Match Report

Hendon
0
Leyton
1
Date:
Saturday 19 December 1936
Competition:
London Senior Cup
Attendance:
1650
Venue:
Golders Green

Match Report

Golders Green, before an attendance of about 1650, allowed Leyton to knock them out of the London Senior Cup on Saturday by one goal to nothing because they were too lackadaisical to hold the game down. They had not got that co-ordination between the forward and half-back lines which Leyton showed, and nobody seemed able correctly to anticipate what either the opposing moves were to be or, more important, what line the home attack was to take. Saturday was another great day for Kimber, for his goal was continually hard pressed, and he had much hard work to do.

The game opened with a flash in the pan when Golders Green made a quick movement down the field and a pass from Marrable to F. Boston was smothered before Boston could take advantage of the shot.

Play spread out over the field for the next few minutes until another movement down the field was spoiled by F. Boston being given offside.

Leyton here showed that they were determined to get going and speeded up their play until they were running round the Golders Green men and carried the game right down to the home goal. At this point Bucci stopped the ball going out of play with a shot which sent it right up to midfield, where Boatwright put it straight back to goal. Tbe shot was a beautiful one and Kimber had to jump to save.

This seemed to rouse Golders Green, who swept up to Leyton's goal. A tussle on the line gave the Greens a corner. This was nicely taken, but nothing came of it, and soon the game was back in front of Kimber. One side line passing movement badly timed by the home team left Cameron with a clear line on goal; he was too eager, however, and kicking wildly he sent the ball feet away from the goal.

Never where they were wanted, after the goal kick and its attendant advantage Golders Green were kept off the ball, and Boatwright, Avery and Lock tried hard to put the ball home, but Kimber, helped by Hayward in the goalmouth, saved yet another awkward situation.

A nice attack by the Green left wing resulted in a shot from F. Boston, but Self, who must have been nearly asleep in goal with so little to do, cleared very neatly to Boatwright, who raced back to shoot at the home goal. Lock, following quickly, sent in another, and Avery a third when the ball came away from Kimber.

Soon after this a penalty was awarded against Broadis right in front of the goal, and Clark, Leyton's left-back, scored nicely with an absolutely cast iron shot against which Kimber had no chance. Even this, the only goal scored in the whole match, did not get Golders Green properly on the move, although they attacked with a little more force.

The high kicking at this part of the game produced a lot of head work, and once, when W. Boston and Boatwright jumped for the ball together, Boatwright was knocked out. He quickly recovered, however, and played on.

Browne, who seemed to have a roving commission, and Broadis next brought the ball down the right wing and centred to Duffield, who miskicked and lost the only chance the Greens had to equalise.

Then play came back to the Golders Green goal and out to the side line, where Smith and Hayward fell together. Smith unfortunately slid and struck one of the fence posts, and was taken off the field. He returned, however, in the second half.

For the first twenty minutes of the second half the home forward line played very badly and after having the ball close in front of the Leyton goal they allowed bad play to give Leyton two free kicks which put the ball back to the Greens' end of the field.

Browne, who had as much of the ball as any of the Golders Green players, made good use of one opportunity which came his way and neatly threaded his way through the Leyton forward and half-back lines, but was smothered by Clark and Gentry, the backs, before he could get his shot in. At this point the game developed into a goalmouth battle which finally resulted in two successive corners for Golders Green.

Back on the defensive again, Bucci proved to be the soundest man, but he was badly supported. His men were never where they ought to have been to receive his passes, and many opportunities were lost.

Fear of the speed of the Leyton wingers seemed to keep the ball n the centre most of the time, but one swinging run by Breagan, Browne and Duffield had Leyton on the jump. Preston, Clark and Gentry, however, each marked his man well and with Self they frustrated the move right in the goalmouth.

In running movements down the field the Green forward line lacked that cohesion which is so necessary to their success. Passes were missed, and high kicking lost many chances, frequently giving the ball away.

In the closing minutes Golders Green were awarded two corners. The first failed, and before the second could be taken the whistle blew for time.

Of the Leyton team, Boatwright, Avery and Preston played a fine fast game, and were well backed up by Burns and Hunt. Gentry, whose name was not on the programme, and Clark, the backs, proved well nigh impassable.

Golders Green, although much slower off the mark, and inclined to be careless, were just as sound on the defensive, and among those deserving of mention are Broadis, Bucci, W. Boston and Hayward. They helped Kimber out of many tight corners. Browne, the inside-right, merited better luck than he had. He was always in tyhe picture, and his work fully deserved a goal. With five forwards of his calibre there would be many more successes. F. Boston was met with a strong defence, but had he been favoured with more passes in the second half the result might have been different.

Report by Hendon Times, 25/12/1936, p.5

Golders Green

1
Gerry Kimber
2
Bill Boston
3
Reg Hayward
4
Joe Bloxham
5
Bert Broadis
6
George Bucci
7
A J "Billy" Breagan
8
Johnny Browne
9
Eric Duffield
10
Gerry Marrable
11
Fred Boston

Match Events

P B Clark
35''

Leyton

1
W Self
2
S Gentry
3
P B Clark
4
L Hunt
5
S Preston
6
J C Burns
7
F Smith
8
J Lock
9
A Avery
10
F V Boatwright
11
L G Cameron