Following the big victory over Hayes, Golders Green journeyed to Barking on Saturday evening to fulfil an Athenian League engagement. They were unable to field exactly the same team as played in the Cup-tie. Of the three reserves, two were in the half-back line. Thereby hangs the tale of the defeat.

With a full side out, it is more than likely that Golders Green would have won. Barking made one or two changes from that on the programme, but this did not tend to weaken the team. Their strength lay in the backs and centre-half, both Wiseman and Webb kicking hard whenever they secured the ball. These long kicks, which had the wind behind them in the first half, often caught the Golders Green halves napping, and the Barking forwards were able to do nearly just as they liked. Cameron, the centre-forward, was a source of worry to Broadis, while the wingers - Butterworth on the left and Fogg on the right - were a trouble to both George and [W.] Boston at back.

Barking opened their score after seven minutes' play, when Showler, at right-half, sent in a long shot from thirty yards, Kimber appearing to be unsighted. This early reverse seemed to sting Golders Green, and it appeared from the way they were playing that it would not be long before Barking increased their lead. A pass by Broadis to Bucci, who was playing in an unaccustomed position at outside-left, was nicely centred, and Fallon had the greatest of hard luck when his header just cleared the bar. Browne was using the ball with great skill, receiving much applause for the way he often beat man after man only to see his pass wasted by the intervention of a Barking half-back. It was noticeable that the forward line were missing the dash of " Tommy Evans, " and often Duffield, when he did receive the ball, hung on too long before making a pass.

From a corner by Butterworth, Golders Green had a life, the ball just skimming the bar from a header by Cameron. Barking increased their lead after twenty minutes when, from a pass by Neale, Cameron rounded Broadis, and with a hard drive beat Kimber easily. Golders Green again fought back and a grand shot from Browne brought Newton to his knees, he in turn putting the ball away for a corner. Four minutes from half-time Barking scored again through Brocklehurst.

Golders Green opened the second half in determined fashion and twice Fallon headed over from fine centres by Breagan. After 17 minutes Golders Green reduced the lead. Cox, at left-half, passed to Bucci, who in turn centred. Fallon picked up the pass, rounded Neale, and with a hard right-foot drive scored easily, Newton having no chance.

This put heart into Golders Green and Duffield and Browne tried hard to work the ball through to Fallon again, but Neale proved a great stumbling block. Kimber again proved his value to the side (although he was playing his fifth game of the week), for on two occasions he leapt across the goal and with his long arms punched away what appeared to be certain goals.

Golders Green continued to press, and Fallon on two occasions had hard luck with beautiful drives which just skimmed the bar with the goalkeeper hopelessly beaten. If Golders Green, however, could have got that second goal we might have seen a great struggle to equalise, but that was not to be, for with 15 minutes to go Cameron shot through from a pass by Butterworth.

The weakness in the Golders Green side lay in the half-backs, both Cox and Shorland giving the wingers too much scope. George saved what appeared to be a certain goal for Barking when, from a hard kick by Webb, the ball was travelling over both his and Cameron's heads, when he handled, thus preventing Cameron from running through and scoring. Fortunately it was out of the dreaded " area, " and the resultant kick was blazed over the bar by Neale. The game finished with Golders Green trying hard to reduce the lead.

For Golders Green, Fallon stood out, and it would have done justice to his play if one or two of his shots had found the net instead of grazing the bar. He must have scored several times if he had had both F. Boston and Tommy Evans on his left to help him. Bucci was wasted at outside-left, while Broadis found it too much to mark such a dangerous man as Cameron and to cover up the faults of the wing halves, Cox and Shorland. W. Boston was the better of the two backs. it was indeed a creditable display by the whole of the eight members of the team who had previously had a hard game with Hayes.

For Barking, Wiseman and Webb were a tower of strength at back, whilst Cameron was the best of a dangerous set of forwards.