Match Report

Finchley
0
Hendon
1
Date:
Saturday 21 March 1936
Competition:
Middlesex Charity Cup
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Finchley

Match Report

Thus we pen the final instalment of that dogged serial between the two clubs, and though the Green had the last word, honours are even on results, so there is no cause for complaint.

There is something to be said for the comment of one spectator, who thought the teams were tired of one another and were getting a bit stale after so many encounters.

Be that as it may, it was quite a good game. Finchley did the pressing at first and Kimber's miraculous save will live long in the memory. Before long Golders Green were in their stride and Eldrett had also made a dashing clearance, so that at the change-over honours were divided.

The game, by the way, was so far remarkably clean, but subsequently this impression was marred, notably when Bowyer was penalised for kicking W. Boston.

Though Golders Green can be said to have had more of the play in the second half, their supremacy was in no way marked, and Finchley had their chances. Both teams were inclined to keep a light ball too high.

Finchley made two changes in their published team. As Draper was unfit, Marchant dropped to right-back, and the veteran Daniel took the right-half position. E. Walker, of the "A" team, came in at centre-forward in place of Kittell. Golders Green had Weaver for Bloxham at right-half.

Daniel showed he had lost none of his skill in making openings, and with Snazel often set Bowyer and Cox going. Smith, on the other wing, did not have as many opportunities as his prowess deserved. The little he did was promising. Walker was rarely seen and showed he is some way below first team standard. Finchley's defence was as good as its names suggest, and so was Golders Green's, there being little to choose in fact. The latter's star men were their wingers, Breagan and Boston, who were the real menace to the home goal.

Golders Green kicked off down the slope, but Finchley made the first thrust, Smart taking a long shot which went round the upright. Kimber kicked into touch the next time Finchley came. Fallon had a race with Tristram at the other end, but shot wide.

Kimber coolly cleared a centre from Finchley's right wing, and then Golders Green got away, Baird turning a somersault to save and concede a fruitless corner.

The visitors checked some passing between the Finchley attackers and after a free kick against Fallon, Finchley got a corner. However, Cox sent the ball behind. Finchley followed up and Bowyer put a slanting drive over the cross-bar.

Golders Green's most vital shot so far came from Evans, who just failed to snap the ball in from a good centre from Boston.

Kimber saved a certain goal with remarkable agility when he pushed over from Walker, who had received from Bowyer. Nothing came of the corner. Next time Smith skied a rising ball.

Finchley kept up the attack, but Shorland took the ball off Walker's feet. From two successive corners the visitors' defence was kept very active.

It was the Green's turn again, but Boston was pulled up for offside. Snazel put in a nice dropping shot at the other end, but Kimber punched clear.

It was now Eldrett's turn to balance Kimber's earlier feat, and a hard thrust enabled him to fly full length and turn a ball from Boston behind. Finchley got the ball away from the corner and Smith tested Kimber with a bouncing ball.

Marchant handled when Golders Green were pressing and only some prompt work by the Finchley defenders stopped their opponents finding their mark.

Finchley continued to have most of the attack, but despite several corners found the visitors' defence sound in preventing the completion of these movements.

Ultimately Breagan got an open Finchley goal, drew Eldrett, but then headed over the top. Tristram gave the Greens a corner, but having got that away, the visitors had a free kick just outside the penalty area for hands against Snazel. Broadis took the kick - a "snorter" - but Marchant stopped it.

Golders Green took further advantage of their stay at this end of the field and gave Finchley one or two anxious moments. Half-time: Finchley 0; Golders Green 0.

On the resumption Baird got to the ball just before Breagan was about to shoot.

Golders Green were given a free kick near the penalty line when Smart fell on an opponent. Broadis landed a hefty drive and Baird must have known something about it when he stopped the ball!

Cox got away, but was unlucky, and he missed a centre from Walker. From this clearance the Greens broke away and Boston sent across the Finchley goalmouth.

The referee came in for some criticism at this stage when he seemed uncertain of decisions between goal-kicks and corners.

The game was interrupted when Shorland was in the wars and had to receive the trainer's aid.

Cox was brought down on the run, but Kimber punched Baird's strong free kick away. A moment later, however, Cox received the admonishing finger of the referee and Finchley clustered to clear a free kick.

F. Boston had to be taken off after he had been in collision with Bowyer. Feeling ran high. A free kick was given against Finchley, who for a time were under a bombardment which ended in Bucci scoring from amid a cluster of players. Eldrett had no chance.

Boston returned here and soon after brought Eldrett to his feet with a well placed shot. Despite the disadvantage of the slope, Golders Green were having a long period of attack.

Daniel tried to put Finchley level with a drop shot, but the Greens held the upper hand, and Finchley had only one or two breakaways. Eldrett again distinguished himself with another smart clearance - this time from Breagan.

Finchley tried to surprise the Greens and the result was a high drive from Snazel which might have found the mark if he had had time to steady himself.

There was a terrific scramble in front of the Golders Green goal towards the end, when Finchley all but bundled the ball in.

Evans then took up the running, but Eldrett's hands were there when he shot. He also saved from Fallon.

Report by Hendon Times, 27/03/1936, p.14

Golders Green

1
Gerry Kimber
2
Bill Boston
3
Jimmy Shorland
4
Bert Weaver
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

68''
George Bucci

Finchley

1
R S Eldrett
2
H M Marchant
3
R Baird
4
W Daniel
5
H G Tristram
6
J Smart
7
F W Smith
8
Arthur Snazel
9
E Walker
10
C Bowyer
11
C Cox