After a none-too-promising start, Golders Green managed to win by the comfortable margin of 3-1 in their F.A. Cup [Preliminary qualifying round] tie at home to Northmet on Saturday. The first half was long-lived before Golders Green secured the first goal of the game, and during that period there were times when Northmet threatened to take a grip on the game.

The visitors had one very definite advantage - that of height, for it was comparatively rarely that a Golders Green man could get his head to the ball, and, partly for this reason, it often seemed that Golders Green were fighting a losing battle against their bigger visitors, whose defence left very little to chance, while the forwards were fast and used feet and heads well.

Golders Green were certainly too slow in the first half, which closed with only one goal registered. Northmet deserved a goal at the interval, but the home team could have been more than one up if they had got together better in the early stages.

After the change of ends, however, a penalty and a more inspired period by Golders Green sealed the fate of the visitors. Northmet equalised, but Golders Green increased their pace and showed more effective combination between the halves and the forwards, while the visitors, strong as they were in constructional play, evinced a weakness in marksmanship so that many fine efforts fell flat.

Soden, at outside-left, gave a brilliant performance for Golders Green and can claim a large share in the credit for the victory. Browne generally worked hard and to good effect, and on the opposite wing Leahy gave quite a pleasing performance, but Snazel was disappointing.

Broadis, scorer of the penalty, and Bucci were in reliable form, the latter showing his usual knack of being wherever he was wanted at the critical moment. The backs showed an inclination to wander too far up the field, considering the speedy wingers on the Met. side and the hard kicking of the visiting halves, so that Jacobs was allowed to be hard pressed at times and appeared less cool than is his wont under difficulties.

Outstanding in the Northmet team was Warren, at centre-half, but the wingers, Burke and Rance, were always worth watching, while a bouquet must be handed to Jackson, in goal, who held some real testers from Walker, Browne, and Soden, and dealt efficiently with a surprise shot through by Bucci. Northmet included one or two re-instated professionals, including C. Poynton, the ex-Spurs back, who is player-coach; but A.T. Rance has no connection with the old Spurs man of that name.

Northmet were the first to get into stride, Hartnett and Burke working down on the right. Burke swung the ball into the centre for Bray to shoot, but Boston cleared, and a second attack in the centre was stopped by a forward handling close to goal. The free kick sent the home forwards into action and some nice work came from Browne, whose centre was taken by Walker, only to head over. Golders Green were not yet playing well together, but Soden early began to give a good display, which he maintained throughout the game.

From one of his centres Browne netted apparently a perfect goal, but the referee gave an offside decision. Then Walker had hard luck in not converting a corner.

At the other end Rance was proving dangerous and the defence were not marking him sufficiently. Once when he broke away, he dropped a perfectly-timed pass to Bray, but Breagan upset the movement and the ball went on to Soden, who beat two Met. defenders, but failed to reach the net.

Northmet made frequent raids on the home goal and Bucci and Caswell did a lot of good work in checking them.

Bray and Brown worked through the defence once and Jacobs dropped the ball after saving from Brown. Bray followed up and Jacobs had to concede a corner. From the kick, the ball dropped in the centre of the goalmouth, but Jacobs cleared and Golders Green returned to the attack, forcing two corners, from one of which a Northmet back headed just over his own goal. Jackson was having quite a lot to do in goal, yet Golders Green did not show a winning style. One of the best efforts was a long, low shot from Bucci, which nearly found the mark.

Leahy, after a burst of speed, passed in to Walker, but he headed the ball nto the goalkeeper's arms.

When Northmet pressed again Warren shot too high and Rance missed by a few inches. Jacobs held from Hartnett and Caswell robbed Burke of the ball after a promising solo effort.

Golders Green were now warming up to the game and their account was nearly opened when Soden found himself with a clear run to the goal, but he fell and so allowed the defence to recover. He passed in to Walker, whose shot Jackson held.

Soden and Walker shared the honours for the first goal, the winger working well for the opening and WALKER getting in a shot which completely beat Jackson.

Shortly before the interval Golders Green had a narrow escape during a scramble around their goal.

Northmet equalised through BRAY soon after half-time, Rance beating Breagan and Boston to centre for the shot. But Golders Green were quickly heartened by their penalty goal, given for handling. BROADIS was the marksman and crashed the ball into the back of the net.

Browne came near to increasing the lead, but the ball scraped outside the upright, and from the goal-kick Northmet attacked on the right wing. Bray took up a centre from Burke and shot from close in. Jacobs reached the ball, but fell and dropped it. He quickly recovered himself, but dropped the ball a second time, and only quick work by Caswell saved the goal.

At the other end Walker netted, but the whistle had gone for offside. Soden and Leahy each called Jackson into action and Walker almost beat him again with a surprise shot low down in the corner.

But Northmet were still dangerous and once Rance got away with only Jacobs to beatm, but shot too high. Jacobs punched out from Bray and Caswell defeated a promising movement between Burke and Hartnett.

Golders Green's third and final goal came from Soden, who worked through alone and took a shot from a fair distance, which Jackson held. Walker retrieved the ball, passed to SODEN, and he drove it in close under the cross-bar.

Close on time Bucci came to the rescue in the nick of time when Boston miskicked and let Rance through.