clinical, the previous County record of 5-0 would have been blown away.

Enfield brought on Tommy Morgan and Steve Baldwin for veteran Paul Turner and Graeme Hall, respectively, while Iain Duncan replaced Burgess for Hendon. The two newcomers could do little for Enfield, while Duncan slotted smoothly into the right-back role after missing the last 3 matches with a suspension.

The second half was a litany of chances for Hendon, none of which were taken. Crace was denied by a fine save by Hall, Cooper saw a goal disallowed for offside, Binns clipped the top of the crossbar with a delicate chip, Butler smashed a header off the underside of the bar and Martin Randall, who replaced Crace just before the hour mark, crashed a shot inches wide of the far post.

"We were always in control," said manager Dave Anderson. "But we had to be professional and keep our discipline. I am delighted that we have retained the cup."