Hendon's interest in the FA Cup came crashing to an end at sunny Earlsmead on Sunday afternoon as Bishop's Stortford scored five times without reply in the second round qualifying. It is hard to know what the most disappointing facet of the defeat was, the three goals in six minutes before half-time, the defensive lapses, the dismal second half or the two penalties needlessly conceded.

With Charlie Horlock returning to Wycombe Wanderers and Billy Lobjoit signing for Conference South side Boreham Wood, Hendon were forced to make two changes, and there were two others by choice. Sean Thomas (his seasonal debut), Jack Bennett, Casey Maclaren and Aaron Morgan came into the starting line-up, while Sam Flegg and Tony Taggart dropped to the substitutes bench.

For the best part of 35 minutes, Hendon were in almost complete control against their Skrill South rivals. Morgan and Jefferson Louis proved a handful up front, Michael Bryan caused danger out wide, as did full-backs Chris Seeby and Bennett when they got forward and Dave Diedhiou looked the best player in midfield.

Bishop's Stortford were content to be patient and they were happy to take pot-shots at the Hendon goal when opportunities arose, but they didn't trouble Thomas with their direction.

In the 18th minute a cross from Bennett was destined for the head of Louis, six yards out, until Sean Francis intervened, his header taking the ball away for a corner. The Blues looked at best unconvincing from the corner, indeed they conceded two more before the danger was cleared.

After 24 minutes, a cross drilled into the penalty area by Bryan caused chaos in the box, especially when it was deflected by Diedhiou, and went to Louis. His instinctive attempt diverted the ball inches wide the post. Louis had neither been able to anticipate the deflection, nor steady himself; had either been possible, he would surely have scored.

Joe Wright was called into action a couple of minutes later as Bennett struck a powerful shot, but the keeper was equal to it. Bryan then cut in from the left and fired a shot just over the crossbar.

The one moment of concern came after 31 minutes when Carl McCluskey challenged Cliff Akurang, who went down. Hendon fans held their breath for a moment, but the referee pointed to the six-yard box and awarded a goal-kick.

All the Greens were lacking was a goal to settle their nerves. Instead, 10 minutes before the break, calamity struck and Stortford took an undeserved lead. Clever play by Reece Prestedge, drew Bennett into a rash attempt to win the ball.

Prestedge flicked the ball away from Bennett and ran into the penalty area where the covering James Fisher stuck out a leg to knock away the ball. However, the Blues captain was too clever for that and, instead of the ball, it was with Prestedge's leg that Fisher made contact.

It was an obvious penalty, one which no Hendon player even contemplated questioning. Had Thomas stayed still in the middle of the goal, he could have caught Kyle Vassell's attempt; he dived and the Blues were a goal to the good.

Two minutes later, Prestedge, now attacking down the opposite flank, got around Seeby and crossed low into the penalty area. Carl McCluskey left the ball alone, instead of clearing it - his angle meant he might have found the wrong net - but Vassell anticipated well and made it 2-0 from very close range.

It was a cruel double set-back for the Greens, but they continued to use the strong wind at their backs well. Lee O'Leary invited Morgan to chase a through ball, which the striker did and kept it in play.

Morgan beat the covering Ashley Miller and delivered a perfect low cross for Diedhiou, who had most of the goal to aim at. Unfortunately for him, his powerful side-foot went the wrong side of the far post and the chance to get into the dressing room only one goal down had gone.

And it got worse for Hendon barely a minute later. A McCluskey back-pass was short and Prestedge spotted it. Thomas raced off his line and dived in, just about getting his toe to the ball before the Stortford skipper.

Prestedge went down in the challenge, the ball went out in the direction Thomas was going, but the referee still pointed to the penalty spot. The goalkeeper was then was beaten by Vassell, who thus completed a seven-minute hat-trick.

There was still time for one more chance to go the Greens' way. Another teasing left-wing cross saw Francis and Callum McNaughton almost collide as they went for it.

One of them got a touch, just enough to ensure that Diedhiou, arriving late behind them, couldn't direct the ball into the net. It looked another bad miss, but the defender's touch was too close to Diedhiou for him to be able to change his position and get the ball going downwards.

For all of the first-half positivity, the reality of being 3-0 down at half-time was a stark lesson in taking chances and the Greens looked demoralised as they trooped of a few moments later. The second was hugely disappointing as Bishops Stortford did pretty much as they pleased.

In the 55th minute, more defensive carelessness - the Greens had three chances to clear the danger created by Matt Johnson down the right wing - resulted in the ball coming back into the penalty area. With defenders out of position, Vassell was left on his own to confidently complete his four-timer.

After 62 minutes, Hendon made a triple substitution, Bennett, Maclaren and Bryan making way for Taggart, Anthony Thomas and Max McCann. All three battled hard, but the game was over as a contest, and Stortford were now keener to keep a clean sheet than they were to add to their lead.

Nine minutes later it was the turn of the Blues to make a three-pronged change. The withdrawals of Vassell and Presetedge, along with Miller was stark proof of their comfort with the situation.

Louis came close to reducing the arrears when he drilled a shot goalwards. A defender threw himself into the path of the ball and deflected it away for a corner.

The goal of the game came a couple of minutes later. Hendon's defence cleared a cross to just outside the penalty area, where Anthony Church was waiting. Church's first-time volley was superb, giving Sean Thomas no chance.

With four minutes of normal time remaining, Anthony Thomas was denied by a superb save from Wright. It would have been no more than a consolation, but thoroughly deserved on the basis of the first third of the match.

A minute later, Sean Thomas did even better to keep out a drive from Akurang as the Hendon defence was again ripped open.