Tooting and Mitcham, who won the toss on their own ground on Saturday, set a hot pace and looked like getting Golders Green on the run, but though the visitors were able to do little real attacking in the first half, they stood up well to some tremendous onslaughts and could feel considerable satisfaction at having kept Tooting out when the interval arrived.

Then the game changed. Tooting, it seemed, had burnt themselves up in the first half, whereas Golders Green came comparatively fresh to the attack, showed vastly improved methods and combination, and often took command of the game.

Near half-time it had been anybody's game, but now Golders Green deserved to win, and the reward came as a result of a pretty piece of teamwork which led to F. Boston beating the home goalkeeper.

Until Lewin and Hill were crippled, the Golders Green forwards were a joy to watch after the disappointments of past Saturdays, and the combination of F. Boston and Brown was one of the highlights of the game, while the half-back line generally gave excellent support. Graves was Graves at his best except for one miskick in the early stages, Ward did a lot of good work, and once Davis had properly warmed up he proved his value in following up the forwards and, at times, essaying a shot.

Caswell's performance, in the first half particularly, was brilliant against fast and heavy forwards, and W. Boston was his usual mixture of dash and caution. Barlow was not overworked, even in the first half, but did his work well when called upon.

Changes had to be made in the Tooting and Mitcham team, Roberts not being fit. T. Dunne lost his place at inside-left creating a vacancy on the right which was filled by Rowe, a promising youngster of 16 and a half years. The Tooting halves - particularly Price, the centre - gave a fine display.

Golders Green made ground from the kick-off and Lewin ran through with the ball,, but Jackson stopped him and the forward handled. From the free-kick, Ward captured the ball and pushed forward to Lewin again, who passed out to F. Boston. The winger, tackled by Price, swung the ball in to Hill, who winged it again and Boston shot over the bar.

Then Tooting started pressing and Griffiths looked like getting away with the ball, but he came up against Graves and his shot was spoilt. Allchorne led the next attack and slipped by Davis with ease, but Caswell cleared the ball and Golders Green sought an opening in the centre without success.

Both the Tooting wings showed themselves capable from the outset, with Allchorne and Rowe the more dangerous, and Davis seemed somewhat slow, but Graves and Caswell made up for this defect, breaking up many clever movements and saving Barlow a lot of work.

Tooting's accurate passing showed up against Golders Green, but the visitors were quicker on the ball than in their first match of the season and showed more readiness to tackle, added to which the backs and halves went in for more of the right type of hard kicking to clear.

They could not keep Tooting in their own territory for long, however, and the home side enjoyed more than a fair share of the game throughout the first half.

Barlow was tested by Griffiths, Dunne and Stygal, and one near escape was when Price headed just wide, Griffiths failing in an attempt to guide the ball in.

Barlow ran out to make a grand save from Griffiths a moment later.

When Golders Green came into the picture again, W. Boston took a free-kick for a foul on Hill, but the award brought no result, and Dixon passed foward to Allchorne, who sprinted up the field and placed a good centre to Griffith, who was upset by Graves before he could shoot.

Golders Green made several raids, but did not look like scoring, though they forced a brace of corners, from one of which Davis headed, Mansfield fisting the ball away without difficulty.

Hereabouts Johnny Hill was damaged in falling.

About the first real shot for Golders Green was a crashing first-timer from Brown, but he lifted the ball a trifle too high.

At the other end Tooting were awarded a penalty for hands by Ward. Warne took the spot-kick, but Barlow punched the ball away, which came direct to him.

Stygal was unlucky to hit the wrong side of the net when Barlow was out of position.

Lewin had a rare chance when F. Boston flashed down the field and centred. Lewin beat the defence, but could not steady himself for the shot and drove the ball yards wide.

Tooting came up again, and Barlow had to dive to smother a shot from Dunne.

Close on half-time Barlow held a stinging shot from Stygal and leapt to stop a top-of-the-net one from Price.

The score-sheet was still blank at the interval, though on the run of the game Tooting should easily have been in the lead.

After the change of ends Golders Green showed greater strength and shared the game better, but in the early stages it was apparent that Tooting had the advantage of weight and inches, if their style had deteriorated to some extent. Golders Green could have done a lot with heavier forwards.

Soon F. Boston reached Mansfield from a free-kick near the corner, and the gaolkeeper had to flat-hand the ball out. Brown went near with a long shot through the defence.

Hill and Breagan changed places owing to the former's injuries, and Breagan played up well as an inside man, but Lewin was handicapped by injury and was easily outdistanced by the home backs and halves.

W. Boston started a movement which nearly gave Golders Green the lead. He worked well forward and passed the ball over to Brown, who drew the defence and tapped out to F. Boston. He returned a quick centre to Lewin, but offside upset the result of the prettiest bit of team work seen so far during the match.

Next Brown and F. Boston played the ball well to finish up with a clear run to goal for the winger. Mansfield came out to meet the ball and missed it, but Dixon slipped back in the nick of time to clear Boston's shot.

Allchorne weas added to the list of casualties and moved inside, Rowe going out on the wing.

Tooting still attacked with method and determination from time to time, but the game was swinging round very definitely to Golders Green's favour, and it was by no means against the run of play when they secured the goal which proved the winner.

This came from a fine display of team work between Breagan, Brown and F. Boston. Breagan started the movement, Brown was the perfect " middle man," and BOSTON netted a grand goal.

Tooting fought hard to recover, and Golders Green survived a lot of pressure on the goal and some breathless moments, but Golders Green had found their form and fully earned the victory. In the closing minutes Tooting pressed vigorously, and W. Boston gave a brilliant display, sticking to the attacking forwards well and rarely making a slip. He was badly fouled close on time , but Tooting achieved no damage during his absence from the field, and he returned before the whistle sounded.