Regretfully must it be said that although Walthamstow Avenue beat Golders Green by six goals to none, the score did not give a wrong impression of the match. For a quarter-of-an-hour Golders Green quite held their own, and there was every promise of a close finish, but after Vincent had once found the net Golders Green may be said to have faded out of the picture. At any rate they held out no hope of retrieving lost ground, and but for a magnificent display by Kimber, in goal, the Avenue's tally would hve been even larger than it was last November. Then they scored 11 goals against 2.

The Avenue made one change from the advertised team, R.H. Groves taking the place of R.J. Mathews, their chief goal-getter. Groves, however, was a good substitute.

Golders Green brought in A. Breagan at outside-right. Breagan had stood down for a fortnight owing to a loss of form, and in re-instating him the committee hoped he would be his old self. While he did some good work, it is probable that E. Duffield would have proved of more service.

With this exception Golders Green had the same eleven that had beaten Wealdstone, Broadis again playing at inside-left. Before the match was over, however, he was in his old place at centre-half, this being partly due to the fact that R. Ward, at right-half, had developed lameness. He is a most unlucky player, and in view of his liability to break down it would be wise to rest him again. Later in the game Ward was at outside-left.

Golders Green did not lack support. Through the service offered by the Supporters' Association, many made the journey in comfort at a reasonable figure, but their only satisfaction from the match came from seeing some of the best football we have seen from an amateur side for a long time past. The Avenue's forward work thrilled everybody, and several times the visiting defence was tied up in a knot. Each of the backs (W. Boston and Hayward) contributed a goal to the Avenue's score, and so hard were they pressed that the defence did well to keep the total to half-a-dozen.

Kimber made but one serious mistake: this was when he stopped a shot, but then allowed the ball to cross the line. Against this he save on innumerable occasions when a goal seemed certain. High shots and low shots came alike to him, and one of his best efforts was in thrusting aside the ball when it was going away from him into the net.

Apart from Kimber there were no outstanding figures, and if we must differentiate we are inclined to name Browne, Bucci and Hayward as the best. But after all, a score of 6-0 shows Golders Green in a bad light, and it is unfortunate that such a reverse falls when the club needs to be in readiness for Cup-ties.

The forward line is causing much anxiety. Broadis has given it some punch, but he is of more value as a pivot. Green, in the centre, is uncertain. That he is a trier none will deny, but too much of his work is fruitless.

Browne is the only one who is keeping his form, and even he is not finding the net so frequently as could be desired. An average of a goal a match from the side is not good enough, but that has been the position since the defeat of St. Albans in the F.A. Cup.

Losing the toss meant that Golders Green had the sun in their faces at the start, but they started in promising fashion . The Avenue's goalkeeper, at one time on the Hendon Borough Council staff, cleared in the first minute from a left wing movement. Then followed unsuccessful shots by Broadis and the two Bostons, while Green had decidedly hard luck in not being able to head through from a pass by Ward. The Greens, who, by the way, were playing in new colours to prevent clashing, were certainly opening in spirited style. A nice centre by Breagan just failed to reach home, and then F. Boston headed over from Green's pass.

But gradually the Avenue began to get the upper hand. After Davis, well-placed, had shot wide, the Avenue took their first flag kick, to be followed by one at the other corner. W. Boston headed out, and Kimber began to show form which was to be the feature of the match, but at the end of 17 minutes Vincent found the net. Soon after Kimber, apparently losing his balance, was again beaten by Vincent.

Considerable time elapsed before the Avenue were again successful. Meanwhile Broadis left his position at inside-left to take a free kick on the right, but his marksmanship was not good. Perhaps the best chance Golders Green had was when F. Boston hit the far upright, but there was no one near enough to take the rebound.

With Ward off the field Golders Green had another bad spell towards the close of the first half, two more goals being conceded. The third came from a shot which went off W. Boston's shoulder into the net, and Magner got the fourth.

Play in the second half lost much of its interest because the result was a foregone conclusion. Except at long intervals Golders Green never looked like scoring. The play was by no means confined to one end, but while the sweeping onslaught of the Avenue forwards was always dangerous, the attack of the visiting forwards was painfully weak. The Avenue men passed with unerring accuracy: in the case of Golders Green passes often went to an opponent.

Quite early after the cross-over a mix-up in defence led to Vincent getting his third goal, and the Avenue tally was increased to six when Hayward, who had been doing splendidly, put through his own goal.

At t his time there were visions of another double-figure total, but this disaster was averted, thanks mainly to Kimber, who in his long career as a goalkeeper can have had few busier afternoons.

Though thoroughly beaten, Golders Green cannot be said to have lost heart. They forced two or three corners, but when tested the Avenue defence proved as good as the attack, and that is saying a good deal.