Last Saturday saw the return of football to Claremont Road, but it was a rather unfortunate return for Golders Green who lost their first home match with Tooting and Mitcham [United] by four goals to two.

As in previous seasons the Green's old trouble of weakness in front of goal reasserted itself. Centre-forward Griggs in particular missed many golden opportunities to score.

Territorially, the first half was fairly even, but because they were quicker on the ball and more accurate with their passing Tooting and Mitcham had a three-nil lead at the interval.

In the second half it was the visitors who had the appearance of a beaten team, but their stubborn defence managed to hold its own against an enthusiastic but not particularly dangerous Green forward line.

Weeks, who was Golders Green's best man in defence, had the misfortune, in the middle of the first half, to deflect the ball into his own goal and so give the visitors the lead. Parker notched another for them a few minutes later after a short period of strenuous attacking by the Tooting and Mitcham forwards.

The visitors increased their lead just before the interval when Parker again seized an opportunity to bang the ball past Hart from short range.

After the restart the Green played much better football and Breagan showed that he still retains his fine form of last year.

Cochrane, the left winger, also played well, and it was he who scored the Green's first goal, with a fine shot which hit the underneath of the bar.

After Parker had completed his hat trick for Tooting, Bucci scored Golders Green's second goal, when he bundled the ball into the net.

Just before the end Hart brought off a magnificent save when we stoppped a penalty taken for Tooting by Beasley.