Fielding exactly the same team that had beaten Enfield by 10 goals to 1, Golders Green, at Walthamstow on Saturday, lost by 11 goals to 2, and thus for the second week in succession created a surprise in the realm of amateur football.

Last season, on the same ground, Golders Green won by 2-1, this being the first time J. Brown e had been in their team. He then made rings round his opponents, and it was unfortunate for Golders Green that, though he played fairly well, he was not so conspicuous on Saturday.

From the opening play no one imagined Golders Green would be beaten heavily : as a matter of fact, for the first quarter-of-an-hour, they were definitely on top. Miles was idle in goal, and the other players combined in such a manner that it seemed only a question of time for goals to be scored. We had settled down to a really close fight. Fallon made some good attempts, and from a long pass by F. Boston, who opened well, Breagan just failed to head through. Corner kicks were conceded by the Avenue, and it is no exaggeration to say that the goalkeeper seemed on several occasions to be beaten.

Then the game took a turn. Reg. Wright, at right-half, who was hit in the face rather badly, with Oliver and Mercer formed a strong half-back line, and began to ply the forwards with well-timed passes. Davis, at outside-left, sent in from the corner flag accurately, and this kick was followed by a corner on the other wing. Mercer headed over the crossbar, but Lewis then opened the scoring with a long shot close to the upright which Miles looked to have covered. It was rather a lucky goal, but all the way through fortune seemed to smile on the Avenue.

Restarting, corners to both teams were followed by a bad miss on the part of Fallon, but it must be said that a lot of miskicking was due to the greasy state of the ground.

Twenty-five minutes from the opening Vincent got through for Walthamstow, and if Miles can be accused of weakness in dealing with the shots that had scored, there was no question of the third, also from Vincent, a high shot taken full on the volley. There were other good goals to follow, but this was the best of all.

Three more goals were scored before the interval, Magner getting two and Vincent one. The fifth should have been saved. Golders Green demonstrated that they had a forward line, Browne putting in one of the best shots of the match, but once more they attempted the close-passing game. It was foolish not to adapt their play to the condition of the ground, which was on the heavy side. Walthamstow made full use of their wingers, and profited thereby. The goal scored by Vincent just before the interval (his third) came from a breakaway.

While their play had fallen off tremendously, Golders Green did not deserve to be six goals down, and during rest time the Avenue officials were congratulating themselves on having done so well against their nearest rivals.

Upon the teams turning out it was seen that positional changes had been made in Golders Green's first line of defence, Bloxham going into the centre and Bucci being at right-half. Golders Green opened with a hot attack, a fine centre by [F.] Boston producing a corner. This was cleared at the expense of another. But the attack brought no goals, and within 15 minutes from the start Magner, with an individual run, added to Walthamstow's lead. Just previously Golders Green had seen a shot by the Avenue hit the underpart of the crossbar.

The home attack got Golders Green spreadeagled time after time, and though there was some bad shooting on the part of the Avenue as well as Golders Green, they soon began scoring again. Davis, who was a real live wire, notched the eighth goal, and then came a further re-arrangement of Golders Green's team, Broadis taking up his old place at centre-half.

Perhaps this had some influence on the subsequent play : at any rate Walker, amid cheers, opened Golders Green's account. Magner replied for the Avenue, making the score 9-1.

Broadis and Magner had in the meantime been off the field owing to a collision, but both were able to return. Broadis then took up the unusual position of outside-right, Breagan going into the half-back line, and we had the brothers Boston operating as backs. Bucci, the captain, evidently did not know how to place his team to the best advantage. When such wholesale changes were being made, it might have suggested itself to him that someone should take Miles's place in goal.

From a pass by Curtis, who was then at outside-left, Walker got a second goal for Golders Green, but after Miles had run out of goal (this was not an error of judgment), Lewis brought the home side's score to double figures, and Vincent completed the rout.

The closing stages of the game were played in a bad light. The players were hardly distinguishable, but those for Golders Green who hoped that it would be impossible for the game to be finished were disappointed.

Of Golders Green we are afraid it is difficult to appraise any very highly. The score flattered Walthamstow, but the sorry lapse of Golders Green was unaccountable. W. Boston, Bucci and Walker perhaps do not deserve such strong criticism as others, but even these three were not in their happiest moods.

The Avenue played magnificiently. There was not a weak spot in the side, and on that form they are worthy of their position at the head of the table.