A hard-working Hendon side continued their stratospheric progress (in relative historical terms) in the Isthmian League Cup, booking a place in the third round against Hampton & Richmond Borough after grinding out a 1-0 win against arch nemeses Enfield Town.

At a blustery and rain-soaked Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, it was the home side who took the early initiative, pressing the Greens and forcing a couple of corners that the visitors managed to deal with.

After this bright start from Enfield, Hendon picked up the pace and grew into the match. Although Enfield continued their frequent incursions into the Hendon half - forcing a few corners and peppering the Hendon goal with an assortment of long-range efforts - it was Hendon who looked the more likely side to take the lead, despite being forced into an early change through injury, Leon Smith replacing Aaron Morgan, who appeared to have turned his ankle in the soft turf.

Smith, along with Andre Da Costa and Lee O'Leary, all came close to converting Hendon's supremacy into a lead, although a lack of accuracy and poor contact with the ball scuppered these advances.

A Hendon free kick was cleared to da Costa, whose smart shot was cleared off the line by an Enfield defender, before the linesman's flag thwarted the latest in what had become a procession of Hendon attacks.

The game, which had been keenly contested but with no real edge, began to get a little more fractious, with increasingly robust challenges testing the patience of the referee. Kevin Maclaren appeared to get the ball in a hearty tackle, but the match official saw things differently, booking the Hendon player and giving the home side a free kick.

As half time loomed into view, da Costa tested Enfield with another decent run and shot, before a brief outbreak of half=hearted handbags followed a vigorous Enfield tackle on a Hendon player.

In the final couple of minutes of the half, da Costa was chopped down by an Enfield opponent, the aggressor receiving a yellow for his troubles. The final incident of note saw Hendon swing a corner into the box - the resultant six yard box pinball episode finally being palmed away by the Enfield keeper. All square at the break.

Half-time saw Belal Aite-Ouakrim replace Maclaren, withdrawn as a precaution.

Hendon began the second half as they left off, immediately penetrating the Enfield half like an ocelot pouncing on a lizard. Some more enterprising approach play from da Costa played in Kezie Ibe, the striker coolly slotting home from just inside the box to give the visitors a richly deserved lead.

He was shortly played through again, but the linesman once again brought a promising attack to a halt for offside. As the game progressed, it became slightly more evenly matched, both teams doing well to play some decent football in the squally conditions.

As the game drew to a close, the wind nearly caught out Ben McNamara in the Hendon goal, the keeper just managing to palm over a cross that got caught in a very stiff gust.

The keeper ensured that Hendon's lead remained intact, smothering a couple of Enfield efforts and making a couple of smart saves from close range.

With Peter Dean on for Ibe, Hendon saw out the victory, giving the club and its fans a much needed tonic after the horror show at Bognor the previous weekend.