Golders Green's Athenian League fixture with Leyton celebrated the opening of the new Leyton ground, which ceremony was performed by Lt.-Col. C. D. Crisp, O.B.E., president of the Athenian League.

It is a commodious ground, but the pitch was not in good condition. Nevertheless, it was a fast game, and at the outset it seemed that the pace would prove too much for Golders Green, but the visitors fought manfully against a speedy, clever team, who swung the ball about all the time, and in the end Leyton found that they had set too hot a pace for themselves. They secured the lead twice, but Golders Green gained the victory [by 3-2] in the closing stages, and although Leyton were only playing ten men then, Golders Green were also handicapped by carrying a badly injured man and having to re-arrange their team.

Barlow had a lot of work in goal, and gave a good display. Caswell was absent through injury, and his place at left back was taken by W. Pidgeon, who gave a good account of himself. Broadis, as usual, was handy all over the field, and saved some awkward situations by his uncanny knack of reaching the right spot in the nick of time, while the wing halves functioned well in the defence against a very fast forward line, and did a lot of hard kicking which has so often been missing. Bloxham was transferred from right-half to outside-left after his injury, and did some useful work there, including the scoring of a goal. Until this change, F. Boston was on the left wing, and gave a pleasing display.

Playing with the wind, Leyton began to press at once, and Smith and Barnes worked close to the Golders Green goal, but Pidgeon robbed Barnes and sent the ball forward to Walker. He failed in an attempted breakaway, and play came back to the Golders Green end for Duhig to shoot across the goalmouth. Sharp stopped a shot by Beane, and a long drive from Preston went wide.

When Golders Green attacked again, F. Boston passed across to Leahy, who centred at once to Walker, but he was badly placed and his shot failed. Boston and Walker tried again, without success. Then Leyton broke away, and beautiful passing on the left wing carried the game close up to the visitors' goal. Duhig passed across to Smith, and he returned to CAMERON, who opened the Leyton score after five minutes' play.

Leyton forced two corners, and W. Boston had shots to deal with from Beane and Cameron. Leyton netted again, but the whistle had gone for "hands", and a free kick gave the Golders Green defence a breather. But Leyton soon came back, and Beane tried Barlow, who also punched clear from Barnes. In a brief excursion to the home territory again, F. Boston reached the goalkeeper with a nice shot, but Newton was ready for it. Then Boston got in two more shots in quick succession, and Newton's failure to clear properly from the last gave Golders Green their chance. LEAHY retrieved the ball and shot into the centre of the goal. Gentry sat on the ball as it passed over the line, but the equaliser had been scored.

The teams remained on level terms until half-time, though both sides carried out many promising attacks, and the Golders Green goal was several times in danger. F. Boston was showing determination and resourcefulness, and one of his centre to Walker nearly led to a goal, but Newton held the shot. Pidgeon was playing a good game.

Close on time Preston and Bloxham collided and both were injured. Preston took a severe blow over the eye, and Bloxham received a bad cut on his head, necessitating first-aid treatment.

After the change of ends Bloxham returned, bandaged, and was sent onto the left wing, F. Boston dropping to left-half and Sharp crossing over to right-half. Preston was also able to resume. Golders Green now had a greater share of the play, and likely shots came from F. Boston, Bloxham and Leahy.

Ten minutes from the re-start Leyton took the lead. CAMERON broke through, running down the centre of the field, and shot hard and true. Barlow got his hand to the ball, but could not hold it.

At the other end Leahy turned in a well-placed centre, which Bloxham slipped in to convert, but Gentry intercepted the shot. F. Boston came up to force a corner, and he also reached Newton with a long dropping shot. Stovell found the net, but offside was given.

Hereabouts Beane was hurt, and had to leave the field., and it was during his absence, though not due to it, that Golders Green equalised. The ball was punted down the field to Walker, who passed out to BLOXHAM, and he netted with a neat cross-shot which had Newton well beaten.

There was only a quarter of an hour to go. Excitement ran high, and the speed of the game grew hot again. Leyton lost the best chance when Smith missed an open goal, and close on time the verdict was gained by Golders Green, BROWNE securing the winning goal with a long cross-shot. Stovell was in thed goalmouth, but did not need to help the ball in. It was a fine effort by Browne, and Golders Green certainly deserved their victory.