With the last kick of the match George Bucci, the Golders Green captain, found the net at Hayes on Saturday. This shot brought Golders Green two points, which gives them a welcome rise in the League table. Everybody was prepared for a draw. For the last quarter-of-an-hour Hayes had been on defence. Despite wonderful play by Drinkwater and T.E. Evans on the left wing, Cole, the Hayes goalkeeper, though quite a youngster, dealt with all kinds of shots from every angle with remarkable cleverness. It was hard luck for him that he should be beaten as the whistle was ready for the last time. Cole had an ovation at the end: he deserved it.

Strange to say, Golders Green's first goal came within two or three minutes of the change of ends, and Hayes scored theirs soon after the restart.

Golders Green deserved their win largely by reason of their fine defensive work in the first half, when Hayes had the benefit of the wind. The play in the second half was mostly in favour of Golders Green, the home defence having a strenuous time. In fairness to Hayes it must be mentioned that in the second period Groves, perhaps the cleverest forward on their side, had the misfortune to be injured when Bucci deprived him of the ball. It was a perfectly clean tackle - Bucci is not given to unfair play - and seeing that the incident took place on the touchline the referee did not even cause the game to be stopped.

Realising the importance of the game Groves made an effort to return to the field, but found himself helpless, and retired for good. His loss was a handicap, but we do not think it affected the issue. Before this incident Golders Green were well on top.

With the exception of T.E. Edwards, Golders Green were at full strength. Breagan was handicapped by being without his usual partner on the right wing, although J. Edwards did creditably. The left wing men were the stronger pair. Drinkwater, besides scoring a goal, led his opponents a merry dance, particularly in the second half, when, after tricking the opposition, he sent across well-judged centres which one felt must yield goals sooner or later. Success came very late, but as Golders Green won - few clubs bring points away from Hayes - we will say no more on that point, except that non-success earlier was due not so much to the weakness of the forwards as the solidity of the defence.

Nothing was more pleasing than the work of T.E. Evans at inside-left. He realises that the main object of one in his position is to get goals, and he loses no opportunity of shooting and shooting hard. A number of his shots went wide, but that can be excused. This "disease" is catching; we are getting much less of that timorous play in the goalmouth, and halves and full-backs are joining in the fun. From left-back Richardson put in some of the best shots of the match; we also saw Broadis, Bucci and White taking aim at goal.

Once again we must give credit to the half-backs, although Bucci was slightly injured in the course of the game. Jimmy Spalton, late of Golders Green, will bear testimony to the work of Bucci, who generally had the better of the argument. Behind Bucci was Jack Richardson, who played a faultless game, and altogether Pullen and Spalton, a right wing pair from whom the local supporters expect much, had a discomforting afternoon.

Boston, at right-back, may not have been so conspicuous as his partner, but he shares the credit of a win.

Doubts as to the ability of Godding, who was beaten 13 times in the first three games, can now be dispelled entirely. He had no chance with the shot that scored: while he had less troublesome shots than Cole, there were times without number when his anticipation and coolness prevented disaster. The fact that Golders Green have only given away two goals in the last three matches - against Barnet, Sutton and Hayes - speaks well for their defence.

Playing against the wind, one expected to see Golders Green on the defence at the start, but the forwards occasionally got going, and in one attack F. Evans had the worst of the exchanges with Cole, in goal. Evans appeared to be hurt, but no serious damage was done. Broadis did well to stop Pullen at the expense of a corner when he was tearing towards goal, but generally speaking the right wing pair of Hayes was not so effective as the other pair, Groves and Brown. It was from Groves that most shots worth mentioning came. The strong wind had nuch to do with erratic shooting.

While the play was on the whole clean, two fouls were given against Hayes within a brief period. This caused a shout of "Play the game!" , while one wag - we get many at a football match - suggested that the Hayes players did not deserve the smart stripes down the sides of their knickers.

Shortly before half-time the Hayes goal was bombarded, and there were half-a-dozen occasions when it seemed as though Golders Green had scored. Cole came out of the ordeal with flying colours. After a brief spell Golders Green returned to the attack, and Drinkwater initiated a movement which led to the first goal. The ball was sent across to the right wing, and Breagan, though falling, succeeded in returning it to Drinkwater, who had no difficulty in heading through.

Though Golders Green had the wind in their favour, it was recognised that one goal was hardly sufficient to bring about a win, and when within ten minutes Hayes scored through Groves from a pass by Pullen, the home side looked probable winners. Before this equaliser Godding had been very severely tested. But Golders Green did not mean to go under without a fight, and indeed from this stage they were distinctly the better side. We had a number of scrimmages in the goalmouth, and once Golders Green strongly contended that the ball had crossed the line, but the referee did not see matters in the same light.

So the game went on, both teams striving hard to get the lead, but without success. Godding had far less to do than Cole, upon whom shots were rained from all quarters, but as we have said, it was not until right at the end that Bucci, following a terrific struggle in the goalmouth, happened to get possession, and sent the ball out of the reach of Cole into the net.

A memorable finish to a fast and exciting game between two well-matched sides.