Though the winning goal for Golders Green at Claremont Road was undoubtedly Graves', the visiting left-back (Godwin) helped the ball on its way through the posts. It was a certain scorer in any case, and was well deserved by the centre-forward, who had worked hard throughout the game without much valuable support.

The huge crowd on the Golders Green ground had their money's worth through the extended time and the thrills produced in the closing stages, if not by the class of football played by Golders Green and Barking. The state of the ground and the high wind had much to do with the poor display, but Golders Green were certainly not up to scratch. They enjoyed more than a half-share of the play, and should have been leading at the interval, but the whole match was a record of lost chances. Golders Green simply would not " unload it. "

On paper the Golders Green team was at full strength, but in practice there were weak points fore and aft. Barlow gave a good display in goal, but the rearguard repeatedly allowed the Barking wings too much rope. Neither W. Boston nor Breagan marked Butterworth, the visiting left winger, well enough, while Caswell was guilty of miskicking and some slowness in the early stages. He put in some good work later, but his performance did not inspire confidence. The main fault of the halves was the lack of forceful kicking. Of the forwards, F. Boston was the most consistently dangerous. Graves was always worth watching, but he suffered through Walker's weakness. On the right Browne and Leahy played a vigorous game without any striking achievements.

Barking's chief value, apart from speed and clever footwork on the wings, was the centre-forward, Clements, a player with plenty of thrust and an ability to shoot from any angle. T.A. Clark was a grand right-back, and J.J. Wilson put up a remarkable show in goal, until he was injured. During extra time he had to retire.

Barking won the toss and Graves kicked off, passing to Browne, who tapped the ball back to Breagan and slipped round Richardson to take the ball again, but Breagan placed it too far forward and Clark cleared. Bucci retrieved it and took a long shot which went yards wide. Barking set up a raid on the left, and after W. Boston had stopped Butterworth, Duggan shot weakly and wide of the mark. Barking forced a corner without result, and Bucci got the ball out to F. Boston, who ran down the field and centred, but Clark intercepted the pass and gave to McNamara. He was robbed by Bucci, who put in a beauty from far out, right to the centre of the goal, but Wilson held the shot without difficulty. Barking attacked again, and Stevenson beat Bucci, passing close in to Clements, whose shot was pushed round the post by Barlow. Two corners followed.

Both were well placed by Hillman, and after Broadis had cleared the second, Stevenson broke through, passed to CLEMENTS, who beat Barlow to give Barking the lead after 15 minutes' play.

A second goal nearly came when Butterworth centred to Clements, who just failed to get his head to the ball. Golders Green were set on the move by Bucci, and Graves tested Wilson, who fell in gathering the ball. Browne followed up, but Wilson was able to clear. Graves took a pass from Bucci and shot, but the mud slowed up the ball and it stopped short of the goal line. Golders Green continued to press, for a time, but over-anxiousness spoilt the best moves and bad marking allowed Barking to get away again. The forwards had little difficulty in reaching the goal area because Golders Green would not go for the ball, or, when they got it, gave a futile display of weak kicking and aimless passing. But Barking were not keen enough in their finishing touches, and after Barlow had held a couple of simple shots, W. Boston relieved the pressure.

At the other end an opening was lost when Graves ran out to the right wing, but no one came into the centre to take his pass. Walker worked close in once, but shot over the top. Leahy might have succeeded with a first-timer from one of F. Boston's centres, but he waited to place the ball and was robbed. He made a better effort with a header just afterwards, but failed. Breagan forced an unproductive corner, and from the clearance the Barking right wing got going, but the raid ended with an injury to Hillman.

Golders Green gained no advantage from a couple of free kicks. Taking the first one from practically on the penalty line, Broadis drove just below the level of the bar, but Wilson held the ball, and from the second, also taken by Broadis, Boston headed over.

Close on half-time Barlow dived down to pick the ball off Stevenson's toe.

On the run of the game Golders Green should have been leading at the interval, but they suffered from lack of cohesion among the forwards and too little " booting " by the halves and backs.

At the restart Golders Green eeached the Barking goal area, but Wilson saved from Graves and Browne, while Clark upset Walker's marksmanship when the goal was open.

Golders Green were playing a better game now, and their chances of drawing level looked good, in spite of a certain amount of weak passing. Some nice touches came from Browne, but Walker was slow and held on to the ball too long. F. Boston was injured, but soon returned to the field, and showed every promise of being a scorer.

Twice the home goal had narrow escapes during mix-ups in the penalty area, but a free kick for Golders Green eased the situation each time.

Breagan started a good movement for Golders Green, and Walker engineered an opening for Graves, but the final shot went wide. Then Leahy forced a corner and placed the ball well for Graves to take a header, but he could not bring it off.

Barking's next attack ended with a free kick, which Broadis cleared, and a moment or two later Breagan came up to take a shot, but missed, and Broadis drove the ball wide after a free kick by W. Boston. Leahy was showing up better on the wing now, but was not at his best in finishing.

As the end came nearer the game was all Golders Green's, and only brilliant work by Wilson kept the Barking goal intact. He brought off some remarkable saves, but had to take risks and was badly shaken up. He stopped a surprise shot from F. Boston, who deserved an equaliser by the way he took up a pass from Breagan. Boston also struck the upright and outside of the net and drove the ball close across the goalmouth.

Shots also came from Graves and Browne. It was a regular bombardment, and exc itement around the ropes rose to fever pitch.

Finally, while the referee was consulting his watch, F. BOSTON beat Wilson to bring the scores level. One minute later the whistle went for time.

Extra time was ordered, and GRAVES took the honours in giving Golders Green the winning goal. Godwin touched the ball as it went in, but it was Graves' success. Golders Green were predominant throughout each brief half, but there was no further score.