Hendon began the new James Gray era with a comprehensive demolition of SJP neighbours Edgware Town in Thursday's preseason friendly.

The Hendon 22 on duty contained only two players with links to the Greens, goalkeeper Montel Joseph, who was with the club during last season, and Howard Hall, who played under Gary McCann in 2012-13. Joseph was the only player to appear in both halves and the 10 starting outfielders were all replaced for the second half.

By the time the changes were made, Hendon were already 4-1 ahead. The opening goal came from the trialist wearing number 7, who struck a superb rising shot after 11 minutes which flew past the Wares trialist goalkeeper before he had a chance to move.

Three minutes later, a defensive lapse gifted Hendon a second goal, this time Adam Martin taking an early and accurate shot which gave the goalkeeper no chance.

Edgware were back in the game after 21 minutes, when Joseph dropped the ball and in trying to recover the situation, pulled down the Wares forward who had latched onto the ball. One of their trialists took the penalty and sent it straight down the middle, which was enough to beat the diving Joseph.

Rene Howe showed Hendon fans what football watchers in the Southern League over the past decade have known well: he is an excellent taker of chances. In the 39th minute, he lost his marker, rose majestically and directed a powerful header just inside the far post.

Two minutes later, the trialist wearing number 10 made it 4–1 with a neat finish, profiting once more from a defensive lapse.

The second squad took the field for the second half and it took less than four minutes for the powerfully-built Tyriq Hunte to get his name on the scoresheet.

After 64 minutes, the trialist wearing number 19 found himself with an almost open goal and he made no mistake. Five became six two minutes later when Hunte scored his second with an assured finish.

The rout was now on and the trialist wearing 19 got his second and Hendon’s eighth in the 72nd minute.

Hunte, Prince Mbengui, the trialist in 19 and Gilberto Abril all wasted chances to get goal number nine, until Hunte completed his hat-trick in the 80th minute. It proved to be the last goal of the night though there were a couple more chances for the Greens to reach double figures.

This was no more than a good opening workout, but there will be far most testing encounters for James Gray's squad as they build towards the opening day of the 2018–19 season in the brave new world of the Evo Stik League.