Match Report

Metropolitan Police
3
Hendon
0
Date:
Saturday 16 December 1939
Competition:
Hertfordshire & Middlesex Combination
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Metropolitan Police

Match Report

A fair crowd braved the elements on the wind-swept Police ground [at Colindale] to see Golders Green's Herts and Middlesex Combination match with Metropolitan Police. Considering the strength and reputation of the Police, Golders Green did well to keep a blank score sheet up to half-time - an achievement in which Hart, in goal, played his part to the full. But the Green should have had one goal themselves by the interval, and this might have changed the tenor of the second half play.

Chief interest centred around Golders Green's centre-half, L. Kingswell, whose work was always worth watching, while another newcomer was Gilchrist, at inside-left, Cochrane not being available. Ward moved to inside-right and Lovell took the right-half position.

From the kick-off Golders Green's left wing started feeling their way and Ivey soon had to come out to pick up from one of F. Boston's centres. From another Griggs shot too high. Griggs was handicapped throughout the game by a knee injury.

Man for man, the Police were quicker on the ball, and their man-finding was a joy to watch, but the Golders Green defence generally played well and Martinson was efficient in upsetting the right wing. W. Wood and Kelly were the stronger pair, and from one of the winger's centres Kelly went near to scoring, but drove just wide.

Both goalkeepers had enough to do to keep them from freezing, and Hart brought off some striking saves. The Green forwards were not quick enough in going through and Breagan was not being well served. Twice he stood with no back against him, but the ball was passed up to the left wing, where F. Boston was being well watched. Griggs had hard luck with a header from a pass forward by W. Boston, and when Breagan did get the right service he narrowly missed with a first-rate try. Ward also went near. As the first half drew to a close Golders Green were giving the Police defence some trouble and Ivey was frequently in action, though no score came, though the goal had some narrow escapes as a result of corner kicks.

The Police were more aggressive after the change of ends and made good use of the wind at their backs. Hart held a lovely shot from Reynolds and another from Kelly. Then F.S. Wood hit the crossbar, and from the rebound the ball was returned to Kelly, who seized a momentary opening and shot well through into the net.

Golders Green had many breakaways, but looked less like scoring than in the first half, and soon Reynolds added the Police second goal, heading in after Hart had saved well from Kelly and Johnson.

This was quickly followed by the third goal, Kelly putting in a nice shot taken on the run. Golders Green made great efforts to reduce the lead, but they had shot their bolt in the first half.

Report by Hendon Times & Guardian, 22/12/1939, p.2

Golders Green

1
A E Hart
2
Bill Boston
3
P Martinson
4
A Lovell
5
L Kingswell
6
George Bucci
7
A J "Billy" Breagan
8
Ralph Ward
9
John Griggs
10
? Gilchrist
11
Fred Boston

Match Events

P Kelly
55''
G Reynolds
70''
P Kelly
75''

Metropolitan Police

1
R Ivey
2
R V Gunner
3
W F Holman
4
H A Moore
5
A Leech
6
L C Martin
7
F S Wood
8
H M Johnson
9
G Reynolds
10
P Kelly
11
W E Wood