Match Report

Wealdstone
1
Hendon
6
Date:
Friday 25 December 1931
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Wealdstone

Match Report

Playing exactly the same team that has represented them for the last few matches with the exception of Bucci and Graves, for whom S.A. Coles and J.W. Bloxham deputised, Hampstead were in exceptionally good form on Christmas morning, and playing really clever team football swamped Wealdstone to the tune of six goals to one. Dean, acting as captain in the absence of Bucci, won the toss and decided to kick up the slope in the first half, which seemed to be a distinct advantage in Hampstead's favour, for in the second half, when Wealdstone had the hill to face, it could be easily said that they were a spent force. Only on rare occasions were they in Hampstead's defensive half of the field.

Hampstead were the first to make any attack on the goal. Bramley, running up the slope on the right, put across a good centre to Lloyd, who, with a first-time kick, gave Poulson a difficult shot to deal with. He gave a corner, which proved fruitless.

From a corner taken by Groves, Smith scrambled the ball away only for Groves to put in a hot drive, which Smith cleared for another corner. Hampstead opened the score after ten minutes, when, from a fine cross pass by Bramley, Lloyd put in a shot which Poulson punched out. Evans, however, was on the spot and scored easily.

Maskell then had a good chance to equalise when with a clear field he cut in and shot weakly. With a fine run on the left Wealdstone put in a good shot through Groves, and Smith, in clearing, seemed to fumble the ball. Following up, Bowyer equalised for Wealdstone.

After thirty minutes Hampstead scored a second goal, a centre by Buchanan being finely headed into goal by Evans. From the kick-off Lloyd received the ball from Bloxham, and with a forward pass Evans, after tricking Loveday, had an open goal, and with a hard drive beat Poulson.

Continuing to press, Wealdstone had hard luck on several occasions, the ball just going over the crossbar or hitting the upright before going out, and on one occasion Rees saved a certain goal by heading out for a corner. Just on half-time, with a good drive from Bishop, Groves had another clear run on the wing, but his shot hit the upright and went out of play.

With what was considered a good lead at half-time, Hampstead soon commenced to press on resuming, and after ten minutes, from a good centre by Butland, Evans scored Hampstead's fourth goal and also made his total to four. Hampstead were now having things all their own way and rarely did Wealdstone cross the halfway line. Pressing hard, Hampstead, through Bramley, nearly increased their lead, a good shot after a run down the wing being nicely cleared by Poulson for a corner, which proved of no avail. Poulson was again in the limelight when he made a miraculous save from another header by Evans. Wealdstone then came up the field and Darvill, with a hard first-time shot, just skimmed the bar.

Receeiving a pass from Coles, Evans dribbled by Loveday, and placing the ball across the goalmouth, saw Bramley scramble the ball in to score the fifth goal for Hampstead. Butland scored the sixth goal. From a forward pass, Evans, finding himself in a bad position, returned the ball to Butland, who with a fine cross-shot high up easily beat Poulson. In the next minute Wealdstone were awarded a penalty aginst Rees who, whilst clearing from a breakaway by Groves, accidentally handled the ball.

Bowyer took the kick and shot straight at Smith, who cleared easily. For the last ten minutes play was mostly in midfield and on only one or two occasions were the goalkeepers called upon to clear, Hampstead eventually running out easy winners by six goals to one.

Report by Hendon Times & Guardian, 01/01/1932, p.12

Hampstead

1
Sid Smith
2
Frank Dean
3
Leslie Compton
4
S A Coles
5
Percy Rees
6
Joe Bloxham
7
Bill Bramley
8
Alec Buchanan
9
Freddie Evans
10
Bill Butland
11
Eddie Lloyd

Match Events

11''
Freddie Evans
C Bowyer
20''
31''
Freddie Evans
32''
Freddie Evans
56''
Freddie Evans
69''
Bill Bramley
78''
Bill Butland

Wealdstone

1
F Paulson
2
A Loveday
3
R C Bishop
4
C E Woodhams
5
B Darvill
6
F Russell
7
T Maskell
8
L Hoskins
9
S F Wyatt
10
C Bowyer
11
L Groves