Hendon overcame an early determined effort from Spartan South Midland League side Leverstock Green to comfortably win their latest pre-season friendly that was played over four periods of 30 minutes.

The Greens showed two changes from the 22 man squad that beat Tring Athletic on Tuesday evening with Max McCann and Spanish trialist Daud Barkan Jaauoan replacing the unfit Tony Taggart and Peter Dean. Former goalkeeping coach Paul Faulkner was in the opposing dugout as Assistant Manager and the first half hour period was fairly evenly matched.

Indeed, it was the home side that fashioned the first clear cut chance of the evening as the Leverstock left-winger found himself in space behind Dave Diedhiou and Chris Seeby, but as George Legg stood tall, the home player could only find the side netting.

Hendon took the lead just after the quarter hour mark when Kevin Maclaren's high ball into the box was cushioned by Kezie Ibe into the path of the onrushing Lee O'Leary, who was left with a simple finish past the Leverstock custodian.

The home side were unfortunate not to draw level within 60 seconds of O'Leary's strike as Fisher was beaten to a loose ball, but the unfortunate Leverstock number 8's strike rebounded square off the frame of the goal.

It was the second half hour period that Hendon asserted their control. Casey Maclaren broke up a Leverstock attack four minutes following the restart and advanced forward. The impressive Richard Worrell did well to gather the ball and as he was taken down on the edge of the penalty area, Maclaren, who had continued his run forward, despatched a crisp low left foot strike from just inside the penalty area that clipped the inside of the post on its way past the beaten goalkeeper.

Within two minutes, two goals had become three. Lee O'Leary's strike from a free kick was deflected by the four man home wall and as the ball looped up into the air, it was Kezie Ibe who reacted quickest to slam home the loose ball for his first Hendon goal.

The Greens, fully in control now with Max McCann, Kevin Maclaren and Lee O'Leary in midfield particularly dominant, finished the match as a contest when Olly Sprague was released down the left flank and his low centre was expertly converted at the near post by O'Leary, who duly beat his goal tally in the entirity of the 2013/4 season inside 48 hours.

The fifth and final goal came five minutes following the restart, after the half-time upheaval where Hendon made eight changes. A ball inside the left channel released Leon Smith behind the Leverstock back four and after coolly drawing the replacement home goalkeeper, Smith duly stroked the ball home.

With the number of substitutions, the rhythm of the match was understandably upset. Michael Murray came closest to adding to the scoreline when his free kick kissed the face of the crossbar in the final period, but the Greens were content to play out time keeping possession.