A goal in the first minute - from a shot that would not have scored in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred - was the prelude to the heaviest defeat that has ever befallen Golders Green - at least so far as we can remember. Leyton, before a crowd of 4,000, continued to pile on goals, and at the end had scored nine without reply.

Though one-sided as far as scoring was concerned - territorially Golders Green had a fair share of the play - interest was maintained until the closing kick by reason of the fact that Leyton were anxious to reach double figures, while Golders Green were desperately keen to avert this ignominy. Golders Green triumphed, and in the last ten minutes there was a possibility that they would get at least one goal. But that was denied them, despite a superb effort by Evans.

Though flattered by the figures, Leyton were clearly the superior side. They were not merely eleven players, but a team in the fullest sense of the word.

Burden, a Welshman, who played in goal, promises to be a worthy successor to T. Holding, who, it may be remembered, fractured a finger in the corresponding match last season. He was certainly not hard pressed, but he cleared neatly, and much harder shots than those sent in by Golders Green were needed to beat him. The backs seldom made mistakes, but it is to the quality of the half-back line that we can trace Leyton's big win. Without disregarding their duties as defenders, they were not only giving support to the forward line, but feeding them with meticulous care. Thus tended, it is not surprising that the forwards revelled in their work. Led by Gibbins, who gets through a tremendous amount of work with the minimum of effort, the five collaborated to a degree which we have seldom seen, and there is no defence in the Athenian League which would not have been punctured several times by Leyton on Saturday's form. C. Brown, the new outside-right from the Royal Air Force, is a Scottish boy who promises to get a place in his country's amateur team. Though he scored but once, he contributed in no small part to some of the other goals.

Except for the absence of Bucci (who is expected to play tomorrow), Golders Green had what was presumed to be their strongest side. When we say that one must not jump to the conclusion that wholesale changes should be made; to use a colloquialism, the committee must not "get the wind up." The present side should at least be given another trial. Confidence may be restored by the substitution of Bucci, say in the forward line, although the weakness on Saturday was in the half-back line. Of the three T. Evans was, in our opinion, the best. Bloxham and Broadis fell far short of their best efforts, and the forwards had to suffer. Breagan is to be commended for his display - he seemed to be the only forward likely to bring success. It was some time before Drinkwater was at all prominent. His tendency to get offside spoilt several good movements. Apart from the mistake which brought Leyton their first goal, Miles did not do badly. He has seldom had a more trying afternoon. [W.] Boston was the better of the backs, and it is hoped that before long we shall see Richardson kicking as strongly and as surely as in previous seasons.

Leyton, through Graves at right-half, opened the scoring just after the start. Richardson ran out to clear, but failed to get in a strong kick, and Miles allowed the ball to trickle into the net. This was a tragic opening for Golders Green, and for a time it seemed that Miles was affected by the unexpected turn of events.

From one pass the ball went just to high for [W.?} Boston to head it, and Serjeant, who was early giving trouble, sent in a good shot from which Gibbins nearly scored. At the end of 15 minutes, however, Gibbins found the net, and before another ten minutes had gone Boatwright had scored two more. In the meantime Miles had made one grand save from Serjeant. The only dangerous movement on the part of Golders Green came from Breagan, who was making very good use of the few corners that came to the visitors. In the case of the fourth goal Richardson, who was standing under the bar, kicked clear, but the referee without hesitation pointed to the centre.

The play was by no means of the drawing order. There was some hefty charging, but infringements were few. W. Boston had to receive sponge treatment, but soon recovered.

Except for one shot by Walker - although it went over the top it was encouraging to find the forward line was not without life - the attacking work was practically confined to Leyton, for whom Lock, receiving from Gibbins, got another goal, the score at the interval being 5-0 in Leyton's favour.

Play in the second half was much in accordance with that which had gone before. Leyton got four more goals, and judging by their play, were keenly desirous of running into double figures, but though there were eight or nine minutes left for play after the ninth had been obtained they could not get the tenth. For some time Broadis was off the field through an injury.

We saw much more of Golders Green's left wing in this half. [F.} Boston supplied Drinkwater with some good passes, but he was quite out of luck.

Ten minutes from the restart Serjeant, from another pass by Gibbins, from a difficult angle scored with the best shot of the match. It was a real gem. Boatwright got the next, and Brown had the misfortune to see one of his shots go right across the mouth of goal. Lock scored the next, and Brown, who had not yet got his name on the scoring sheet, registered the ninth and last goal. It was fitting that as they had worked with such cohesion, each of the forwards should have found the net.

Just on time Evans made one great shot which Burden cleverly saved at the expense of a corner. Evans had worked so untiringly throughout the game that we feel even Leyton would not have been sorry had Golders Green scored just this one goal from Evans's drive.