Hendon produced their most complete performance of the season so far on Saturday afternoon in comfortably beating the fancied Carshalton Athletic away at Colston Avenue. The 3-0 win left the Greens top of the league for the weekend, albeit with Wingate and Finchley with a game in hand, as well as being the only team in the division not to have conceded a goal so far.

Gary McCann made just one change to the eleven that started in the 1-0 win at Bury on Tuesday evening, with Dave Diedhiou stepping up from the bench to replace Kevin Maclaren, with Bradley Ambrose stepping up to take the tall midfielder's shirt on the bench. Carshalton similarly made just the one change, Kieran Murphy making his first start of the season after returning from international duty with the British Universities team.

It was evident from the off that Hendon, kicking down the hill, were the more cohesive of the two sides and it took just 2 minutes for the first warning shot to be fired across the home side's bows, Greg Ngyoi combining with Elliott Godfrey to play a through ball to Carl McCluskey. Unfortunately though, the pass was just to strong and McCluskey, stretching, was unable to get it under control.

Carshalton, for their part, had their first effort in the fifth minute, Dean McDonald receiving a ball from Dean Lodge, but striking his effort harmlessly over Berkley Laurencin's goal.

The Robins launched a quick attack from the goal kick, but Ryan Wharton was in position to head clear to McClusky who was able to put Greg Ngoyi in a promising position. With David Ray in close attendance, Ngoyi elected to play the ball wide out left to Casey Maclaren, but Ray was alert to the ball back into the middle and comfortably cleared.

However, the Greens weren't to be denied and their first goal came in the 10th minutes. Nick Hamann, with an uncanny knack of finding a green shirt from his goal-kicks throughout the game, could only find McCluskey with this one, and he quickly fed the ball through to Ngoyi who ran at goal. In attempting to ride a challenge the forward was disposessed, but the loose ball fell to McCLUSKEY who was close behind in support. With only a step to control the ball, he scuffed his shot slightly but Hamann had gone to ground early and while the ball struck his foot it was only enough to give the ball a little height as it nestled in the back of the net.

Seven minutes later, the away side were celebrating doubling their lead, and this time they had a rare slip from the officials to thank. Maclaren ran to the by-line but could only put his attempted cross behind. However, with Ray in close attendance the linesman and referee agreed that he had the last touch and awarded a corner instead. Godfrey, on set-piece duty, played it perfectly into the 6-yard box where an unmarked NGOYI met it with a powerful header past Hamann.

Carshalton refused to surrender the game at this and in the 20th minute they forced a series of three corners. However, they found the Green's defence in imperious form, throwing themselves in front of any shots, and at the third attempt when finally a clear shot was attempted, Laurencin was perfectly positioned to comfortably cat the ball.

From this point, Hendon were content to revert to their disciplined defensive work and allow the home side possession, so long as they didn't get into dangerous areas. Michael Peacock and Ryan Wharton won the aerial battle with McDonald and the Paul Vines, unusually quiet in the first half, while Billy Crook and Dean Lodge on the flanks were ably dealt with by Scott Cousins and James Archer.

The Robins found themselves with a couple of chances late in the half, but following a scramble after a corner in the 37th minute Laurencin was more then equal to the resulting shot, and four minutes later Francis Quarm made space for a shot, but was again only able to find Laurencin's midriff.

The half time break saw Hendon come out with renewed confidence and it only took two minutes for them to extend their lead. Justyn Roberts conceded a free kick in a dangerous position just a couple of yards outside the penalty area. Roberts carried the ball away, preventing Godfrey from taking his preferred option of a quick free kick, but the defender - and his team-mates' reluctance to get back the required ten yards proved their undoing.

With the wall barely 7 yards back, GODFREY's effort struck Quarm's head on the way through and looped over Hamann, who found himself stranded by the deflection, putting the Greens into what looked to be an unassailable lead.

Hendon continued to press, with Ngyoi scuffing an effort on the turn wide, then breaking through, but with close attention from Roberts finding himself unable to get a shot away before Hamann dived at his feet and smothered the ball.

Carshalton continued to try and break down the Greens, but seemed to lack patience, all to often electing for a hopeful long shot or an early cross, with Vines often finding himself on the end of the ball, but usually after straying offside or conceding a free-kick for fouling Peacock in the process.

In the 70th minute, McCluskey nearly added to his own tally with what would have been a potential goal-of-the season contender. A free kick was played into space in the right channel for Isiah Rankin, on for Ngoyi, to latch onto. His shot was deflected to McCluskey who, attempted a bicycle kick that Hamman was only just able to tip around the post.

The visitors began to look to run down the clock, and with nine minutes left Archer put the team's clean sheet in doubt. Rather than clearing his lines from right-back, the youngster elected to turn inside, only to find himself suddenly under pressure and he played a difficult ball back to Laurencin. Unable to use his hands, Laurencin's attempted quick clearance struck Vines, but fortunately for the second weekend running the goalkeeper was quicker to the loose ball and he smothered it.

Vines became increasingly central to the Robin's efforts to get something out of the game, and he was played through just two minutes later by Murphy. Vines, however, couldn't steady himself before Laurencin, not to be denied a third consecutive clean-sheet, rushed out and dived at his feet to prevent the striker from getting his shot away.

Hendon were able to ride out the remaining minutes in relative comfort; even when the ball did find it's way past Laurencin in stoppage time, the whistle had already long gone for an obvious push on Wharton and the effort was chalked off.

"I'm delighted with our start of the season," said manager Gary McCann after the game, "but the foundations were laid in pre-season with our performances at sides like Havant and Boreham Wood. Even this early, we're already seeing the benefits of a strong squad, with Ryan Wharton, James Archer and today Dave Diedhiou already capably filling in for injuries and others working hard in training to keep those who started today on their toes."

"We've got a tough derby game next against Harrow Borough, and we'll need to ensure the players keep the level of performance up to keep this run going."