Match Report

Enfield
3
Hendon
6
Date:
Saturday 12 February 1938
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Enfield

Match Report

Attention to team building was announced last week, and the first effects, as seen on Saturday, were eminently satisfactory. Walker remained in the forward line, but moved to the centre position, where he gave a greatly improved performance and scored two of the goals. The only other regular member of the line was F. Boston, who had evidently recovered from a brief off-spell and put up a sound performance practically throughout the game. On the right wing Breagan appeared, and fully justified his inclusion. A hard worker all the way through, his tricky work and ball control often beat the defence, and he turned in many beautiful centres from difficult angles.

But the chief interest lay in the newcomers, W.H. Webster and B. Sexton. The former, Corinthian and Amateur International inside-left, Cambridge double blue and Middlesex cricketer, came to Golders Green a fortnight before this match, but this was his first appearance for the club; while Sexton was also making his debut for the first team. He was introduced to Golders Green after the abandonment of Colchester Town, and he has played one or two games with the "A" side and was promoted to the Reserves on Saturday week.

Both made a successful entry to the team, Sexton scoring three goals and Webster one.

Another new recruit to the first team was A.S. Peverell, at centre-half, who has been playing with the "A" side for most of the season. He showed boundless energy and intelligent anticipation. Bloxham played a good game at right-half. Bucci, at left-half, got through a lot of good work. W. Boston and Caswell, undisturbed at back, were generally sound, though Boston's failure to stop Dally early in the game led to an equaliser from Tully. Barlow also made one bad slip, but his work otherwise was up to standard.

Enfield who, like Golders Green, recently struck a bad patch, had several changes in their team. F.V. Boatwright, from Leyton, took the inside-left berth, with G.R. Drake, late of Leytonstone, in the centre. Drake came up from the reserves, where he had been playing outside-right. Les. Hockaday was expected to play inside-right, but Geo. Knight was not fit, so Hockaday dropped to centre-half and C.M. Constable was included in the forward line. Enfield were without Greygoose, owing to injury.

The wind blew half a gale straight down the pitch, and there was rain at intervals. But the ground appeared to be in quite good condition.

Golders Green won the toss and took advantage of the wind, though it was too strong to be of great value to the attack.

Walker, accepting the ball from Sexton, looked like scoring almost from the kick-off, but an Enfield defender handled, and the free-kick was cleared to Boatwright, who carried the play to the other end. Bloxham held Boatwright off, Caswell stole his pass to Drake, and Golders Green came back for a sharp raid, which ended with Riches holding from Boston.

Tully got away for Enfield, but the wind beat him and Bucci swung the ball across to Breagan, who made ground before centring. Walker missed the ball and Webster went for it, but it was caught by the wind and sailed to the level of the crossbar, Riches pushing over the top.

Less than a minute later SEXTON opened the score for Golders Green after Riches had saved from Walker. But the lead was not held for long. Dally gained possession, swerved past W. Boston, who fell in trying to recover, and the ball was passed close in across to TULLY, who drove hard into the back of the net.

The game was but fifteen minutes old, and in spite of this setback, it was clear that Golders Green were going all out to establish a good margin before they faced the wind. A nice bit of combined play between Webster and Walker failed, but Breagan worked hard to get the ball back to Webster, who tried a shot from too far out, giving Riches no trouble.

Then Enfield's left wing gained ground, and Dally passed across to Tully, who shot first time, but Barlow cleared. Walker led the next Golders Green attack and was fouled. The free-kick brought no advantage, and when Walker was given another chance by a long forward pass by W. Boston, the wind spoilt his shot. He regained possession from the goal kick, but was beaten by Sellwood, and Riches held a long shot from Caswell.

Breagan's work led to Golders Green's second goal, netted by SEXTON, after Riches had held from Webster, who was showing distinct class in his play.

Enfield lost a chance to equalise again when Dally tried to trap a ball across the goalmouth, but the ball went under his foot.

Golders Green's third came through the perseverance of WEBSTER, who worked his way through and shot low down.

Enfield were playing well against the gale, and there was danger from Tully, though the rest of the front line gave no signs of keen marksmanship. It was TULLY who eventually reduced the odds, bringing off a spectacular solo run, beating the defence all the way and shooting past Barlow, who came out to narrow the angle.

At the other end Riches was further tested by Sexton, F. Boston and Walker - a neat header off a well-placed centre from Breagan.

Then SEXTON took up a short pass from Walker to increase the Golders Green lead. Of the four Golders Green goals, Riches could not have stopped one; they were all " winners ".

Close on half-time Walker headed the ball against the crossbar and Riches cleared from Sexton. F. Boston was centring with deadly accuracy in this half, and Peverell and Bloxham were putting up a fine show.

The interval came with Golders Green leading 4-2, not a good enough margin considering the wind they had to face, but it soon became apparent that Enfield were not strong in their shooting, and much good approach work was wasted by weak finishing. Misfortune threatened Golders Green when Webster was injured, but he quickly recovered. This casualty upset a promising movement started by Breagan, and although a free-kick was awarded Breagan's shot landed in the goalkeeper's arms. The clearance led to an attack by Enfield on the left wing, which ended with a corner being conceded, but Bucci cleared. Barlow stopped a header from Drake, and the Golders Green forwards got going again. Walker pushed the ball through to Sexton, who went well to the goal area, but finished with a weak shot.

CONSTABLE gave Enfield their third goal with a shot from a fair distance, which gave Barlow plenty of time, but he let it through - his one fault during the game.

Enfield now played strongly for the equaliser, but wild shooting ruined many opportunities, though Barlow was reached by Dally, Tully and Drake. Enfield had made some changes in the team, including the return of Hockaday to inside-right, but the re-arrangement did not bring the desired effect, and Golders Green took control of the game.

Golders Green's penalty kick was awarded when Walker was tripped when about to shoot in off Breagan. F. Boston took the spot-kick, but struck Riches' legs. the rebound gave Boston a second chance, but he drove the ball wide of the posts.

Enfield responded with a sharp raid on the left wing, but gained only a non-productive corner. They also tried unsuccessfully to penetrate in the centre.

The wind was dropping somewhat, and Golders Green spent a lot of time in the home half. WALKER received a well-timed pass from Webster and ran close in to score a beautiful goal, Golders Green's fifth. He tried again, but his shot was cleared. Taking the ball again from Bucci, Walker manoeuvred another opening, but a short pass to Webster went astray through Webster mistaking his intentions.

Bucci was playing a champion's game, and Peverell's capacity for work seemed to be unending. The halves, in fact, gave a better display than has recently been seen, and they fully shared the honours for the victory.

Time came less than a minute after WALKER had taken up a pass from Breagan to score the sixth and last goal for Golders Green.

Report by Hendon Times, 18/02/1938, p. 4

Golders Green

1
Stan Barlow
2
Bill Boston
3
Tommy Caswell
4
Joe Bloxham
5
Albert Peverell
6
George Bucci
7
A J "Billy" Breagan
8
Brian Sexton
9
Dave Walker
10
William Webster
11
Fred Boston

Match Events

12''
Brian Sexton
A B Tully
15''
23''
Brian Sexton
29''
William Webster
A B Tully
34''
38''
Brian Sexton
C M Constable
59''
77''
Dave Walker
90''
Dave Walker

Enfield

1
A H Riches
2
H L Rawlings
3
E Sellwood
4
K C Lister
5
L N "Les" Hockaday
6
A Martin
7
A B Tully
8
C M Constable
9
G R Drake
10
F V Boatwright
11
L Dally