Hendon, despite missing almost half a dozen first-teamers, were not unduly troubled as they reached the last eight of the London Senior Cp with a 3-0 defeat of Corinthian-Casuals at Tolworth. The Greens will travel to Leyton on 26 February for the right to face Bromley in the last four.

Richard Wilmot, James Parker and the Haule brothers were absent giving a rare first team chance for Iavor Guentchev to play with his older brother Lubomir. James Burgess took the captain's armband on his 200th first-team appearance for the club.

Corinthian-Casuals have struggled in Ryman League Division One South after being reprieved from relegation after last season, an inability to score sufficient goals noticeable as their biggest weakness. Neither goalkeeper was forced into action in the opening 25 minutes, while Luke Blackmore had to wait until the final few minutes of the half for his first real work.

By this time Hendon had taken the lead. In the 27th minute, Hendon forced a corner which was curled and was met by Marc Leach with a solid header. Paul Smith produced a magnificent save, at the expense of another corner.

This time Jamie Busby's delivery picked out Casey Maclaren and, with the far post left unmanned, the unmarked Maclaren's header flew into the net. From the shrugging of shoulders, there were some Casuals players who believed that this tie was now over.

But Hendon, who played the ball around the field in mainly aimless patterns for large spells of the game, didn't up their game after the goal and rarely threatened to extend their advantage before the interval, apart from a 36th-minute shot from Belal Aiteouakrim which went narrowly wide, although he should have scored.

Five minutes before half-time a momentary lapse in defence gave Casuals a chance, but Blackmore did well to make a smart save low by his right post.

Five minutes into the second half, Danny Dyer made a good run down the right wing. He played the ball to Aiteouakrim, whose pass across the penalty area was perfectly weighted for Lubo Guentchev. In acres of space, Guentchev had time to pick his spot and his precise low shot arrowed into the bottom corner.

The game returned to it earlier pattern, Hendon passing the ball around without getting anywhere fast and Corinthian-Casuals chasing hard and occasionally getting into good positions, which were invariably wasted.

Hendon's third goal was distinctly route one. A cross into the Hendon penalty area was well gathered by Blackmore under some pressure. He took a few steps forward before drop-kicking the ball downfield.

Over-committed to attack, there was only one defender for Lubo Guentchev to beat. This he did with a neat touch and, after waiting for Smith to come rushing from his goal, Guentchev smartly lifted the ball over him and the ball bounced into the net. Almost immediately, Hendon made the only change of the night, Parker replacing Aiteouakrim.

"This was a good exercise for us," said manager Gary McCann. "We were down to the barest of bones with the squad. I wanted the boys to play much more tonight and if it didn't look pretty they did at least try to keep the ball."

(Report by David Ballheimer - not to be reproduced in any form without the author's agreement)