For the third time this season Golders Green have conceded six goals in an away Athenian League match, but while at Sutton and also at Wealdstone they scored twice in reply [four at Wealdstone, actually], they were unable to find the net in the match with Romford on Saturday, and accordingly suffered their heaviest defeat in the League for a long time past.

The only redeeming feature of Saturday's match was that the team played better than they did against Harwich and Parkeston, although the reverse was heavier. At half-time Romford had scored but one goal, and that a lucky one in the first minute, and Golders Green had had quite as much of the play as their opponents. The second half opened promisingly for Golders Green, but ten minutes after the change-over Romford scored again, and after that Golders Green were quite out of the picture.

Golders Green had to play three reserves, Ward and Weeks in the half-back line, and Marrable in the forward line, Bucci and Broadis, both on the injured list, watching the match from the stand; but blame for the heavy defeat cannot wholly be attributed to these changes. As a matter of fact, both Ward and Weeks played a useful game, and deserve to be encouraged.

The main difference in the teams lay in the forward line. Romford's men combined well and shot at every conceivable opportunity, whereas there were palpable weaknesses in the visiting attack, and chances galore were thrown away. The return of F.P. Evans at centre brought no improvement, and while Drinkwater and Edwards deserve some commendation, it cannot be said that they were outstanding players. The defence had a trying ordeal, particularly in the second half; Boston had a strong wing to face, but he did wonderfully well against Skinner and Drane. Some may be ready to blame Godding for being beaten so frequently, but while one or perhaps two of the shots that took effect might have been saved by some goalkeepers, there were occasions when Godding cleared when apparently there was no possible chance.

Romford turned out a very strong team, despite the absence of Patterson, who, by the way, has been picked to play for Scotland against Wales in the Amateur International next Saturday. Patterson's place at outside-right was filled by Marney, who did not shape particularly well in the first half, but later scored two goals.

As we have said, Romford opened the scoring before Golders Green had settled down, but after this unexpected reverse the visitors quite held their own, although it must be admitted that they were nothing like so deadly near goal as Romford. Godding was lucky to get his foot to one shot which looked certain to score. Mistakes were not confined to Golders Green, Webb, the Romford centre-forward, missing one gilt-edged chance while Golders Green were appealing vainly for offside. Drinkwater had many successful tussles with Anderson, Romford's right-half of International fame, and it was to Drinkwater that Golders Green had largely to depend for goals, but though he made several good attempts he failed to find the net. There was little or no method in the work of the visiting front line, and we had the unusual spectacle of seeing the centre-forward throwing in from the touchline.

However, there was no reason to be disheartened when half-time arrived with Romford leading by one goal only, and during the first ten minutes of the second half Golders Green did sufficiently well to suggest that they might at least bring home one point. But they flattered only to deceive. Skinner scored for Romford, and from that time until the end we saw little to arouse enthusiasm in the play of the visitors. Marney scored Romford's third and fourth goals, thus showing that he was not so inefficient as we had been led to believe. Anderson obtained the fifth, and Reynolds the sixth and last goal.