A record crowd for the season (about 2,500) was drawn to Golders Green ground on Saturday, where Finchley, after scoring first, were beaten by five goals to two in the London Senior Cup.

A number of Finchley spectators were glad to welcome among them G. Harris, who, until he broke his leg some time ago, was at outside-right. He was there to cheer his comrades on. G.L. Kimber, the Golders Green goalkeeper, was playing against his old team.

Outstanding in the home eleven throughout the game was M. Fallon, inside-left. He was one of the few of whom it could be said his passes always found their objective. He played clever, constructive football. J.W. Bloxham, right-half, also shone; while for Finchley the outstanding men were C. Cox, on the left wing; H.F.G. Tristram at centre-half; and F.E. Knight. The latter, right up to the final whistle, was always thrusting, trying to get home.

Finchley kicked off, but their opponents took the ball, and Fallon, on the left, put across a nice centre which Baird intercepted and cleared, sending Finchley away on the right. But the attack did not go far and Golders Green came back, only to have a free kick given against them. Baird was unable to get his forwards on the move from the kick. Fallon gave Breagan a fine long pass, which looked as though it might result in a goal, but Eldrett came out and went down in the mud to stop it.

First Bloxham and then Broadis fed Breagan with passes. On the second he put across a centre which Fallon all but put into goal.

Finchley were taking some time to get used to the ground. But they rose in our estimation when Cox ran down and inwards, drawing the defenders and passing to Bowyer, who had moved outside. Kimber saved the shot. A further left wing attack was stemmed by W. Boston. This wing was proving a source of danger to Golders Green.

Foolishly enough Cox was left unmarked and quite close to goal. The ball came across from Snazel on the right and Cox shot over Kimber's head. This put Finchley one up after ten minutes' play, and they seemed to be getting on top, for Golders Green had a series of lucky escapes from apparently certain goals. For five minutes Finchley attacked and attacked; then suiddenly Golders Green broke away and crowded Finchley's goal. Bucci was forcing his way through when he was tripped in the penalty area.

Broadis made no mistake about the shot, a low one which Eldrett could not get to. That made the teams level after 15 minutes.

It must be said that the Finchley defenders were playing a fine game. Their anticipation was good, and the halves were marking their men with great tenacity.

The home goal had a lucky escape when a centre from Cox went right across untouched by anybody, though Bramley was there. There followed another anxious period for Finchley. Eldrett tipped away a centre from Bloxham, who had roamed over to the left wing. Breagan was put off the ball by Baird. Fallon gave to F. Boston, who put in a fine shot which Eldrett was lucky to save.

Then came a snappy piece of combination which resulted in a goal. Bloxham got possession of the ball, drew a man, passed to Browne, who snapped it through to Tommy Evans, who shot. Eldrett had no chance. After 20 minutes the score was 2-1.

Probably the deciding moment of the game followed when Finchley were awarded a penalty against George. Marchant took it and shot yards wide of the upright. If he had scored, levelling up, we would not have cared to forecast the result. But from this moment Golders Green's lucky star was in the ascendant.

In quick succession, Evans tripped over his feet when he was about to shoot; Eldrett saved long shots from Browne and Fallon; and even George came up and had a shot; it went over the top. What was probably the best passing movement of the game - Bucci to Fallon to Evans to Breagan - ended with the last-named well offside, which was a pity.

Under the stress of continued attack the Finchley backs began to use rather questionable tactics. The referee was forced to have a word with Draper. There followed a further argument down at the Golders Green end. Spirits were rapidly rising and it was probably lucky there were only a few moments left to play in this half.

Before the whistle went Golders Green scored once more when Breagan went up the field and passed across to Evans, who shot just as he was bowled over. The ball went in from the underside of the cross-bar. Half time score was thus : Golders Green 3, Finchley 1.

Something must have been said to the teams at the interval, for they seemed subdued during the second half.

A foul was given against Golders Green in the first minute and Finchley attacked hard from the kick. W. Boston beat two men to clear and put Fallon on the move. Fallon went through and passed out to F. Boston, who centred. Eldrett pushed the ball away to the feet of Evans. Evans could hardly miss adding a fourth to his side's score.

Fallon had been trying hard and legitimately for a goal all the afternoon. After ten minutes of the second half he got one. It followed a series of raids on the Finchley goal. First Breagan centred for Draper to intercept and clear. But the ball went back again to Breagan, who this time shot. Eldrett saved well, and another shot which followed, but the second time he messed up his clearance kick. The ball went to [F.] Boston, who put it across to Fallon, who headed in with superb ease.

This put Golders Green four ahead and made the outlook completely black for Finchley. But they did not, as so many teams would have done, stop trying. And ninety seconds later they reduced their arrears - though rather luckily. Knight took the ball away and up almost to the corner. He centred, and Cox, who had come across, took a header. The ball was going well away from goal, but hit Kimber in the face and rebounded into the net.

That was all the scoring, but Finchley did not let up by any means. Another centre from Knight was hooked by Bramley over the bar.

The game was held up for a few minutes when F. Boston was hurt. Bad language from the stand!

The rest of the game comes to the memory in a series of snapshots. Fallon appears in it often. He shot just wide of the goal. He went down the right all by himself and tried a shot from an awkward angle. The ball hit the upright and rebounded.

Finchley went away and Kimber all but let a shot from Knight slip through his hands. Back at the other end Tommy Evans, stumbling in the mud, tried a weak left foot shot. Eldrett only just saved it. Finchley forced a corner on the right, but a resulting shot went yards wide. A foul was given against Golders Green just outside the home area. Marchant's hard shot was headed away.

Two pleasant pieces of co-operation by Golders Green forwards which ended in nothing : Fallon to Evans and Evans a lovely pass to F. Boston, whose centre was cleared; and Breagan to Bloxham, the latter back to Breagan, and back again, Bloxham to Bucci, who put the ball behind.

A free kick for hands went to Breagan, who put it across to Evans. His shot was intercepted by Draper with his head. Down at the other end again, Bramley shot wide. Again Cox took the ball up on the wing, but his effort was spoiled by Bramley, who received the centre and shot wide again.

Finchley attacked right to the end. In the last minute they forced a corner on the left. Kimber gathered the centre and cleared, and then the final whistle went.

The score, 5-2, rather flattered the victors. Next week's game should prove exciting. Let us hope they keep it clean.