Match Report

Barnet
0
Hendon
4
Date:
Saturday 29 August 1936
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Barnet

Match Report

The Barnet ground now holds no terrors for Golders Green. At one time it was difficult to get points there; now Golders Green go there with confidence. Both matches last season between these old rivals ended in victories for Golders Green; on Saturday last, playing at home, Barnet were soundly beaten by four goals to none. From first to last Barnet were outplayed.

The big margin was due not so much to brilliancy by Golders Green as by the ineptitude of Barnet, whose work never reached that standard which we are wont to associate with the club.

Barnet were without two " stars " in L. Finch, playing for the Rest of the League against Romford, and A. Morris, on the sick list, but there were weaknesses in more than two places. They tried several new men, and maybe in time some of these will prove useful.

Unlike Barnet, Golders Green were able to play practically last year's side, and it speaks well for the management of the side that there has been only one departure. Tommy Evans was chosen to play for the Rest of the League, and E. Duffield and G. Marrable (two Reserves) filled places in the forward line.

The defence was as usual, and the fact that no goals were scored against Golders Green gives confidence. It cannot be expected, nor could it be wished, that they will meet with no stronger opposition than Barnet offered, but unless accidents happen, the defence will give no anxiety to the selection committee for the time being.

There was quite a good crowd and Golders Green supporters noted that considerable improvements had been made to the ground since their last visit. If play was not up to standard, the heat wave must be blamed. Long before the finish tiredness on the part of several men was perceptible.

A feature was the absence of offside decisions and but few corner kicks. Golders Green did not get one until close on half-time. During the match Breagan and W. Boston had to receive first-aid, but on the whole it was a cleanly-contested match, with a complete lack of that bitterness which marked games in by-gone days. May that spirit continue!

George Bucci, who has been re-elected captain of Golders Green, led his side on the field to the accompaniment of applause from the Green's supporters, and though it meant nothing of great advantage, the spin of the coin went in the visitors' favour.

Quite early in the game Golders Green assumed the upper hand, Duffield sending in a nice shot from the wing, while Bloxham, whose legs seem to have grown longer during the summer, found little difficulty in coping with Minter [not Miller as in the paper], who played in Golders Green reserve side last season, and fed his forwards judiciously. Some time elapsed before the Barnet front line could get going, but they got the first corner, although there was a doubt whether the ball had crossed the line.

Another corner came when Kimber was forced over the line with the ball in his hands, but following the clearance Golders Green attacked again, and at the end of 15 minutes scored the first goal of the season. It originated in a run by Breagan, who passed to Duffield, and from his shot the ball rebounded off the goalpost into the net.

It was by no means a brilliant goal, but it sufficed to give Golders Green encouragement, and from this point the result of the game was never in doubt.

Until then, although they had proved the better side, there had been little in the play of Golders Green over which their supporters could get enthusiastic. F. Boston had been given few opportunities, the attack being mainly on the right wing. When his turn did come, however, he shot hard, but more often than not wide of the goal.

While Barnet showed little improvement in attack we began to see better results from Golders Green, and Hine was kept busy. He was almost beaten by a shot from Bloxham who, with the other halves, played well, but Broadis, as is usual, seemed more concerned with keeping opponents out than in strengthening the attack.

Half an hour from the start Golders Green scored their second goal through Marrable, from a pass by Duffield, and though Barnet made one or two determined efforts they were unable to score, largely through the determination of W. Boston, who was on top form. He was hurt slightly in his effort to outwit Minter, who cleverly forced a corner, but before long he was again in the thick of the fight. Just on half-time Bucci, from long range, gave Hine a difficult shot to handle, and following this came a corner kick, the first and only one for the visitors.

Half-time came with Barnet two goals down, and no one could say that the score did them an injustice. Their team work compared most unfavourably with that of Golders Green.

Play in the second half was by no means thrilling. The intense heat had a great effect upon the contestants, and there was never any chance of Barnet recovering lost ground.

Quite early a misunderstanding between Browne and Duffield led to a glorious chance being missed, but a minute or two later Duffield put in a good shot and seemed bent on proving that he was worth a place in the side. Marrable, too, was not playing badly for a second-team man, and from a pass by F. Boston he made a good attempt with his head. Breagan also had bad luck with a shot which skimmed the bar.

Ten minutes from the cross-over Duffield scored again from a pass by Breagan, and this was undoubtedly the best goal of the match. Hine was completely beaten.

Barnet rallied, but found Kimber too big an obstacle. He was well served by his backs, and it required a much more virile attack to get the better of this trio.

Breagan was off duty for a few minutes owing to a leg injury, and just after his return Golders Green scored their fourth and last goal from a penalty kick taken by Broadis.

There was then 20 minutes to go, and for the greater part of this time play was in favour of Golders Green.

In the closing stages there were one or two desperate efforts by Barnet to get a goal. Conspicuous was Richardson, who left his position at left-half to join in the attack, and one would not have been sorry had he succeeded. He was certainly outstanding for Barnet, who were also well served by the backs. There was little or no cohesion among the forwards, and their shooting was poor.

On the Golders Green side there were no palpably weak spots, but Barnet was not a team to draw the best out of them, and we shall have to wait a bit before pronouncing a decided opinion upon their capabilities. The presence of Tommy Evans will no doubt strengthen the attack, and there is a feeling that if the crowd will be patient Duffield may satisfactorily fill the centre-forward position.

Report by Hendon Times, 04/09/1936, p.14

Golders Green

1
Gerry Kimber
2
Bill Boston
3
Cliff George
4
Joe Bloxham
5
Bert Broadis
6
George Bucci
7
A J "Billy" Breagan
8
Johnny Browne
9
Eric Duffield
10
Gerry Marrable
11
Fred Boston

Match Events

16''
Eric Duffield
30''
Gerry Marrable
55''
Eric Duffield
70''
Bert Broadis

Barnet

1
S Hine
2
J R Cooper
3
M Wade
4
L Gray
5
J McCarthy
6
J Richardson
7
A Green
8
R Markwell
9
W Weightman
10
R Brown
11
J C Minter