Match Report

Wealdstone
2
Hendon
1
Date:
Saturday 23 September 1939
Competition:
Friendly
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Wealdstone

Match Report

Golders Green expected to be at full strength for their visit to Wealdstone on Saturday, but Wright (centre-forward) and Evans (inside-left) were unable to attend, and the team suffered from the re-arrangement. R. Ward turned out at centre-forward and J. Cochrane took the inside-left berth. Both worked hard, but Cochrane was too small and Owen was obviously missing the partnership of Evans.

Wealdstone were the stronger in attack, but the game would have been a draw but for a penalty awarded for handling by Graves.

Golders Green started with ten men owing to the late arrival of Ellison, but he came on the field almost at once and the Green produced the first danger, moving up on the left wing. Owen worked well and swung the ball over to Breagan, who forced a corner. This went behind, and from the goal-kick Wealdstone broke away on the left. They failed to get through, but returned to the attack on the right wing, and Bunce opened the scoring, netting off Gaze.

Golders Green responded with another corner, but this brought no result, and the Green had a narrow escape when Barlow saved from Baldwin while falling. At the other end Bucci connected with one of Breagan's centres but skied the ball over, and when Ellison got in a beautiful shot off Breagan, Lewis made a grand save.

Golders Green's game was not steady enough, and when they did get going the home backs were very competent. Wealdstone were quicker on the ball, better at finding their men and wasted no time in front of goal.

After Barlow had saved twice more, Graves handled in the penalty area and Barker took the spot-kick, putting Wealdstone two up.

At the other end Lewis held from Breagan and Owen, but Wealdstone continued to have most of the play and Barlow was often in action.

At length, however, Breagan, near midfield, started a movement which led to Ward netting off Owen's centre, shooting in as Lewis came out to narrow the angle.

The score remained at 2-1 at half-time.

Favoured by the wind in the second half, Golders Green tried to put more dash into their play, but the defence was too good and Wealdstone were soon all around the visitors' goal, the attack ending with Bunce shooting over the bar.

Barlow, who had been playing a fine game, added to his laurels when he stopped a penalty shot taken by Barker for a foul by Graves. Soon afterwards he held a lightning shot from Bunce.

Golders Green came up for a spell of attacking again, but went no nearer than a corner and a shot over the bar by Owen. Then Graves moved to centre-forward and reached Lewis with a close cross-shot, but the goalkeeper held it. Graves had a golden chance when Breagan served him and Lewis came too far out, but he shot across the goalmouth.

Golders Green were making great efforts to equalise, and went near when Owen turned in a shot from close up to the goal line, but Lewis pushed the ball out and Breagan, capturing it, shot wide. Another chance was lost when Graves centred to Owen, who pushed a short pass to Graves, but the shot went a couple of yards wide.

Wealdstone set up some hot attacks toward the end, but full time arrived with the score unchanged since the interval.
________________________________________________________________________________
FIRST HOME MATCH

Golders Green make their first home appearance since the outbreak of war in a friendly match with Hertford Town tomorrow (Saturday).

Wright is not likely to be fit for this game and, provisionally, Graves has been selected to lead the forward line, while it is hoped to have the services of Jack Weeks, the old Golders Green and Bromley centre-half.

As there is only one team running at the moment (though it is hoped to get a reserve side functioning shortly), the players understand that it is only fair that everyone as far as possible should get a game. They appreciate the situation that everyone in turn will have to stand down occasionally. George Bucci and Ted Owen are rested this week, but it should be distinctly understood that these players are not dropped in the ordinary sense of the word. It is a question of trying to give all the players a game and at the same time maintaining the standard of the side.

Report by Hendon Times & Guardian, 29/09/1939, p.2

Golders Green

1
Stan Barlow
2
Bill Boston
3
Fred Boston
4
A Lovell
5
Ron Graves
6
George Bucci
7
A J "Billy" Breagan
8
Les "Jock" Ellison
9
Ralph Ward
10
A "Mac" Cochrane
11
Ted Owen

Match Events

C E Bunce
11''
C Barker
28''
40''
Ralph Ward

Wealdstone

1
R Lewis
2
A W Loveday
3
C Barker
4
L Green
5
R Bidewell
6
D Scott
7
A G Gaze
8
K Baldwin
9
C E Bunce
10
J Wilson
11
F Schofield