Golders Green disappointed their followers by merely drawing with Uxbridge in the first round of the Middlesex Charity Cup on Saturday at Claremont Road. As a matter of a fact, they were somewhat fortunate in forcing a draw, as they failed to stay the pace on the heavy ground as well as Uxbridge, and long before the end one or two of the men seemed thoroughly tired out.

Golders Green ought to have made sure of victory in the first half, when they had by far the larger share of the play. Moreover, they played in convincing style, but Povey gave a magnificent display in goal, and to him more than anyone else is due the fact the Uxbridge lost but one goal. This was scored by Edwards after 20 minutes' play, and it may be said here that Edwards took more shots at goal in this match than he had done on any previous occasion since he enlisted with Golders Green.

Uxbridge's goal was peppered right and left, but nothing seemed to come amiss to Povey. In the absence of Breagan in consequence of his injury at Southend (it is most unlikely that he will be fit before Christmas), Hodge again played at outside-right, and seems to have profited by his experience the previous week against Hounslow. He sent in quite a number of good shots and Edwards found in him one who could be trusted to turn passes to good account. On the other wing T.E. Evans and Drinkwater attacked strongly. Evans tested Povey at every conceivable opportunity, while Drinkwater was clever in outwitting his opponents and either shooting himself or passing to a better-placed man. F.P. Evans, however, was not too happy at centre-forward. Ronnie Rowe, Uxbridge's centre-half, left him little scope, and Golders Green know of old how Rowe can fill the role of policeman. He has by no means lost his cunning.

It must not be assumed, however, that Uxbridge were entirely on the defensive. Results have proved that they are a much stronger side than last year, and supporters of Golders Green could not help feeling perturbed when their forwards got going. Jones and Braisher formed a strong right wing, and more than once Richardson found himself beaten. We recall one attack from this quarter when a goal must have come but for the fact that one defender - not Godding - cleared on the goal-line. A minute or two later Godding saved a certain goal by running out. He must have been in two minds as to the right course to take, but if he had remained under the bar he would have stood but little chance of clearing. In running out he injured his groin, but was able to resume almost immediately.

The opening goal came from Edwards, who headed into the net from one of Drinkwater's well-timed passes. Just before this success Hodge had put in a shot which at first sight appeared to have beaten Povey.

Considering the pressure put upon the Uxbrdge goal, Povey must have felt proud that he had kept the home attack at bay for twenty minutes.

But Golders Green's triumph was short-lived. After Bucci had struck the crossbar Uxbridge got going, and from a neat pass by Braisher the score was equalised through Faggetter, who, at centre-forward, was keeping his line well together and doing a good deal of shooting.

Nothing more was scored before the interval, although Golders Green were slightly the better side. They looked like going ahead for the second time when Broadis took a free kick for an infringement by Rowe. With that force we know Broadis is capable of using, the ball was sent into the goalmouth, where a terrific struggle ensued. The goalkeeper now has more protection than was the case in the memory of some who watched this game, and Povey managed to save his side.

Golders Green fell off terribly in the second half. Their kicking was wild, an early instance being when Boston gave a corner. If he meant to kick the ball back to Godding he was awfully out in his geography. It went nowhere near him.

The only really good shots by Golders Green in the first quarter-of-an-hour were from Bucci and Hodge. The captain's shot just cleared the crossbar, but Povey did well to clear from Hodge.

Faggetter atoned for a terrible miss in a matter of seconds, a pass by George giving him a chance to put Uxbridge ahead.

Golders Green playing in such unconvincing style that there seemed little chance of lost ground being recovered. Freddy Evans, it is true, found the net, but the whistle had gone for offside, and the decision was not open to question. Several free kicks were given against Uxbridge, although it was by no means an unsportsmanlike game, and Broadis made a good but unsuccessful effort from a free kick just clear of the penalty area.

Six minutes from time came the equalising goal. Povey saved a shot but could not clear, and F.P. Evans enabled Golders Green to draw level. In the remaining time there was a big effort by both sides to get another goal, but nothing happened, and so the tie has to be replayed.

The game was much more interesting to watch than that with Hounslow, but the heavy state of the ground proved a big handicap, particularly to Golders Green who, as we have said, did not hold out so well as Uxbridge. The loss of Breagan was not severely felt, but one cannot be altogether satisfied with the results of the last few games, and the selection committee may think it advisable to give one or two of the players a short rest.