Considering the conditions, we saw some good football at Claremont Road on Saturday, when Golders Green entertained Finchley in the Middlesex Charity Cup. Golders Green had an old score to wipe out, but when Marchant scored for Finchley from a penalty kick (for hands) with ten minutes only remaining for play, it looked as if they were in for a second defeat.

However, we then had had one of those surprisiing turns associated with football which make the game so entertaining. Walker equalised immediately - in fact, Finchley hardly saw the ball from the time it was restarted before it was in the net.

From the centre Walker back-heeled to Broadis, and from his pass F. Boston cleverly beat the back and gave Walker his opportunity. In the remaining period neither side scored, and extra time was ordered. This was according to the regulations governing the competition, but it was evident that to play another 30 minutes would be an impossibility. Within two minutes the whistle blew, and the teams came off the field.

The start of the game was delayed by 15 minutes owing to the absence of an official, but even if the start had been made punctually at 2.30 it is doubtful if an extra half-hour's play would have been possible. The conditions were worse than in any previous match this season.

At the opening Mr. S.W. Greene, hon. secretary of the club, turned out as linesman, but was soon relieved by a club player in L. Bustard.

The referee was frequently in an indecisive mood. More than once he changed his mind in awarding free kicks, and but for appeals the guilty side would have benefited. He also used a notebook almost as much as a newspaper reporter. Several names were recorded therein, but we noticed no offence calling for severe punishment. Tempers got ruffled at times, but regrettable though as that may be, one cannot say it was a "dirty" game apart from the weather.

Finchley won the toss, and soon after the kick-off Golders Green had F. Boston injured. Fortunately his injury was not serious, and as events proved he was one of the most brilliant men on the field, particularly in the first half, when Fallon gave him the support he deserved. Time after time Boston would send the ball across into the goalmouth or to the other wing, where Breagan was given many openings, but he lacks inches, and Baird, a strongly-built man of greater stature, intervened successfully.

Except from having to clear from a free kick, Kimber did not find his old friends (he is a former Finchley player) too aggressive, and he had a fairly easy time compared with Eldrett, who had to deal with a number of difficult shots, chiefly from [F.] Boston and Browne.

Finchley's left wing was the more dangerous, but Cox found W. Boston in fine form. Draper was seemingly out of position at outside-right. Perhaps this was well for the home side, because Shorland, although making few serious mistakes, plays with less judgment than his partner.

Golders Green's halves were not content to let the forwards do all the shooting, and from Bucci, Broadis and Bloxham, Eldrett found work, although in most cases the ball went direct to him. He had the happy knack of positioning himself well - a fine trait. Breagan, however, had very hard luck in not scoring after one of the prettiest pieces of work during the afternoon by Browne, who beat an opponent time after time. Not until 25 minutes had elapsed was a corner taken. This fell to Golders Green, but Breagan handled the ball when it came to him from [F.] Boston.

Bowyer, the man who has scored a pile of goals for Finchley, was not too happy in the centre owing to the close attention paid to him by Broadis, and he was inclined to wander a bit. From a long dropping shot Kimber gave a corner, but nothing resulted from the place kick. For the remainder of the first half Finchley were mainly on the defence, but Eldrett had some good support, and the interval came with no goals.

Finchley gave a much better show in the second half. Opening strongly, they soon got a corner, and later Kimber did well to save from a free kick at the expense of another corner.

Gradually Golders Green recovered, and once again began to send in shots that might have beaten a less experienced man than Eldrett. The attack, however, was not so strong as it would have been had Fallon not wandered so far from his original position of inside-left. Time and again Boston found no one to whom the ball could be passed, while on the right wing Fallon not only failed to score himself but was more or less a handicap to Breagan and Browne. A timely word by Bucci, the captain, was required - at least to us that seemed to be necessary.

A free kick for hands against Golders Green saw the ball landed on top of the net, and then Draper, with a fine shot, brought Finchley a corner, another following soon afterwards.

Hands against Finchley just outside the penalty line brought no result to Golders Green, but at the other end Bloxham happened to handle the ball. The offence was in the penalty area, and from the spot kick Marchant opened the scoring.

As before stated, an equaliser soon came from Walker, by a pass from Boston.

The remaining ten minutes' play was most exciting, but only with difficulty could the ball be followed owing to the failing light. Both sides attacked in turn, corners being forced, but it was evident that many of the players were tiring. Strong kicking was necessary to send the heavy ball where it was meant to be sent.

There was no further scoring, and it came as a surprise to find the referee ordering extra time to be played. But the final whistle soon came, and another match will be necessary.

The result was disappointing to both Golders Green and Finchley officials. They would have preferred to see a definite result. Charity Cup games bring but little grist to club finances, and there is a danger of the end of the season being clogged with postponed games.

A draw, however, was a fitting result to Saturday's game.

On the Finchley side we are inclined to give honours to Eldrett, Baird, Tristram and Snazel. Bramley, a former Golders Green player, did nothing outstanding.

For Golders Green it cannot be said that Kimber had a baptism of fire - indeed, the hard shots he had to face were remarkably few, but evidence was given that he is likely to give good service to his new club. The Bostons were on top form, Browne was much more effective than of late, and the halves formed a strong trio.