Match Report

Hendon
3
Leyton
1
Date:
Saturday 21 October 1944
Competition:
Hertfordshire & Middlesex League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Golders Green

Match Report

Golders Green were below strength for their home Herts and Middlesex League game against Leyton last Saturday, neither Finch nor Stroud being available. Fortunately, A. Cochrane (now a Pilot Officer) was home on leave, and with V. Henocq, also in the Forces, made the left wing, Goodchild moving to outside right. McKinney was given a trial at left half.

The game was played at a fast pace, and soon developed into a ding-dong battle. The Green took a long time to settle down and only in the second half could they be said to have found anything like their form. Then, for a period, they swamped the visiting defence, and only some great goalkeeping by Gibbs prevented a higher score.

Bossoms, at left back, was the star of the match, and it is doubtful if there is a better back in amateur football. It is no exaggeration to say that he carried the left wing of the defence on his shoulders. Topp gave his usual sound, sterling display at right half while Fair at centre forward did some good work.

The game was only 13 minutes old when Leyton opened the score. Biggs, for the visitors, had headed over from a good cross pass, while Gallacher, for the Green, had had a good shot blocked just in time. Then Leyton attacked on the left; Roberts took but could not hold MacDermott's shot, and Rason fastened on to the ball and kicked it into the net.

Within two minutes, Golders Green equalised. Cochrane put in a good centre; Gallacher's shot was parried, and the ball rebounded to Fair who lobbed it over Gibbs' head into the net.

At this stage, Cochrane and Henocq interchanged positions, and, in the new formation, the left wing appeared to function more smoothly.

There was no further scoring prior to half time, but after 8 minutes of the second period, the Green took the lead. Gibbs deflected a shot from Henocq back to Gallacher, who kicked hard and true for goal. The ball was only kept out by a defender handling, and Bossoms, with the resulting penalty, scored well.

Golders Green now began to gain the upper hand, and after a quarter of an hour's play Gallacher passed to Cochrane who increased the Green's lead with a fine shot.

There was no further scoring, the Green running out winners by 3 goals to 1, and gained two more useful points to maintain third place in the League Table.

Report by Hampstead and St John's Wood News and Golders Green Gazette, 26/10/1944, p.6

Golders Green

1
R Roberts
2
Bill Fisher
3
Peter Bossoms
4
Laurie Topp
5
H Malcolm
6
P McKinney
7
Cyril Goodchild
8
Bob Gallacher
9
C Fair
10
V Henocq
11
A "Mac" Cochrane

Match Events

D Rason
14''
16''
C Fair
54''
Peter Bossoms
61''
A "Mac" Cochrane

Leyton

1
A Gibbs
2
J Welsh
3
G Yeo
4
K Facey
5
A Nash
6
F Coombs
7
W Biggs
8
E Stanley
9
W MacDermott
10
G Medcalf
11
D Rason