Match Report

Pinner
1
Hendon
5
Date:
Saturday 19 September 1936
Competition:
FA Cup
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Golders Green

Match Report

Golders Green registered their fourth successive victory on Saturday by beating Pinner in the preliminary round of the F.A. Cup. The Claremont Road ground was packed with a crowd of deliriously delighted fans, who watched the home team keep their seats on top of the world with ease. [Pinner were drawn at home, but conceded home advantage to Golders Green.]

Whatever it takes to make victory easy, this season Golders Green seem to have got it. One can only hope that they won't lose it. They are playing as a team; they have dash and elasticity. Their defence is sure. They pinned Pinner in their own half for most of the ninety minutes, and at times the visitors only had two forwards ready to take a pass. The rest of the team were packing their goal, desperately trying to keep the opposing forwards at bay.

Luckily for Pinner, in the second half the Golders Green shooting became careless, otherwise the score would have been larger.

Four of the Golders Green goals came from movements in which F. Boston, on the left wing, was the originating factor. The fifth Boston got himself. At inside-left G. Marrable again deputised competently for Tommy Evans. Duffield, centre-forward, was off form. J. Browne, inside-right, played a cunning game, and the palm for best performance should be awarded to him. Breagan was not given overmuch opportunity. Kimber, in goal, spent most of his time leaning negligently against one or other of the uprights.

The sun was shining with considerable heat when Pinner kicked off. A free kick was awarded against Golders Green in the first minute. The ball went over to Sales, whose shot hit the side net. A further shot from Whiting went wide.

Golders Green were taking a few minutes to get warmed up. But the fourth minute saw Boston storming down the left wing. He centred to Duffield, and Killick came out to meet the danger. By accident or design, Duffield passed to Browne as that player collided with the goalkeeper. But Browne managed to push the ball in as he fell.

This set the home wheels turning and a period of constant attack began. Duffield nearly headed in from a pass by Breagan. Killick saved well. Bucci shot wide from a long way out.

When a free kick was awarded to Golders Green, five yards outside the Pinner penalty area, Broadis shot straight at Killick, who gathered and cleared.

The crowd had tasted blood and were eager for more. Bucci muddled a shot after Breagan had done well to get the ball past two defenders, but the left-half made up for it a moment later with a fine shot which Killick managed to save. Browne followed with another long shot.

No one could say Golders Green were not taking their chances. Pinner had not been out of their own half for thirteen minutes. When they did manage to break away, Broadis was there to hinder and clear.

When F. Boston had to leave the field for five minutes with an injured leg, Golders Green seemed to lapse into uncertainty, and Pinner forced a corner on the right. Sales' kick went across to [F.H.] Bowell, who shot through the ruck and into the corner of the net. We doubt if Kimber saw it.

Boston went back into play and the home team at once seemed to perk up and get on with it. Breagan put over a fine centre which Killick just tipped away.

After 26 minutes Boston went down on the left again and centred for Browne to get a second with a nicely judged shot.

The Pinner team were at sixes and sevens. Perhaps they were demoralised by the Golders Green will to win.

Breagan was unlucky not to score when Boston took a corner on the left. The centre was a high one and Breagan used his head, but the ball hit the upright. The crowd had another thrill when, with Killick on the ground out of goal with Marrable on top of him, the ball rolled so slowly just outside the upright.

More bad luck for the Green when a hot shot from Boston's right foot hit the underside of the cross-bar and bounced back into play. Then George Bucci shot over the top.

In the fortieth minute Marrable gave Boston a fine pass. The winger went through and shot from an awkward angle. The ball slid off Killick's knee into the net, making the score 3-1.

Two minutes before half-time Boston beat two defenders and put the ball across to Breagan, who gave to Duffield. The centre-forward shot superbly and Killick was beaten all the way.

By the way Golders Green had been making rings round the Pinner team, we expected the score to be doubled at least in the second half. But the ten minute break had a fatal result on their concentration.

They stayed in the Pinner half for most of the 45 minutes, but when they got the ball in front of goal they didn't seem to know what to do with it. They trapped it and stood still; they fell over it; they allowed it to be taken away from them; they passed to someone else who didn't know what to do with it.

Killick performed heroic feats in keeping the ball away when it did go anywhere near him. Breagan came nearest to scoring with a shot which was saved by a fraction of an inch.

Suddenly Pinner caught the Golders Green halves napping, and Bicknell went away on the left. Smith was with him, and it looked like a certain goal. Smith's shot, however, went just wide.

Bloxham apparently thought something ought to be done. He took the ball down and into the Pinner half and passed across to Breagan, who centred to Marrable. The inside-left held it dead for at least three seconds. Then he passed to Duffield, who, three yards from goal and dead centre, somehow managed to kick the ball out to the left wing. There was a howl of agonised entreaty from the crowd.

After 27 minutes of this half Boston went up and shot right along the goal-line. Killick would have saved it, but the ball hiit the upright on its way and was deflected in, making the score 5-1. This was the last goal.

And now Pinner packed their area, and it was perhaps not surprising that Golders Green missed their shots. Forward after forward failed for one reason or another.

Pinner had two more chances at a goal, but the first Smith unluckily kicked the ground instead of the ball, and the second time Kimber came out and stopped Whiting in full flight.

The closing minutes of the game were full of excitement, with Golders Green putting in shot sfter shot and just failing time and time again.

Report by Hendon Times, 25/09/1936, p.16

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

4''
Johnny Browne
F H Bowell
23''
27''
Johnny Browne
40''
Fred Boston
43''
Eric Duffield
73''
Fred Boston

Pinner

1
L A Killick
2
L H Isbell
3
J E Rackliff
4
S J Gadsden
5
E Bowell
6
J Rogers
7
B E Sales
8
W E Whiting
9
G Smith
10
F H Bowell
11
J Bicknell