Match Report

Hendon
7
Southall
3
Date:
Saturday 24 February 1940
Competition:
Middlesex Red Cross Cup
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Golders Green

Match Report

Brilliant play in the forward line was the feature of Golders Green's performance at Claremont Road on Saturday. The defence were weak at times, but there was a lightning quality about the attack, the front line team-work being always of a high standard.

F. Boston was not playing and his place was taken by Ellison, who put up a grand show, while Breagan made a good return to the right wing. Martinson turned out at left-back and Ward was placed at right-half, with Lovell in the centre.

Ellison produced a spectacular start, taking up a pass from the centre and slipping between Clark and Wellstead, to hook round a shot to the goal, but Rowe held it and Southall set up a sharp attack which ended with Kennett scoring, to give the visitors the lead within three minutes. Golders Green gained a couple of corners and then Ward placed a beautiful free-kick, from which Ellison looked a certain scorer, but he fell when on the point of shooting.

Bucci equalised after ten minutes play. He took a free-kick from practically on the touchline and dropped the ball just under the bar, Rowe reaching it but letting it slip through his hands. One minute later Tomlinson took a centre from Breagan and shot neatly past the goalkeeper from a difficult angle to give Golders Green the lead, and almost at once he added their third.

Breagan and Fontana, playing well together, were making openings for Tomlinson, with Ward giving grand support, while some of Tomlinson's shots, just wide of the mark, would have been unstoppable. Ellison got away well when served by the halves and Cochrane was full of energy and purpose.

At the other end Hart had to jump to save a high shot from Hill, who next forced a corner off Boston, but Southall were not having much of the game this half and the interval arrived with Golders Green still leading 3-1.

Southall started to force the pace after the change-over and Hart had to deal with half-a-dozen shots before Southall were awarded a penalty against Boston. Morrad took the spot kick, but drove it straight to Hart, who held it and cleared.

Then Golders Green livened up and Ellison reached Rowe with a low shot, but the goalkeeper cleared as he fell and Southall came back for A. Sayers to finish off a spell of pressure, reducing the margin to 3-2. The home defence bungled things badly and were themselves to blame. Two minutes later Sayers again scored and, on equal terms, a great fight began.

Golders Green gradually took command again and a well-placed corner kick by Breagan was finished off with a deft touch by Cochrane to restore the Green's lead.

Soon Ellison got well away and centred for Cochrane to shoot in. Bucci started the next scoring move, sending Tomlinson away with a nice touch, and the centre-forward capped a good run by netting the Green's sixth. Southall were out of the picture now, but Golders Green were bent on piling up the score and the final goal came from Cochrane, off a well-placed centre from Ward.

Report by Hendon Times & Guardian, 01/03/1940, p.2

Golders Green

1
A E Hart
2
Bill Boston
3
P Martinson
4
Ralph Ward
5
A Lovell
6
George Bucci
7
A J "Billy" Breagan
8
Les Fontana
9
Harry Tomlinson
10
A "Mac" Cochrane
11
Les "Jock" Ellison

Match Events

F Kennett
3''
11''
George Bucci
12''
Harry Tomlinson
15''
Harry Tomlinson
A Sayers
53''
A Sayers
55''
66''
A "Mac" Cochrane
70''
A "Mac" Cochrane
77''
Harry Tomlinson
82''
A "Mac" Cochrane

Southall

1
S R Rowe
2
C Wellsted
3
N Pickford
4
G Clark
5
H Oliver
6
W Sagers
7
F Kennett
8
H Sayers
9
A Sayers
10
F Morrad
11
W J Hill