Hendon eased past Hullbridge Sports 7-3 in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup on Friday. The match took place at Hendon's home ground on September 5, 2026, and ended with a comfortable victory for the hosts. By then, the scoreline had already established itself as one of the more unusual results in this stage of the competition.
Hendon arrived with mixed fortunes in recent outings. They had lost 1-2 to Hastings United on August 29, after winning 4-2 against Wealdstone on July 14. Going further back, they beat Dulwich Hamlet 1-0 and Beckenham Town 5-2 in October and September respectively. Things came to a head on Friday, and the hosts finally put their inconsistent form behind them.
Hullbridge Sports brought a different profile to the encounter. Their last five matches yielded two victories and three defeats. They beat Brentwood Town 3-2 in July 2026, followed by losses to Brightlingsea Regent and Grays Athletic. They had also secured a 3-1 win over Basildon United in August 2025, before that loss to Kettering Town in September 2023.
Seven goals for Hendon and three for Hullbridge Sports painted a picture of an open game. To be fair, such a scoreline suggests both defences were willing to take risks. The hosts were not merely winning—they were creating chances at will. Hullbridge managed to respond on occasion, but the pattern of the match was clear from the outset.
This result keeps Hendon in the FA Cup for another round, while Hullbridge Sports' campaign comes to an early end. The victory marks a turnaround for a home side that had shown vulnerability in recent fixtures. They handed a statement of intent with this performance, even if the opposition offered little resistance.