The game was played before a crowd of 3,300 and provided a display of capital football. Both teams were at full strength and there was keen discussion as to who would get in the first thrust. The fact that it was Finchley was a decisive factor. For the first quarter-of-an-hour no professional teams could have bettered the combination and understanding which brought goals from Bowyer and Cox. This pace and standard was not maintained and thereafter there was a period in which Finchley had to fight hard to keep the lead.

Golders Green's first goal was of rather a scrappy kind, but the second was one of those miraculous high drops into the net. Finchley placed the game more safely in their hands with Cox's fine solo effort which gave them their last goal.

Finchley won the toss and Golders Green kicked off down the slope. The first goal came within five minutes after a fruitless effort by Mackenzie, Cox and Bowyer.

Marchant took a corner and from this Snazel hit the crossbar before Bowyer slickly snapped the ball in.

Golders Green came near to equalising from a bombardment on the Finchley goal. Walker hit the post with a shot that beat the goalkeeper, and Browne also sent in a good drive which was cleared.

After ten minutes Finchley went further ahead when Cox drove in from the wing off Snazel. Cox was adjudged offside in the next Finchley attempt and then at the other end Browne headed into Eldrett's hands. Bowyer bungled the next attempt for Finchley.

Eldrett made a marvellous save off Walker when he stopped the ball and just retrieved it as it went towards the goalmouth.

Back at the other end Cox was intercepted and Golders Green survived a corner. Finchley also survived one.

Browne sent a centre from Drinkwater over the Finchley crossbar before Golders Green scored through Drinkwater, who took a pass from Bloxham which went over the heads of the other players. Finchley went fast from the kick-off and Miles pushed a hot one from Snazel over the bar. Golders Green kept up a running attack, Drinkwater being the highlight, and there were times when the Finchley defence was severely taxed. Finchley were penalised twice in quick succession in their half and from the second kick the ball was skied in front of goal and Finchley had just cleared when the referee's whistle blew for an injury to Eldrett, the Finchley goalkeeper. He soon recovered.

Drinkwater raced down the wing for Golders Green, but George intercepted his pass and Finchley got away and gave their opponents a shock when the ball bumped up awkwardly into Miles' face. Bucci was also in the wars here.

Half-time: Finchley 2; Golders Green 1.

A corner was given when Golders Green claimed hands against Baird - but the ball had been sandwiched awkwardly between him and another player, and it would have been a very doubtful penalty. A moment later Tristram was penalised and a free kick given against him almost on the penalty area line. Finchley clustered and one of their players intercepted a lob shot.

Finchley were slightly rattled, but Cox got going and figured in a scene when he charged the Golders Green goalkeeper after a free kick. The referee handled the incident firmly and had all the players round him for a word of warning. This undoubtedly checked any spread of those tactics.

Finchley were mostly using their efforts now to keep their lead intact and Golders Green were on the offensive more than their opponents.

Finchley, however, were active again when Mackenzie twice was unsuccessful and Miles just tapped over the bar from Bowyer.

Baird saved a hard drive from Drinkwater on the Finchley goal-line before Cox, in a splendid solo effort, ran down and beat [W.] Boston and Miles for an inspiring goal. This heartened the Finchley attack, which had been subdued by the uphill attack of the Golders Green forwards. Cox again went down the wing and Bowyer headed hard over the bar.

Golders Green, with Bucci having changed places with Broadis, made a valiant attempt to reduce their arrears, but the Finchley defenders proved equal to the onslaught. Cox was as much a thorn to Golders Green as Drinkwater was to Finchley!

A shot in a hundred was Drinkwater's second goal, which came from the wing and dropped into the net.

The excitement was increased by this unexpected fillip to Golders Green and a dour struggle ensued for the equalising goal. Golders Green got a corner, but the kick was short and Finchley breathed again.

[F.] Boston drove hard to the outside of the net. The closing minutes brought a good save from Eldrett and Finchley cleared a final corner kick by Golders Green.