The wisdom of arranging a friendly game on the eve of Christmas was questioned, but those who attended the match at Claremont Road on Saturday - the gate was much below the average - saw some good football, more particularly by the Universities Athletic Union. Of these three came from Manchester University, three from Sheffield, two from Birmingham, and one each from Liverpool, London and Loughborough.

Golders Green put out a mixed team, some of the regular players doing duty at Winchmore Hill.

The match was interesting from the fact that Skeels, who has done valuable work for Leyton, was making his first appearance for Golders Green. While he did nothing sensational, there was every promise that he will be a useful player, particularly if he has assistance from the wings. He was not too well served in this respect on Saturday, the front line suffering in comparison with the Universities team. Breagan made a welcome appearance, but in the second half an old injury asserted itself, and he may be out of harness again for some weeks.

The left wing were the stronger pair, T. Evans being a great forager, while F. Boston, a brother of the right-back, who played a few games earlier in the season, did useful work. As a matter of fact, the Bostons were two of the most conspicuous players on Golders Green's side, W.G. saving his side from a much heavier reverse. Trevers, who kept goal for the Reserves over a long period, was not to blame for the defeat: he saved many good shots. The half-back line was not so strong as usual, and an exceptional amount of work fell upon Broadis, who, however, conceded a penalty kick.

The visitors started one short and the earlier stages did not give the impression that they would be winners. They had most of the play in the first half, but their shooting was weak, and Trevers was not greatly troubled. It looked as though the interval would come without any score, but just before half-time F. Boston, who just before had missed an easy chance, gave Golders Green the lead with a good shot.

In the second half we saw some sparkling football from the University players, and they scored four goals, three by R. Edwards (Bristol), at centre-forward, and the other by B.W. Mulrenan, at outside-right, an outstanding player. One of Edwards' goals came from a penalty kick, and amusement was caused through the difficulty of finding a suitable spot for the ball owing to the muddy state of the ground in the penalty area.

Skeels scored Golders Green's second goal from a left wing pass.

After the Universities had once taken the lead there was scarcely any doubt as to the result. They played much more effective football, a treat being provided by the cleverness of the forwards, who had no difficulty in finding one another.