INTRODUCTORY SUMMARY:
Three thousand people watched a brilliant display by Golders Green's defence against Wealdstone's menacing attacks at Claremont Road, in the 1st Qualifying Round of the F.A. Cup on Saturday.

No goals were scored, and Golders Green may be considered to have done well to keep out the visitors, who were a more balanced side and showed greater resource and strength in attack.

MATCH REPORT:
Wealdstone might have won Saturday's F.A. Cup match if Barlow had not parried a penalty kick from Ellis.

But, since the home defence proved so capable against the thrustful Wealdstone halves and forwards, Golders Green might well have claimed the victory if the right wing had been at all up to standard.

It was a goalless cup match, however, and although Wealdstone showed better quality and had rather more of the game, Golders Green thoroughly deserved the right to a second meeting.

The changed forward line in the Golders Green team was not a success. G. Morgan, who took the place of Breagan on the right wing, was slow and no match for the Wealdstone defence, while R.F. Coppola was a disappointment in the centre. The brightest man in the forward line was Brown, who repeatedly turned defence into attack and initiated many raids. Fred Boston, on the left wing, gave a good display, but was kept at a distance by the International back, Loveday; while Long suffered from the weakness of Morgan.

One of the features of the game was the brilliant " come-back" of George Bucci, at left-half. From the kick-off he showed us the real old Bucci and, though not particularly fast, he worked well throughout the game. Ward, at right-half, was always a good worker, with method in his play.

But the bulk of the credit for a draw goes to Graves, W. Boston and Barlow. Caswell was not so strong as usual, but Graves and W. Boston were a problem which Wealdstone's attack found stiffer than they anticipated, and Barlow brought off some magnificent saves.

Wealdstone made one late change, H. Dyke turning out at inside-left instead of J. Wilson. The team included one International (Loveday) and five County players, including Bob Ellis, an old friend of Golders Green.

Wealdstone went into action from the kick-off, the right wing carrying the ball well forward, but W. Boston stepped in before play could be centred and cleared the ball away to F. Boston. He passed in to Coppola, but the centre-forward was beaten by Friday. Bucci recovered the ball and worked through to shooting distance, but the whistle had gone for offside before he let fly. Wealdstone attacked again, and Baldwin reached Barlow with a low shot to the corner of the goal, which Barlow held. Graves disorganised another right wing movement, but a miskick by Caswell led to a corner. Soon after Wealdstone were given a free-kick at close quarters, but Brown cleared the ball, and Bucci pushed it out to F. Boston. Loveday never gave Boston a chance to cut for deliberate aim, but the winger tested Lewis with a forceful long shot. It was a nice try.

Bunce, well supported by Baldwin and Gaze, developed many attacks which promised well for Wealdstone, but it was generally Graves who eased the situation. From one of his long clearances, Brown beat Showler and passed neatly to Boston, who dropped a grand centre in front of goal for Coppola, but Lewis was found ready. Again F. Boston tried for goal, shooting across from a quick pass out from Bucci, but the ball went over the bar.

More speed on the part of Coppola would have brought success from some of Boston's and Brown's work, while Long saw much of his work wasted by Morgan. Once Morgan did nip in for a quick shot, but drove the ball wide.

Golders Green survived a corner, and then Brown took up a forward pass from Bucci, shooting hard and true, but Lewis cleared. Another effort by F. Boston brought Lewis to the ground, but he punched the ball out as he fell.

Two more corners were gained by Wealdstone, and the Golders Green had a narrow escape from a shot by Potts, which flashed across less than a foot in front of thr posts.

Generally speaking, it was a day for the defenders, who held command on either side, and few clear shots could be taken by forwards. Sudden raids inspired by Brown troubled the Wealdstone defence at times, but they were not real goal-getting movements.

Wealdstone's penalty kick came when W. Boston brought down Potts. Ellis took the spot-kick and slammed the ball in too near the centre of the goal, Barlow parrying it with his fists. Gaze followed up and Barlow had to concede a corner, pushing the ball over the crossbar.

After the interval Golders Green attacked strongly, and Ward came into prominence with many useful forward passes and good following-up. Bucci was unlucky to collide with Showler while going for goal and both were knocked out, but they quickly recovered.

Morgan showed signs of improvement and took the ball into close quarters twice, but was beaten by Ellis before he could shoot.

At the other end Gaze broke away, but Graves nipped back in time to head him off. Good distribution work by the Wealdstone halves was a feature of the second half, but Wealdstone were most dangerous on the right. They probably missed Wilson at inside-left.

Bucci initiated another advance by Golders Green, and the ball was worked past the halves by Brown and Boston, who gave many pleasing displays of combination throughout the game. This time Brown centred well and Morgan got his head to the ball, Lewis doing well to save. Again F. Boston was going well when he was brought down and a free-kick was awarded, but this gave Golders Green no advantage.

After further work by Boston and Brown, Golders Green slowed up and there was a tussle between Graves and W. Boston and the Wealdstone left wing. Barlow was reached by Potts and Dyke, but proved sound as ever. Dyke headed over from Gaze before the pressure was eased. Then Ward sent Brown away, and he passed out to Boston, who slipped round Friday and shot, but only a corner resulted. From the clearance, Long gained possession and swung the ball out to Boston again. He centred, received the ball from Coppola again, and ran in to shoot across the goalmouth, Lewis fisting the ball away. Brown took up a forward pass from Ward and missed the net by a few inches. Ward came near to success with a long shot through the defence, Lewis dropping the ball, but recovering before Coppola followed up.

In the closing stages Golders Green were given a free-kick for a foul on Brown just outside the penalty area, but Boston's kick sent the ball too high.

Wealdstone claimed two more corners, and from Barlow's clearance of the second, Golders Green tried to force home an attack in the centre, but they failed, and as the whistle sounded Barlow was pushing the ball round the post from another corner.

It was a well-fought cup match, providing plenty of thrills and a good sporting spirit.