As the spectators were leaving the ground after this match there were many furious "postmortems" among the supporters of both teams, and, indeed, in summing up the writer finds it very difficult to decide whether or not Finchley deserved their 3-1 victory.

The game was one which will live long in the memory, not for its finer phases (they were rather lacking), but rather because of the extraordinary influence of the stiff breeze which was blowing from end to end of the ground.

In the first half, with the wind at their backs, the Finchley forwards found many gaps in the home defence, and only a goal by [F.] Boston a few minutes before the interval prevented them crossing over with a well-deserved lead of three clear goals.

On the resumption, however, Golders Green threw their whole team into one terrific onslaught which did not weaken until the last minute of the game was ticking away. In face of this bombardment Finchley desperately packed their goal and there was one continuous succession of thrills - rather painful ones for the Finchley supporters.

In fairness to the Greens it should be mentioned that they were rather disorganised by the absence of Bloxham, who was injured. Bucci crossed over to fill his place at right-half, Evans dropped back to left-half, and Duffield was introduced at centre-forward.

It was not until late in the second half that, in response to shouts from home supporters, Evans was moved back to his proper place in the centre. By that time the team was too tired and dispirited for the change to have any tangible result. It is difficult to say what difference it would have made had Evans been moved earlier.

Golders Green did not actually finish badly, but Duffield and Fallon were seldom in the right position to utilise any of the centres from their wingers. The former had a poor match, and Fallon, though putting in some clever touches at times, was not as good as he can be. Browne, the third of the inside trio, was the most prominent, but little luck rewarded his efforts.

F. Boston and Breagan were always a thorn in Finchley's side with their speed and accuracy in middling the ball, though Breagan was well watched by Smart.

It was Boston, however, who was the star of the line. He repeatedly showed a clean pair of heels to the veteran Daniel who opposed him, and it was on this flank that most of the second half attacks were engineered.

Of the halves it may be said that they were adequate in attack, but uncertain in defence. Evans held Knight in a tight grip, but Broadis was troubled in the first half by Marchant, and Bucci found Cox in his most elusive mood.

W. Boston and George defended well before the interval and were able to take a rest after it. The same applied to Kimber, who should, however, have prevented Finchley's second goal.

The visitors' experiment of playing Marchant at centre-forward was successful up to a point. Though his ball control and shooting are excellent, Marchant has not Bramley's speed. Nevertheless he knit the line together well in the first half, and was given excellent support by Bowyer - a great opportunist. Cox was as tricky as ever, and Knight pulled his weight on the right wing.

Snazel roamed as usual, but was too well watched to indulge in any of the dangerous dribbles which are a feature of his play.

Smart played a fine game in partially subduing Breagan, and on the other flank Daniel worked untiringly, although often beaten for speed by [F.] Boston.

This threw a greater onus on Smith, who came in at right-back in place of Draper, and apart from a few errors in kicking, played his part adequately.

In goal, Eldrett did not make a mistake, and his safe hands relieved many awkward situations.

Golders Green won the toss and gave Finchley the advantage of the wind in the first half. Bowyer made a fine run, but George intercepted his final pass and sent Boston away. The winger's centre was cleared from the visitors' goalmouth.

Marchant changed places with Cox in one Finchley raid, and a clever back-heel into the centre nearly caught the home defence napping. A moment later Marchant went down the middle and forced George to kick behind. Knight took the corner on the right and sent over a high ball which Kimber misjudged.

It hit the far upright and rebounded into the middle, where Marchant fastened on to it and scored at the second attempt through a ruck of players, Kimber being unsighted. This was after less than five minutes.

The Greens' defence was shaky under pressure and George gave away another corner on the right which Finchley could not turn to advantage.

Evans initiated the home forwards' first dangerous move. He sent across a high centre which Eldrett reached but could not hold, and Breagan, from a difficult position, put the ball over the bar.

The exchanges were fast and even with Finchley at this time a little superior in combination. The Greens forced a vain corner on the left and at the other end Smart fired past an upright.

Finchley increased their lead with a snap goal after ten minutes' play. They were awarded a free kick which Baird placed into the goalmouth. Bowyer collected the ball and screwed in a slow ground shot, which seemed to take Kimber by surprise, for the Greens' goalkeeper was certainly at fault in not saving.

Daniel, who was making his first appearance in the Finchley team for some weeks, was playing a sound defensive game, and relieved one ticklish situation for his side by dispossessing Browne when the latter was about to shoot.

The visitors had a narrow escape when Boston took the ball to the line and centred hard. The ball eluded Eldrett and as it crossed an open goal Duffield and Fallon jumped to head it in, but failed to make contact.

Then came Finchley's third goal after half-an-hour's play. Cox went through and shot, but Kimber saved at t he expense of a corner. The left winger's flag kick was headed clear by George, but Daniel, coming in at full speed, drove in a terrific shot.

The ball would have gone wide, but Bowyer pulled in down in a miraculous manner and beat Kimber from close in - a beautiful goal.

Golders Green were far from overwhelmed and in one raid by their forwards only Baird's anticipation saved Finchley. Eldrett came out but missed the ball, and the left-back booted it away from the goal-line with no time to spare.

The home defence covered up well when Snazel threatened danger, and neither he nor Bowyer could find a way through.

At the other end Browne missed badly when a slip by Baird had let Boston through. Smith also gave the hearts of Finchley supporters a jolt by miskicking under pressure. The ball spun towards the net, but Eldrett had it covered and was able to clear.

When the visitors attacked again they were easily repulsed and Fallon was left in possession. He swung a long pass across to Boston, and the Greens' left winger, though tackled by Smith, managed to beat his man and crashed in a drive of such force that the ball spun over Eldrett's upstretched hands into the net.

Half-time came soon afterwards with Finchley leading 3-1.

The second half opened with a strong attack by Golders Green. Boston's centre went to Smith, who gave away a corner. The flag kick was too hard, however, and went harmlessly over the line.

Then the Greens had an apparently good goal disallowed. Evans took a free kick awarded against Daniel. The ball struck the bar and rebounded to Browne, who netted. Amid roars of protest from the crowd, however, the referee gave Fallon offside. The home team continued to attack and the Finchley defence began to kick anywhere to keep the ball out of danger.

Finchley nearly scored, however, when in a breakaway Marchant put Knight through. Thee winger shot for the corner, but Kimber made a fine save at full length.

Thrills continued at the other end and several corners were forced without tangible result. From one of these Broadis headed into Eldrett's hands. Then Breagan slipped across a centre which the Finchley goalkeeper missed. [F.] Boston, with an open goal before him, had the mortification of seeing his header recross the goalmouth and be kicked clear.

Broadis took a "blinder" from the half-way line which Eldrett could only scramble away, and the Finchley goalkeeper also saved a side header from Browne. Another terrific shot from Broadis was headed out from under the bar by Tristram.

Boston was often prominent and Eldrett pulled one of his centres off the bar and watched another miss an upright by inches.

In an effort to restore their fortunes Golders Green moved Evans to centre-forward, but without immediate result. The great offensive continued and Boston was in the thick of most of their attacks.

"Lucky Finchley!" went up the shout when the left winger swung across a centre to which Browne got his head. The ball shivered the Finchley cross-bar with Eldrett hopelessly beaten.

The visitors had barely crossed the half-way line in this half, so intent were they in packing their goal, and there was an ironical cheer when Marchant, in a breakaway, forced a corner.

The first fury of the Greens' offensive seemed now to have spent itself, and for some time the play slackened up. The home forwards began to take pot shots, most of which sailed harmlessly wide.

One movement which did cause Finchley anxiety was started by Boston and ended with Eldrett falling on the ball as Breagan came rushing in.

Golders Green had shot their bolt and the final whistle ended some aimless kicking on the right touch-line.