Rather more than 2,600 people watched the Amateur Cup-tie between Golders Green and Leyton at Claremont Road, Cricklewood, on Saturday, the takings being just over £70. The attendance was not so large as was expected. There have been larger crowds at less important games.

Leyton have won the Amateur Cup in two successive seasons, while in the following year they were runners-up. Golders Green have not been conspicuously successful in the competition, although they have frequently been excused the qualifying rounds when equally well-known clubs have had to fight through from the earliest rounds.

It was disappointing to local supporters that they failed to win on Saturday after twice taking the lead. The tie has to be replayed tomorrow at Leyton. The prospects of Golders Green are not good, although they should take the field with the knowledge that Leyton will have to show much better form in the replay if they are to win. Their show last Saturday was by no means impressive, particularly in the first half. In this period Golders Green had much the better of the play, and we cannot recall Kimber having one shot which could be called difficult.

Except that C.V. George was not eligible (he has played in a previous round for another club), Golders Green played their strongest team, if M. Fallon can be regarded as better than T.E. Evans at inside-left. Opinions differ on this point. Leyton were also strongly represented, their forward line including two amateur Internationals in V. Gibbins and J.C. Burns.

While overhead conditions were favourable, the pitch was on the heavy side, and except those operating on the wings, the players were often in difficulties. Under the circumstances it was hard to understand why more use was not made of the wingers. Both sides were to blame in this respect.

The referee was Mr. J. Lockton, the old Casual footballer and Surrey county cricketer. He handled the game well. We say this despite one or two outbursts from a section in the stand.

The opening play went in favour of Golders Green, but Breagan took some time in settling down. He was given several openings, but as play continued he improved immensely, and finding Thurston easier prey than he could have expected, he put the ball across to the other wing several times, and from one of these [F.] Boston was within an ace of scoring with his head. Boston also had a nice pass from Browne, and evidently it was realised that it was from the left-winger more than from anyone else that goals were likely to come. The first real scent of danger on the part of Leyton came from Brown, who proved a very capable man, but Broadis cleared.

The two "star" forwards in the Leyton side were some time in settling down, and indeed the team as a whole did not inspire confidence, but in some way or other they managed to keep Golders Green from scoring. In defence Loveday was prominent. Page and Gilham were others who often saved when danger threatened. From one shot by Breagan, Clark, in heading the ball from Breagan, was almost knocked out of action, but the application of the towel saved him from leaving the field.

While the game did not lack interest, it could not be described as particularly thrilling, and we do not remember many games in which the goalkeepers had so few difficult shots to deal with. Self had far more work to do than Kimber. Leyton's wingers got across some good shots, but luckily for Golders Green international form was not shown by Gibbins and Burns, although Lock had to be carefully watched. Fallon, though not at his best, made some nice passes to Boston, and from one of Boston's shots a corner resulted. Loveday headed the ball on top of the net and from the second corner we saw a scrimmage the outcome of which seemed to be long in doubt. Leyton won.

Retaliating, an attack on Golders Green's goal was launched, this ending in Boatwright shooting over. There were other perilous times for Golders Green, but Kimber handled the ball well. Although he was a little fortunate in tipping one shot over the bar, he was not seriously troubled.

Walker, Golders Green's chief scorer to date, was well looked after by Page, but he got clean through several times. Unfortunately, he could not circumvent the tactics of the opposing defence and several times he was pulled up for offside. On one occasion he apparently did not hear the whistle blown, and he had a rare tussle with the goalkeeper only to find his effort was useless. His impetuosity once brought him a little lecture from the referee.

Now and again the half-back line would send in shots, Bucci being responsible for one really good effort. Corners came fairly frequently, and though these were for the most part well directed, Self could not be beaten. There were scrimmages in the goalmouth, but Self came out of these ordeals with flying colours.

It looked as though the interval would arrive without any score, but with only sixty seconds to go Boston was given his opportunity and from close in beat Self.

That this lead was well deserved will be gathered from our report. On the run of the play Golders Green should have led by a much more substantial margin.

The second half opened sensationally. Within a couple of minutes Leyton had equalised through Lock with what seemed to be a simple shot.

Then came a hard fight for the lead, and while Golders Green continued to give a good exhibition, there was a distinct improvement on the part of Leyton, Kimber finding much more to do. Shorland was often troubled by Brown, but on the whole he was filling the position of left-back satisfactorily. Broadis more than once stepped in when the backs were beaten.

Walker made many individual runs, and from one of these it looked as though nothing could stop him from going clean through, but his final shot was weak. He appeared to have lost all his strength. It was a gallant effort, however, and he came in for a good cheering for the manner in which he was continually ploughing his way through muddy patches.

With fifteen minutes to go Boston again put Golders Green ahead. His first shot from close in hit the upright, but he caught the ball on the rebound, and a terrific shout proclaimed that for the second time Golders Green were ahead. They were then playing sufficiently well to justify hopes that victory would rest with them, and with a corner kick well placed by Boston, another goal looked certain. However, this was not to be. The ball then went to the other end of the field, and after Kimber had made a good clearance from a free kick, Leyton once again equalised through Lock.

There was no further scoring, although Walker once more raised the hopes of Golders Green with a run that promised a goal.

Though disappointment may have been felt that Golders Green had not made better use of their chances, there was not a great deal of difference in the strength of the teams, and we look forward to another great fight tomorrow. The outlook is by no means hopeless for Golders Green if the forwards will realise the policy of playing a more open game, especially if the ground is heavy.

There was really no outstanding player and no pronouncedly weak spot on Golders Green's side. The half-back line was the strongest section, Bucci being outstanding, but the wingers and W. Boston at right-back deserve mention.