An early two-goal lead set up hopes for Golders Green which failed to materialise in their Athenian League fixture at home to Barking on Saturday. Golders Green opened with a fine, swinging game, and gave the impression that they were going to romp home with the goals even if they did not have matters all their own way.

But, as so often occurs on the football field, one mistake started the turn of the tables, and by half-time Barking were on level terms, a position which they held to the end of the game.

It was a mistake by W. Boston that gave Golders Green their first setback - which was a pity, for taking his work as a whole, Boston gave a good display.

His unfortunate lapse was when, passing the ball back to the goalkeeper, he proved the truth of the belief that these tactics can be tried too often. His kick, instead of reaching Barlow, served the Barking centre-forward with a perfect pass, from which came the visitors' first score.

Actually Golders Green netted the odd goal which might have given them victory, but an offside ruling was given; and another chance faded when a beautiful free-kick by Broadis rattled against the crossbar when the goalkeeper would have had no chance of holding the shot.

Golders Green turned out the same team as they fielded the previous week, and in the opening stages every man gave a grand account of himself; but after the change of ends there was a deterioration in the teamwork, while Stovell was hardly pushful enough at centre-forward. Towards the close Leahy changed places with him, and there was an improvement, but it was then too late.

F.S. Boston gave a grand show on the left wing, and Sharp, Breagan, Broadis and Caswell were all pleasing in their work.

The visitors had very fast wingers in Hillman and Mahoney, and a very useful half-line, while the backs, Clarke and Godwin, functioned well, and Wilson, in goal, did well to stop some of the shots which reached him from the Golders Green marksmen.

Golders Green showed their paces from the kick-off, and F. Boston got in an early shot, which Wilson dealt with easily. Then Walker, taking a long pass from Caswell, pushed the ball too far forward for Stovell, and a good opening was lost. Stovell broke through soon afterwards and took a shot on the run, which Wilson had to turn over for a corner. From this the ball was headed about in front of goal until Wilson managed to punch clear, and though the ball was returned to the goalmouth at once, Clarke cleared.

A neat piece of work by Walker served F. Boston with another chance, but he was put off by Richardson and passed the ball across to Browne, whose shot Wilson held.

Sharp sent Boston away again, and after beating two men, he hooked the ball round, driving it right to the centre of the goal. Walker finished off by driving the ball to the back of the net, but it was actually over the line from BOSTON's shot.

Golders Green thus had the lead ten minutes from the kick-off, and after some not very convincing raids by Barking - whose best effort was a shot over the top by Clements - LEAHY put Golders Green two up, coming in to shoot after Wilson had been tempted out of goal by F. Boston.

Boston was injured at this stage, but soon recovered.

Barking now began to have a better share of the play, and some promising movements were coming from Mahoney and Foreman, but Broadis and W. Boston worked manfully, and Breagan did his full share in holding up the attacks. Sharp twice halted the very nippy Hillman, and some hard and purposeful kicking was put in by Caswell.

But too many times the defence passed the ball back to Barlow, and eventually W. Boston, in attempting this, miskicked and placed the ball perfectly for CLEMENTS, who beat Barlow and reduced the margin to one goal.

At the other end Wilson was penalised for carrying. Broadis, the free-kicker, passed the ball to F. Boston, but the shot failed. Immediately afterwards Walker found the net, but offside was given.

Close on half-time Barking's right wing broke away, and DUGGAN levelled up the score.

After the change-over, the whole complexion of the game altered. Barking speeded up their play, swung the ball about better than they had in the first half, and the defence showed themselves more capable of holding the home forwards in check. There seemed to be a loss of understanding amongst the Golders Green men, and individual brilliance did not make up for the loss of teamwork.

Mahoney and Foreman worked well together, and Mahoney sent in a hot shot which Barlow cleared, Caswell stopping one shorftly afterwards from Clements.

Then Golders Green were awarded a free-kick for hands. Broadis took the kick, and drove in a " smasher " over the heads of the defenders, but the ball struck the crossbar and rebounded into play. Browne captured it and shot, but Wilson turned it round the post, and the resulting corner brought no profit.

Leahy was unlucky not to score when, following up a pass back from Clarke to the Barking goalkeeper, he won the race for the ball but his shot struck Wilson and was turned aside.

A lot of the danger to Golders Green was coming from Hillman, on the right wing, and through his work Barlow was several times in action, but Barlow gave a fine display and was particularly smart to hold a surprise header from Duggan.

Though Golders Green had lost some of their sting, they rallied in the closing stages and had their full share of the play, if not more. Twice Wilson ran out to save from Boston, and the second time he missed the ball, but Clarke doubled back to intercept the shot.

The transfer of Leahy to centre-forward gave Golders Green fresh hope, and it looked as though the winning goal must come at any moment, but time probably saved Barking. Leahy scraped the outside of the post, Stovell shot over the top, Browne just missed from close in, and F. Boston saw one of his best shots swerve wide of the mark. Breagan also tried a shot, and Wilson had to fist the ball out from Walker. It was a keen tussle, in which Golders Green ought to have done a shade better.