Hitchin Town were a class above Golders Green on Saturday, but the Green put up a good fight, particularly in the second half and, if one or two chances had not been missed after good approach work, the margin of 7-3 would have been considerably less. On the run of the whole game the visitors were probably worth a two-goal victory.

Golders Green had bad luck in the first half-hour, when they lost Lovell through injury. He returned, but in the second half F. Boston had to leave the field for a time.

Apart from Barlow's work in goal, Lovell gave the best display for Golders Green, while Robson was the weakest link. The backs gave the Hitchin wingers too much rope, and in the front line there was not enough first-time shooting: nor was the markmanship accurate enough.

Graves was absent through an injury sustained the previous week and Robson came in at centre-half, while Ellison reappeared at centre-forward.

Golders Green won the toss and took advantage of the strong wind, but the first danger came to them when Robson miskicked and let Hailey through. Tackled by F. Boston, he passed out to A. Ward, who got in a good shot, but the ball sailed across the home goalmouth. Golders Green forced three corners, all cleared, and then F. Boston came up for a shot and drove the ball over the bar.

Golders Green lost Lovell for a time through injury, and during his absence Hitchin toook the lead, Hoar centring for Hailey to score.

Hitchin were a big bustling team, and Golders Green were suffering for their lack of size, especially in the forward line.

Golders Green's equaliser was a striking affair. A. Ward, throwing in for Hitchin, threw the ball halfway to the goal and Jones came out to clear it. From his kick Bucci secured the ball, and, with a long shot, drove it well into the net before the goalkeeper had recovered.

Two minutes later, however, Robson let Hoar away to score a second for Hitchin.

From a throw-in, Ellison started a movement which brought Golders Green on level terms again, Owen netting off Breagan's centre, but from the kick-off Hitchin replied again, Hailey netting their third.

Hitchin's outside-left was entirely unmarked almost throughout the first half and he scored Hitchin's fourth goal, having a clear run to the net, while Hailey got the fifth a few minutes later, converting A. Ward's centre. A. Ward shot for the sixth, the ball going in off W. Boston's head.

The score remained 6-2 at half-time, but Golders Green had missed three chances for want of quick shooting.

Misfortune overtook the Green early in the second half, when F. Boston was injured and had to be carried off the field. Hitchin were quick to profit by the weakness, and Lawrence went through to give them the seventh goal. With everything against them,, Golders Green fought hard and should have reduced the odds when Ellison was given the ball in front of goal, but he waited too long before shooting. Another moment's hope came when R. Ward broke away, racing Chamberlain for the goal, but his shot went a foot wide of the post. He missed again a few minutes later when a goal seemed certain. F. Boston had now come on the field again.

Many dangerous attacks came from the Hitchin left wing, and Barlow had a lot to do, but gave a fine display when hard-pressed.

Golders Green were making a great fight of it in the closing stages, but Hitchin's marking was altogether too good. Close on time, however, Cochrane swung a pass across to Breagan, who returned it to the centre for R. Ward to raise the Golders Green score to three.

[N.B. Goal times are not accurate - none were given in the report - but they do reflect the order of scoring and the half in which they were scored.]