The luck went right against Golders Green at Sutton on Saturday, but bad luck was not the whole story. Golders Green were too slow to grasp the opportunities that did come their way, and the defence went in too much for close work instead of the clean, hard kicking adopted by the Sutton men.

Nevertheless, Golders Green were worth a goal of their own, apart from the one presented to them by a Sutton back, through which they held their share of Athenian league points [in a 1-1 draw].

The Golders Green team turned out as re-arranged on the programme, except that Browne and Walker, the inside forwards, exchanged sides for the opening minutes, but Browne soon returned to the right, Walker taking his place on the left. Snazel was in the centre, and could be considered an improvement on Soden, though he did nothing brilliant. Browne did not seem altogether happy at inside-right. The star man of the forwards was Leahy, at outside-right - or, it might be more true to say he would have been the star had he been served better with the ball. He was not given a fair chance, although it was clear that if victory could be gained it would come from this wing. He was rarely given a good open pass in the whole of the game, but performed well with the poor service he did receive.

Broadis, at centre-half, was as sound as ever, and Sharp, who was introduced at left-half, gave a good impression, though he appeared to tire for a short spell in the second half. But he soon pulled himself together again. Barlow had an active day though weakness in the defence.

There were several changes in the Sutton team. J. Lock (centre-forward) was suffering from injuries, and J. Francis, a former Wimbledon outside-left, filled the gap. S. West, a new-comer, was to have played at outside-right, but he was transferred to the left wing, and B. Solly, appeared at outside-right, where he proved a constant danger to the Golders Green defence through his tremendous speed and knack of anticipating a pass.

Sutton pressed at the start, and Barlow had to punch out from Francis after Broadis had turned aside a shot from Solly. Golders Green made an early breakaway, and Leahy took a run down the field, but he overran himself and could not turn the ball in. Pettitt, who worked well throughout the game, stopped another attack by the right wing, and his clearance put the Sutton forwards on the move again. Passing well, they worked through in the centre, and Burns swung the ball across to Solly, who returned a well-placed centre, but Francis drove over the net.

Sharp was showing some nice movements, and it was from his work that the attck started which led to Golders Green's goal ten minutes from the start. He pushed the ball well forward, and a fine bit of work on the right wing resulted in a corner being forced. Leahy took the kick, and SHEPHERD had the mortification of turning the ball into his own goal.

Sutton went all out to equalise, but the nearest they came to success was a grand shot right across the goalmouth by Plank, and when play was carried to the other end again, Leahy found an opening, but Carr cleared. Next, Leahy passed across to F. Boston, who got his head to the ball and forced Carr to concede a corner. This was unproductive, but Golders Green stuck to the attack and gave the Sutton defence a busy time. Carr was called upon several times before F. Boston shot over the top at the end of a promising movement started by Leahy.

The goal kick set Sutton on the offensive, but Broadis proved himself too good for Francis and Plank, and Golders Green were soon pressing again. Browne shot wide; then Reeves, the Sutton centre-half, got his head to a pass by Leahy and nearly gave away a second goal to Golders Green. Walker was unlucky with a first-timer which scraped over the bar, and more shots came from Leahy and Browne without success.

Eventually the defence pushed Golders Green back, and Barlow was tested by Burns. Sutton made some purposeful raids in the centre, and Barlow brought off a beautiful save from Plank, who shot through fast and low. For a short time Sutton forwards were all round the visitors' goal, but the nearest to a score was when Plank shot a few inches wide of the upright.

In Golders Green's next attack weak passing led to failure, though Leahy deserved better luck with a stinging drive which struck the post high up.

With two minutes to go before half-time, Solly led the Sutton forwards up the field, and the raid ended with PLANK netting from a pass by West. The interval came with the score one-all.

Sutton set the pace at the restart, and Solly drove over the top. From a well-timed centre by West, Burns headed wide of the net, and after a fruitless corner, Golders Green came into the picture again. Clever work on the right should have brought Golders Green a goal, but Cooper intercepted the ball when Carr was out of the posts. The Golders Green forwards were now attacking in good style, but the halves did not follow up well enough. Both wing halves, indeed, seemed tired, and too much work devolved upon Broadis.

Both teams were playing hard for the deciding goal, but neither looked a real winner, though there was generally more method in the work of Sutton. Solly was still the most dangerous forward on the field, and he came near to scoring after W. Boston had conceded a corner. Plank was also after another goal, and he gave Barlow some awkward shots to hold. Caswell relieved the pressure, and Walker worked the ball well into the home area, pasdsing across to Browne when tackled. A centre came in to Snazel, who took the ball on the turn with a very good effort, which must have beaten a goalkeeper less alert than Carr. Browne also took a shot after F. Boston had worked for an opening, but there was no force behind the ball. Carr was called upon by F. Boston before the Sutton forwards got to work again. They set up a vigorous attack, and shots reached Barlow from Solly, Francis and Burns. Sutton were awarded two free kicks for "hands". Barlow punched clear from the first, but he dropped the ball after stopping the second and had to push it round the post, giving away a corner.

A free kick also came to Golders Green and nearly brought them the lead in the closing stages, F. Boston dropping the ball just below the level of the crossbar. Carr leapt to it and pushed the ball over the top. Shortly afterwards Walker was unlucky to hit the post with a surprise shot. Towards the end Sutton lost Griffiths, who injured a hip. He returned to the field, but was merely a very game passenger, and eventually had to be carried off.