Hendon stretched their unbeaten run to three games as they eased into the semi-final of the London Senior Cup for the second time in three seasons, seeing off an overmatched Leyton team. Ten weeks earlier, Hendon's season reached its apex with the 11-1 victory on the same Lea Bridge Road ground - and they have not come close to matching either the result or the performance since then.

Davis Haule was rested, allowing Belal Aiteouakrim to partner Brian Haule up front, while Jamie Busby also returned to the starting 11 in place of the cup-tied Lee O'Leary. There was a first appearance on the bench - and in the game it turned out - for Glenn Garner from the Under-21s team.

Although Leyton's results have not been as bad as the 15 December massacre, they have had only the London Senior Cup victory over Beckenham to show in the win column and a League draw with Staines in terms of points won. In the first half, they offered absolutely nothing in terms of attack and looked susceptible to Hendon raids from all angles.

The Greens, however, are still lacking in confidence and that could be shown by the time it took for an effort to be put on target. It came from Danny Dyer after 23 minutes and goalkeeper Sam Tanner had his angles well worked out to made a comfortable save.

Hendon continued to press and came close to opening the scoring on two or three occasions, Haule, Aiteouakrim, Marc Leach and Busby all having opportunities. But they were either saved, blocked by a lunging defender or failed to hit the target.

With Leyton offering so little in attack, there was little concern that Hendon hadn't scored in the first half. Luke Blackmore was little more than a spectator and rarely will James Parker, Sam Collins, Marc Leach, Sam Page and James Burgess have as little to do in terms of defensive work. All five were able to get forward at various times, although the central defenders limited themselves to attacking at the many set-pieces going Hendon's way.

But, even if there were some worries, they were cast aside in the 43rd minute, when Dyer cut in from the right wing, crossed low across the six-yard box and Casey Maclaren applied the coup de grace from close range. It was no more than Hendon deserved although the advantage was somewhat belated.

As with the earlier contest, Leyton looked much brighter in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Luke Blackmore tangled with Victor Renner and both players were cautioned as frustration seemed to affecting both sides. And Brian Haule followed those two into the referee's notebook - this caution for persistent misconduct, though the striker felt he was on the wrong end of some crafty treatment.

A second goal seemed certain to settle the tie and Hendon got it 20 minutes into the second half. Busby did magnificently to make a sliding tackle just inside the Leyton penalty area, sending defender Marvin McCoy head over heels after the ball was won in the challenge.

Busby was back on his feet quickly and his controlled cross picked out Aiteouakrim. The striker needed deft feet to bring the ball under control, as a couple of defenders tried to dispossess him, but once this was achieved, Aiteouakrim drilled the ball past the advancing Tanner.

Both teams made their three substitutions, Hendon introducing the Guentchev brothers simultaneously for two goalscorers the scorer and later Garner for Dyer. Significantly weakened in midfield, Hendon lost this battle and Blackmore had to make three good saves to preserve the two-goal advantage. And he was fortunate that Ricky Hazard - son of the former Tottenham, Chelsea and Swindon midfielder Micky - couldn't control the ball when he took the ball around the goalkeeper.

With a minute of normal time remaining, the Hendon defence was breached and although Blackmore saved the initial shot from Renner, the rebound was knocked into the net by Hazard.

The confidence visibly drained out of the Hendon players with this setback, but there wasn't time for Leyton to get an equaliser, so Hendon now have a date with Bromley on 11th March, with a final at the Metropolitan Police's Imber Court ground awaiting the winners on Tuesday 22 April.

Greens boss Gary McCann was far from happy with what he had seen. "I though we approached the game with the wrong mental attitude," he said. "I wasn't over-impressed with the performance. The players thought they only had to turn up to win, and they didn't do as we said.

"Still we are into another semi-final and I am pleased with that."

(Report by David Ballheimer - not to be reproduced without permission from the author)