Hendon's FA Cup adventure came to an end at the hands of Blue Square Premier side Luton Town on Saturday afternoon, the Hatters running out 5-1 winners.

Gary McCann, who had spent the previous night in hospital with suspected blood poisoning, made just one change to the side that lost to Metropolitan Police, Belal Aite-Ouakrim coming in for the cup-tied Dewayne Clarke.

The Greens had a perfect start as they scored with their first chance at goal. In the 5th minute, the home side conceded a free-kick just outside the 18 yard box. Scott Cousins stepped up and curled the ball into the box and Carl McCluskey rose to head home, much to the delight of the 193 travelling fans at the other end of the ground.

However the Hatters, who had also started brightly with a couple of corners before conceding, hit back rapidly and were level within 3 minutes. As he went to latch on to a loose ball, Dean Beckwith was brought down by Jamie Busby and the referee pointed to the spot. Aaron O'Connor stepped up and slotted the ball home for the equaliser.

In the 13th minute, Luton were ahead. Curtis Osano delivered a perfect cross which James Dance powered home with a lovely header. However, in the process he collided with a Hendon defender, and was stretchered off with a suspected fractured cheekbone.

O'Connor was then denied a second goal by one of his team-mates. A slip by Cousins allowed O'Connor to take possession close to the halfway line, and his run saw him enter the box and drag a shot across Sean Thomas. The ball was destined for the goal, but inexplicably, and offside Stuart Fleetwood tapped the ball home. The linesman, quite correctly, ruled the goal out for offside.

However, it was only a matter of time before Luton scored their third, as they stretched the Hendon midfield and back line with some excellent passing football, using the full width of the pitch.

In the 25th minute, with the Greens down to 10 men as Casey Maclaren was off the field having been treated, and no subsitute being ready, a crossfield ball from Danny Crow was fed to O'Connor, who in turn slid the ball into the stride of Osano and his powerful left-foot effort was parried into the air by Sean Thomas, allowing Tommy Wright an easy header to score from close range. Following the goal, Casey Maclaren was replaced by Isaiah Rankin.

The Hatters continued to look dangerous every time they attacked, with John-Paul Kissock and Wright going close. However, the Greens did have their own chances, but an effort from Elliott Charles was blocked by Wright, and another effort from the hardworking striker was deflected across the face of goal by Jake Howells. Shortly before the break Jamie Hand and Kevin Maclaren were both shown the yellow card after an unnecessary bout of handbags.

Shortly before half-time, Carl McCluskey pulled up with a dead leg and was replaced by Byron Bubb.

The Greens started the second half much brighter, and in the 48th minute when close to reducing the deficit when a long throw fell to James Parker and his overhead kick went just wide of the target.

Hendon began to lay siege to the Luton goal, with Rankin just unable to latch onto a defence-splitting pass, and Aite-Ouakrim saw an effort fly wide following a good run into the box.

However, having been on top for most of the period, the Greens task was made much tougher when Kevin Maclaren put in a poor challenge on Kissock, and was rightly shown his second yellow card, which was duly followed by red. It was another unnecessary booking, particularly given he had already been cautioned earlier in the game.

This allowed Luton back into the game, and, with Jamie Busby also off the pitch receiving treatment meaning the Greens were down to nine men, Luton scored twice in a minute. In the 72nd minute, Howells slid the ball into Fleetwood, who was able to round Thomas and fire the ball home into the unguarded net, and moments later, O'Connor scored his second of the game as he capitalised on a defensive error.

As it turned out, Busby was unable to continue, having also suffered a fractured cheekbone, and he was replaced by James Burgess, the latter making his first appearance of the season.

The rest of the game belonged to the home side, although it must be said that the Greens never gave up, despite looking very tired towards the end.

The Hendon contingent all acknowledged that Luton thoroughly deserved their victory, although with the Greens being down to nine men when the fourth and fifth goals were scored, the scoreline was perhaps a touch harsh on the visitors.