Golders Green disappointed their supporters at Claremont Road on Saturday, when they were well beaten by Clapton. Had it not been for Roberts' excellent display in goal - Spencer, to whom a trial was to have been given, cried off, unfit - the adverse score would have been higher.

Clapton well deserved their win; they were superior to their hosts in almost every department. Their attack showed speed, method and purpose, while their defence positional play and covering were excellent. Except for Topp, who played a great game, the Greens were for the most part at "sixes and sevens"; they lacked accuracy and anticipation.

The opening exchanges gave no indication of the subsequent course of the game, for within five minutes of the start, Henocq put a ball across and Gallacher hit home a fine ground shot to put Golders Green ahead.

Clapton soon settled down to play good constructive football, and Roberts made a grand save from a header by Jennings. Mitchell missed a good chance by shooting over with Robson out of goal, then, after ten minutes' play, Martinson failed to make contact with the ball, which Langer gathered and shot into the net to equalise.

For a while Clapton set up heavy pressure and gave the home defence serious trouble. Then the Green had two pieces of bad luck which certainly altered the course of the game. Gallacher hit the cross bar with a great drive which had Robson beaten, while a few minutes later Fair broke through and as he shot Robson advanced and deflected the ball on to the bar for it to again rebound into play.

After this let off, Clapton came again and Roberts saved well from Langer who got right through. After half an hour, however, Clapton took the lead when Jennings headed home beautifully from a centre by Brooks.

In the second half the game resolved itself almost entirely to the Green's defence endeavouring to break up Clapton's attacks, and Roberts had a busy afternoon. Fortunately he was in excellent form and was only beaten once, when Langer received a cross pass and shot Clapton's third goal after a quarter of an hour.

Towards the close the light failed badly and it was often difficult to follow the flight of the ball.