Match Report

Hendon
6
Barnet
2
Date:
Saturday 03 October 1936
Competition:
FA Cup
Attendance:
3550
Venue:
Golders Green

Match Report

Golders Green drew their largest gate this season on Saturday, the number present being officially given as 3,550, and the receipts as £105 8s 9d.

There was a combination of circumstances which led to this large crowd. It was a Cup-tie, the opponents were Barnet, old rivals who brought a big contingent, while the weather could not have been more favourable.

Those who expected a stirring game were not disappointed. It was touch and go in the first half, at the end of which the score was two all. Barnet started strongly after change of ends, and had they scored Golders Green would probably have had no further interest in the Cup. However, their defence stood them in good stead, and after Browne had given Golders Green the lead for the second time they never looked back, and scoring three more goals the result was more decisive than one could have expected.

After Golders Green had scored their third goal Barnet always looked a beaten side, but it was surprising to find the side go to pieces so badly. Scoring was child's work for Golders Green in the last quarter-of-an-hour.

Golders Green were still without Tommy Evans.

Before the match our representative was informed that four of the Barnet players were suffering from lameness and other troubles, but one had to wait a long time before anything wrong was noticeable. In the second half Finch certainly played under some handicap, but we are quite sure Barnet will agree that Golders Green's victory was well merited.

Finch, the Amateur International, who captained Barnet's side, played brilliantly in the first half, and no one could question his value to his country. He manipulated the ball with remarkable dexterity, and it took the Golders Green some time before they were able to counter his movements. However, the time came when Finch's value depreciated. This was partly due to his lameness, but he set his team a fine example by his untiring energy. He roamed a good deal in the hope of reducing the severity of the defeat and at times was to be found on the opposite wing. This indicated the hopeless position in which Barnet found themselves.

Braithwaite was a strong right winger, and for a time the line compared favourably with the Golders Green five. In the closing stages, however, the visiting attack was weak.

While the referee thought fit to punish the sides many times, the number of grave offences was exceedingly small, and though Barnet and Golders Green have met often, we cannot recall a pleasanter match. All the players must be congratulated upon the sporting spirit shown.

Golders Green have never opened a season so well, and it is a matter of regret that C.V. George, through business reasons, has had to sever his connection with the club. He is leaving for Manchester. He and W. Boston played finely at back on Saturday, as they have done many times before. In eight matches Golders Green have dropped but seven goals, and for this creditable record they have to thank not only the backs, but Kimber and in goal and the three halves, the three B's, Bloxham, Broadis and Bucci, who slowly, but surely, broke up Barnet's attack until it was innocuous.

Of Golders Green's forwards we think the palm goes to Browne, a brainy player who is more effective this season because he has dropped some of his embroidery work. He has lost none of the trickiness which marked his early performances, but now passes the ball with more judgment and shoots more frequently.

We also saw good work from the other players, particularly the wingers, and the fourth goal, which emanated from Breagan, was a gem. Speeding along the wing like a hare, Breagan centred from near the corner flag, and Green would have disgraced himself had he failed to head the ball into the net.

By the way, Green was decidedly disappointing in the first half. He committed many sins of omission and commission, and had difficulty in keeping his feet. The general opinion was that he failed to fit the bill. After changing ends, however, he was a live wire, and had much to do in bringing about a decisive victory. He scored twice, and why another was disallowed no one seemed to know but the referee. However, that mattered little. Golders Green had already got five.

Coming to the details of the match, Barnet played with the wind at the start, and the opening movements were in their favour, but before five minutes had passed Golders Green had taken the lead through F. Boston, following a free kick. Boston's first shot was saved, but his second beat Hawkins completely.

Within a few minutes Barnet had equalised, a pass from the right wing being converted by Finch, who was early showing his capabilities.

On the other wing Braithwaite was doing good work and Kimber's position was no sinecure. He saved several excellent shots, and it was evident that Barnet were a totally different side to that which went under earlier on their own ground to Golders Green. The home forwards were not idle, however, and we also saw some good attempts by the halves, one by Broadis being particularly noticeable. This was saved by Hawkins at the expense of a corner.

Seventeen minutes from the start Braithwaite gave Barnet the lead with a fine shot, but though Green was not too dependable the other Golders Green forwards were shaping well, and at the end of 25 minutes the sides were again level. Breagan scored this second goal from Breagan's pass after Green had lamentably failed to take the opening.

There was no more scoring before the interval, the play being as even as could be desired. Richardson was injured, but happily was not obliged to leave the field. There were claims for a penalty when F. Boston was fouled, but the referee did not see any reason for awarding the full punishment. There were many exciting incidents at both ends, and the crowd found good entertainment.

The second half opened in favour of Barnet, several free kicks being given against Golders Green, chiefly for handling, but twelve minutes from the restart, from a pass by Green, Browne scored with a magnificent shot. This goal had a decisive bearing on the result. Barnet's attack caused little trouble to Golders Green, Finch being well held by W. Boston, and it was only through good work by Hawkins, who saved many good shots, that Golders Green did not score again until ten minutes from the end. Then Green converted with his head a centre by Breagan, and gained popularity among those who had previously decried him by scoring another in a few minutes.

It was bad luck that he was deprived of the hat trick by a ruling of the referee after he had again found the net. For what reason the goal was disallowed no one seemed to know. With two minutes to go F. Boston completed a capital afternoon's work by scoring the sixth goal. In doing so he suffered loss of blood, the ball having struck him in the face.

Thus ended a memorable match. Golders Green players were cheered on leaving the field, but there was a measure of appplause for Barnet, particularly Finch, who was surrounded by boys beseeching his autograph.

Report by Hendon Times, 09/10/1936, 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
Les Green
10
Eric Duffield
11
Fred Boston

Match Events

5''
Fred Boston
L. Finch
8''
J Braithwaite
17''
26''
A J "Billy" Breagan
57''
Johnny Browne
80''
Les Green
83''
Les Green
88''
Fred Boston

Barnet

1
A Hawkins
2
A Buchanan
3
J Cooper
4
L Gray
5
J McCarthy
6
E Gardiner
7
J Braithwaite
8
L Ellison
9
G Neary
10
J Richardson
11
L. Finch