Match Report

Hendon
4
Wealdstone
0
Date:
Saturday 08 February 1936
Competition:
Middlesex Senior Cup
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Golders Green

Match Report

On Golders Green's ground, when things are going wrong, we hear the cry, "Play up, the Greens!". While the term is appropriate, why not for variety's sake shout, "Play up, the Bees!", seeing that no fewer than seven of the regular side possess surnames commencing with "B" - the brothers Boston, Bucci. Broadis, Bloxham, Breagan and Browne.

On Saturday Golders Green met Wealdstone at Claremont Road in the Middlesex Senior Cup, and registered their fifth successive cup win by four goals to none. In the previous round they had beaten Wood Green by four goals to one.

Wealdstone, who had gone under to Golders Green in both League matches at Christmas, never looked like winning this game, although they were only one goal down at half-time. The ground conditions and a strong wind militated against good play. Golders Green were far from being on top form, but Wealdstone were much worse.

George Bucci, who since the previous match had spent a happy honeymoon, did not play, the duties of captaincy falling upon Broadis. Bucci's place at left-half was taken by Shorland. With this exception Golders Green were at full strength, but we doubt whether Shorland can now be classed as a reserve. In this match he played another fine game, and it seemed to give him particular pleasure to do well against a side which he served for some time. Again, Bloxham, who transferred his affections for a time, demonstrated that he was by no means a spent force, and he had the pleasure of registering a goal against his old pals.

The wind blew directly across the ground, and was of no great advantage to either side. It played pranks with the ball, which many times failed to reach the spot intended. A man would often have to run yards back to get possession instead of finding the ball at his toes.

Only five minutes had elapsed before Golders Green found the net, through Evans, and a minute or so later he looked like scoring another, but Fallon got possession and headed over the top. Fallon missed other chances, but otherwise did a good deal of useful work. His apparent inconsistency is exasperating. One minute he will be cheered for his cleverness and the next minute the ire of the crowd is aroused by his failures.

Play for the most part was uninteresting. Kimber had an easy afternoon. Good shots by Wealdstone came only at long intervals, and the shooting by Golders Green was not up to the standard expected, though tribute must be paid to the Wealdstone goalkeeper for keeping the home forwards out for the remainder of this half. Martindale took some risks, but they paid. Amusement was caused when he had almost reached the corner flag before he got rid of the ball. Perhaps Wealdstone's strongest attack was in the last five minutes before the change-over. They played desperately, but failed to get the ball past the alert Kimber.

Golders Green have got into the agreeable habit of scoring early in the second half. Perhaps the cup of tea in the dressing room is responsible.

They opened the game by attacking, and we saw Evans land the ball on top of the net from a difficult angle. There were other good but unsuccessful efforts before Breagan found the net from a pass by F. Boston, Evans just touching the ball in transit.

An attack by Wealdstone led to Golders Green being awarded a free kick through the ball being handled, but Wealdstone's incursions as a rule caused no anxiety, the backs making so few mistakes that Kimber was not often called upon.

F. Boston placed the ball so nicely from a free kick that Wealdstone almost lost more ground, and, again, Boston figured in another raid which ended in the post being struck. However, in this case he was given offside, so that nothing was lost by his shot just missing the mark.

In the last ten minutes Golders Green made the score more representative of the run of the play by scoring two more goals by Breagan and Bloxham, the last goal being hailed with enthusiasm.

Simultaneously with the last blast of the whistle the ball again entered the net defended by Wealdstone, but no goal was placed to their debit.

On their play in this match Enfield must have had a bad day to be beaten at home by Wealdstone in the earlier round. The best part of Wealdstone's team was the defence; the fowards were poor, although Puillen, at outside-right, did very well against a mature player like George.

There were no really outstanding players on Golders Green side : on the other hand there were no rank failures, and while one cannot go into raptures over the display, future games can be looked forward to with confidence.

Report by Hendon Times, 14/02/1936, p.14

Golders Green

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

Match Events

6''
Tommy Evans
51''
A J "Billy" Breagan
81''
A J "Billy" Breagan
84''
Joe Bloxham

Wealdstone

1
S Martindale
2
R D Groves
3
R L Clarke
4
S Friday
5
J Barratt
6
D Scott
7
J Pullen
8
T Richardson
9
A C Nurton
10
N Pickford
11
D Groves