Match Report

Barnet
1
Hendon
2
Date:
Saturday 14 March 1936
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Barnet

Match Report

Barnet's pitch at Underhill was for years Golders Green's bogey ground, but times have changed. They now go there with much more confidence. Last season Golders Green got three points from the League games; this season they have won both matches - the first at Claremont Road by 7-0, and the second, at Barnet on Saturday, by 2-1.

Barnet are doing badly this season. Apart from failures in Cup-ties, they have but 10 points from 17 League games. These results are not surprising if the football they served up against Golders Green is a sample. It would be unfair, however, if we omitted to mention that last-minute changes were made in their side. J. McCarthy (right-half) and J. Richardson (inside-left) had to stand down owing to illness, while once again Barnet had to play without their International forward, L. Finch, who was at Inverness.

Under these circumstances it was not surprising that Barnet lost the match. It is difficult, however, to enthuse over the play of Golders Green, which was distinctly poor for the greater part of the time, and certainly not up to the standard one expects from a side which has eyes on the championship. With J.W. Bloxham recovered from an accident, Golders Green had out their full side, and ought to have won with greater ease.

Though winning the toss, Bucci gave Barnet the benefit of the slope in the first half, but it was not long before it was seen that unless a big change took place, the honours would not go to the home side. They found great difficulty in getting through the Greens' defence, and some time elapsed before Kimber had a really hard shot to save. On the other hand, the visiting forwards had plenty of chances, the presence of Bloxham strengthening the half-back line. When well placed [F.] Boston was given offside, but Hine was kept busy, one of his best saves being from Evans, who was a real live wire. The home defence got but little rest, but while there was some pretty work in mid-field (Browne is a natty little player), Golders Green forwards muddled many opportunities by tapping the ball from one to another instead of shooting hard. When shots were made, they were often wide of the target.

The two most dangerous forwards in Barnet's line were Braithwaite and Green, the right wingers, and it was from Green that the first corner came at the end of 20 minutes. This was cleared, and then there was a corner at the other end, which was well placed by Boston, but brought no reward.

One of the best chances given to Barnet came from a free kick, and incidentally there were far too many place kicks to make the game enjoyable. Most of these were for trivial offences, the referee being evidently desirous of keeping strictly to the laws of the game.

A penalty kick awarded against W. Boston for handling was entrusted to Morris, who has already scored 39 goals this season (nearly as many as the remaining 17 players who have figured in the first team). But he missed a grand opportunity of giving his side the lead, the ball going over the bar.

Having luckily escaped being behind after having had two-thirds of the play, the Greens made another attack, and a free kick fell to them close to the goal-line not far from the corner flag. F. Boston, usually well on the mark, cannot be complimented on his effort to open the scoring.

The next player to come into the limelight was George, whose methods did not please the referee. From a free kick given against George, Kimber made a good clearance with his fist, but not long after Barnet were given another penalty kick, apparently against George for holding Morris, though Barnet's crack centre was not in possession. Garrett, the captain, did not give Morris a second chance. He took the kick himself and gave his side the lead. He was, however, somewhat lucky, as the ball struck the post before entering the net.

There was nothing further of moment before the interval.

The second half brought two goals to Golders Green without reply. The occasions on which Barnet looked dangerous were few, and in despair Garrett took up the position to which he is more accustomed (left-back), Wade going into the forward line. The changes did not work out as desired.

Ten minutes after the change-over Golders Green equalised with combined work that was not bettered during the game. F. Boston sent the ball across to the right wing, where it was met by Breagan, who headed it to Browne, from whom it went into the net. Even the Barnet supporters could not refrain from applauding this clever bit of football.

With the breaking of the ice, we saw Golders Green in a much better light, but another 20 minutes elapsed before the deciding goal came from F. Boston, who met with no more than his due in finding the net, because he had done a great deal of really sound work.

In this period of 20 minutes Golders Green should have scored two or three times. After Hine had saved from Browne, there was a glorious opening for Evans, but he missed his chance, but nothing but praise can be given for a later effort, when one shot crashed against the upright and rebounded into the field instead of into the net as was at first thought to be the case.

We also saw some good shots by Fallon, who was by no means the least impotent forward.

Barnet never gave up trying, but could not recover lost ground, and apparently were well satisfied that the defeat was not heavier.

That Morris did not score is due to the fact that he was well policed by Broadis, who, with Bucci and Bloxham, made a formidable half-back line. Either seemed capable of dealing with two opponents when necessary.

On the Barnet side Green worked very hard, and gave George little rest. Experience told in most of these battles, and there is no doubt that George is of value to a side, but he must guard against penalising his side by conceding free kicks.

Report by Hendon Times, 20/03/1936, p.14

Golders Green

1
Gerry Kimber
2
Bill Boston
3
Cliff George
4
Joe Bloxham
5
Bert Broadis
6
George Bucci
7
A J "Billy" Breagan
8
Johnny Browne
9
Tommy Evans
10
Mike Fallon
11
Fred Boston

Match Events

F Garrett
38''
55''
Johnny Browne
76''
Fred Boston

Barnet

1
S Hine
2
C Read
3
M Wade
4
E Gardiner
5
A Burton
6
S Lowe
7
A Green
8
C Braithwaite
9
A Morris
10
J A Ellison
11
F Garrett