Golders Green journeyed to Hertford Town in doubtful weather, and sufficient rain fell from time to time to make the ground slippery and the ball awkward, but the visitors adapted themselves to the conditions more readily than did their opponents, and they played a game of level quality practically the whole way through.

Hertford were often better at ball distribution and started many good movements, but they failed at finishing, while their defence was not at its best.

Golders Green were quicker on the ball, particularly in the second half, and suffered nothing by team changes.

Ward and Cochrane, the inside forwards, played well, Ward netting two of the goals, and W. Boston gave one of his best displays at right back, while Barnes, the deputy goalkeeper, fully justified his selection.

Above all, it was a thoroughly clean and enjoyable game, with a remarkable absence of the whistle.

Hertford made an early push, but E. Neal, shooting across, skied the ball, and from the clearance the halves got Golders Green going on the right wing, but Breagan failed to get his centre in. Lovell pushed the ball through for Graves, and it looked like a goal, but he was put off by C. Neal, and when immediately afterwards Bucci found an opening, he shot over the bar.

At the other end W. Boston did well to rob Halls as he was on the point of converting from E. Neal, and the Green had a narrow escape when, again from the right, Halls shot wide with Barnes on the ground.

Graves had hard luck with a splendid effort when he got his head to a long pass forward from W. Boston, the ball scraping outside the post.

After a brief attack by Hertford, Owen landed a beautiful shot on top of the net, but Hertford responded with a corner, from which Barnes cleared.

A fast and interesting game was developing, with little to choose between the teams. Attacks at both ends ended in corners, and one or two moves were held up by offside, but Golders Green were promising well by their finishing, though Hertford showed more skill at passing.

Twenty minutes from the start Cochrane sent in the centre which gave Golders Green the lead. Graves tapped it on to WARD, who took a fine shot on the run and beat Powell.

Owen nearly produced a second, taking a short pass from Cochrane to scrape over the crossbar. Hertford had a spell of attacking and all but equalised from a corner taken by Brown, but Barnes grasped the ball as Halls headed it down, and from the clearance Golders Green went forward along the left wing, this attack ending with a grand first-timer from Bucci, which Powell saved.

Half-time arrived with Golders Green holding the one-goal lead.

At the restart Golders Green lost several chances for want of a snap shot from the inside forwards, but after five minutes Cochrane started a movement which led to GRAVES walking the ball in past the goalkeeper after receiving a centre from Owen.

Owen went near after good work by Breagan and Ward, but Powell took his shot on the knee, and the goalkeeper also held a point-blank shot from Graves.

Hertford made great efforts to reduce the lead and there were some exciting moments around the Green's goal, but the best effort came from Bucci, who shot just too high. A few moments later he drove the ball across the goalmouth.

As in the previous week, Hertford were losing their kicking power in the second half, and their halves were letting them down, so that Golders Green became definitely the more dangerous and Powell was often in action. Cochrane worked very hard and deserved one goal at least. So did Ward, who had a couple of shots held by the goalkeeper.

Golders Green were shades quicker on the ball now and looked well set for victory, but ten minutes from time CLARK seized an opening and shot through to give Hertford their first goal. Three minutes later CLARK equalised after Barnes had fallen, but straight from the kick-off BREAGAN broke away to restore the Green's lead.

It had been an exciting struggle, but close on time WARD, who had been playing quite a good game at inside-right, established Golders Green's victory by turning in a centre by Breagan, and this was followed by COCHRANE netting the fifth just before the whistle blew for time.