Match Report

Hendon
2
St Albans City
4
Date:
Saturday 28 December 1940
Competition:
Hertfordshire & Middlesex League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Golders Green

Match Report

St. Albans [City] defeated Golders Green 4-2 at Claremont Road last Saturday, but the home side were sadly lacking in experienced players, four of whom had to " cry off " at the last moment.

Without Bucci, F. Boston, Kingwell and Pulling, the Green fielded a side with many promising juniors, who did well up to a point, but who were unable, ultimately, to hold the more seasoned St. Albans eleven.

L. Bustard did well at left-back, whilst Ellison performed prodigies at centre-half against a very speedy opponent.

The wing halves, Benham and McGuire, worked well, while Pheby, the London Representative schoolboy player, showed clever ball manipulation and much promise.

The Green's attack failed because they were too slow and held the ball too close. Many chances were lost through shooting when a centre should have been made, and through passing instead of shooting.

In the early stages the Green had nearly all the play territorially, and it was against the run of things when St. Albans, getting away on the right, opened the scoring. Richardson shot, and Boston could only deflect the ball to Birkbeck, who gave Hart no chance.

Encouraged, St. Albans put on pressure. Within a few minutes they were two up. The Green defence stopped, appealing for " off-side." Birkbeck, however, was allowed to go on, and he put across for Saunders to shoot home.

The Green retaliated, and Stroud, who had played a storming game throughout, put across to Higgs at centre-forward. The latter, with a brilliant cross-hook, completely beat Rue to make the score 2-1.

The teams changed right over without interval, and the home side again had long periods on the offensive. One brilliant move by Pheby deserved a better fate than for Coleman to shoot straight at Rue.

The game swung to the other end. Hart made a brilliant save from Richardson, but Saunders got through and Richardson beat Hart from his pass to make the score 3-1. Immediately afterwards St. Albans got right through again and Saunders shot a very good goal.

Just before the end Breagan, who during this half got a nasty shaking up and was off the field for a while, put the ball across to Coleman, who, making a good run, put in a fine cross-shot which quite deceived Rue and went into the far corner of the net.

Report by Hampstead News, 02/01/1941, p.6

Golders Green

1
A E Hart
2
Bill Boston
3
Len Bustard
4
S P Benham
5
Les "Jock" Ellison
6
T McGuire
7
Roy Stroud
8
A J "Billy" Breagan
9
Jack Higgs
10
P Pheby
11
George Coleman

Match Events

L Birkbeck
22''
W Saunders
25''
40''
Jack Higgs
J Richardson
68''
W Saunders
70''
86''
George Coleman

St Albans City

1
J Rue
2
W Dibbin
3
G Hall
4
V Dunstan
5
R Wells
6
J Smith
7
R Pawley
8
W Saunders
9
J Richardson
10
L Young
11
L Birkbeck