Golders Green had to play four reserve men at Barking last Saturday in an Athenian League game, but it would hardly be fair to point to that as a reason for their defeat. On the contrary. One of the reserves, R. Hill, in goal, did particularly well, saving frequently and keeping down to four a score which might well have run into double figures.

Finishing in front of goal was again poor, Soden being frequently being left to do three men's work; he succeeded once in beating the opposing backs in a sprint, but they saw to it that he was not given a second opportunity.

Lewis, at left-back, and Ward and Weaver, at right and centre-half respectively, were the three reserve men besides Hill. Of these, Weaver did what he could, but was frequently out of position, and Lewis was slow to make up his mind what to do with the ball when he got it. Once or twice he certainly moved fast and saved an awkward situation, but when a show of speed came from Hillman, the Barking right-winger, he was entirely unable to stop him.

The wing players seemed to make use, in the first half, of an ability to make the ball do the work and the travelling. The Chaventre-Hill combination was quite sound and several times succeeded in getting the ball well downfield, but always lost it to the half or back line. Boston and Browne together had the same results on the left wing. Soden was regularly starved of the ball, but on one of the few occasions he did get it he scored Golders Green's only goal.

The match opened with the home team kicking off and taking the ball right away downfield. Good defence work cleared and for a short time play swung pointlessly from end to end of the field. Gradually, however, Barking began to assume the ascendancy and pressed hard on the Golders Green goal. One attack resulted in R. Hill clearing to Browne, who took the ball away and tried to score. His shot went over the line, however, and the resultant goal-kick brought Butterworth, Budd and Brown in front of the visitors' goal. Here, in the midst of a melee, R.Hill and Lewis managed to get the ball away.

Chaventre finally got the ball from a kick by Bucci and made some nice play on the wing, beating Popplewell before losing it. The ball went across to centre and Soden took it away, going over to the left. He was in danger of losing it, so he made a shot that was going wide, but Boston intercepted and put it in the net. Before he could decide whether to allow this as a goal or not the referee had to consult a linesman, and finally decided that Boston had been offside, which resulted in a goal kick being given.

The goalkeeper, Wilson, who had a wonderful punch behind his kick, sent the ball to the halfway line, where Budd picked it up and started another attack, passing to his left wingers, Brown and Rust. As they came to the goal the defence were too strong and forced a quick attempt on the goal, which Budd headed over. Hill's goal kick was intercepted and came back quickly, but Bucci was on the spot and saved a possible extension of that attack.

Golders Green forwards were not given a chance to show their speed in a race of that sort for the ball, because Wiseman and Godwin, the Barking backs, always kept between the ball and goal. D. Hillman, the Barking outside-right, was a first-time kicker, but he was not a good shot, and muffed good goals.

Another attack was beaten off and then Soden got a chance. The ball was lobbed over the heads of the Barking defence and SODEN had a mighty race with Godwin to get to it. He won, and cleanly kicked the ball into the top of the net, completely beating Wilson.

This seemed to spur both teams on and for a time play fluctuated from end to end of the field, until a move was started downfield, which resulted in a good attack. A Golders Green man handled the ball in the penalty area, however, and the resultant kick, taken by WISEMAN, gave Barking the equaliser.

There was no othe score before half-time, although both teams frequently made attempts. Golders Green were defending much better as the first " 45 " drew to a close, and the placing of individuals was good.

Right from the commencement of the second half Golders Green were heavily attacked, and always semed to be in the minority. They allowed themselves to be so scattered that there appeared to be two Barking men on the field for every visitor.

Soden started a nice move which was frustrated by Godwin, but he was left all to himself, and so could not pass out. Bucci also made a good try, which put Wilson on his mettle, and this was followed up by Chaventre.

Butterworth collected the ball when Wilson cleared it, and showed some footwork reminiscent of Bucci when he beat Weaver and Lewis. He then passed to D. Hillman, who came down well before he centred. BUDD was right in front of goal and used his head to give Barking their second goal.

The third came soon after from RUST, who managed to get it over the line in the midst of a melee in front of goal. Soden, J. Hill, Chaventre and Boston all tried to break through the Barking defence, but the team-work of the first half was completely lost, so that the only result was goal-kicks.

[R.] Hill was given plenty to do for the rest of the second half, and finally, not long before time, BUDD scored his second goal from a nice clean pass by Rust. Golders Green did make one or two more half-hearted attempts to score, but they never succeeded in doing any good.