For the fourth time this season Golders Green, playing at Barking on Saturday, lost by the odd goal. Their position in the League is a peculiar one. They have conceded but four goals in the same number of League games, but have dropped six points out of eight. It will thus be seen that the fault lies with the forwards, who in those four games have scored but three goals, two of these being against Uxbridge.

This is not good enough. Civil Service have to be met in the Amateur Cup at Claremont Road tomorrow, and while the executive might not be disposed to make changes even if new players were eligible, it is as certain as night follows day that unless there is considerable improvement on the form shown at Barking, Golders Green will be in the ignominious position of falling at the first hurdle in the F.A. Amateur Cup as they did in the principal cup competition, and, moreover, will be at the wrong end of the League table. The defence cannot shoulder all the responsibility.

Barking were much the faster side, but one would not place them in the same class as Walthamstow, Leyton, and one or two other clubs. But one lesson they did teach Golders Green, and that was to miss no opportunity of shooting. True, many of the shots were ill-directed, but personally we prefer to see forwards taking a pot at goal and fail then be continually tapping the ball until it has been taken away from them. We saw much of this work on Saturday. There were scarcely half-a-dozen good shots from the Golders Green men during the ninety minutes.

Rowe seemed most likely to score during the first half, but he petered out later, and we are inclined to give the palm to Drinkwater, who was once more inclined to get neglected. Evans, who was limping towards the end, had a poor match, but he was not alone in this respect.

The only goal came midway through the second half. Smith, hard pressed, tried to punch the ball over the bar, but he did not succeed, and in the scrimmage K. Mayes got the ball through. Some thought that Smith might have cleared, but at any rate he was largely responsible for keeping the score so low. Some of his saves were remarkably clever : we have in mind one towards the end from the right wing. Once more Smith had an enthusiastic round of cheers as he left the field. And he deserved it.

There was one amusing incident just before the interval. Smith had the misfortune to tear his knickers badly, but he contrived to keep the rent being too apparent until the whistle blew for refreshments.

As the colours of the clubs are similar, Golders Green played in green shirts. This is not proving a lucky colour to them. To be compelled to change is a handicap ; there is a tendency to pass the ball to a man on the other side instead of your own.

At the beginning of the game there were indications that Drinkwater would be playing a prominent part, as he forced the first corner. He is a hefty little fellow who is not easily dispossessed of the ball, and if he does lose it he often recovers possession. Reputations of many outside-lefts have been made by Cecil Wise as a partner, and one feels that if Drinkwater had one of his ability he would make a name for himself. Spalton is clever, but is not so helpful as he might be to his wing man.

There was little to choose between these teams in the first half. Golders Green had a number of chances, but Rowe was extremely unlucky, some of his shots or taps being but a few inches wide. Barking were clever in the field, but Smith was not often in difficulties. There was one ground shot, however, which almost beat him.

After many attempts Barking at last found the net, but the whistle had gone for offside. Desperate efforts were made by K. Mayes and Fitzsimons to give Barking the lead, but Golders Green defence held out. In one big clearance Ellis was hurt, but not to such an extent as to cause him to retire.

Golders Green had a bad time at the beginning of the second half. Smith was soon called upon, and Barking made a strong appeal for a penalty kick which the referee did not see fit to award. An awkward situation was ended by a free kick being given against Barking for fouling Smith.

After a time Golders Green got going, but their shooting showed no improvement. Wins cannot be expected if forwards throw away gilt-edged chances as they did in this match. There were two occasions on which Breagan sent in centres which should have been converted, and one was sorry to see Evans so much out of his element. It is true that he was carefully watched, but a centre-forward is there to score goals. Spalton also had a good chance, but preferred to give a pass to Drinkwater, who was by no means so well placed. Rowe seemed disheartened by the run of failures, and Breagan might have been more helpful if he had not kept the ball so low when sending across.

While it was felt that little could be hoped for from the forwards there was just a chance that Golders Green might manage to get one point, as the defence was standing the test well, Bucci being a tower of strength at centre-half. But it was not to be.

K. Mayes, as already stated, got what proved to be the only goal when 23 minutes of the second half had passed, and after that Barking seemed certain of victory. It is true that Golders Green got one or two corner kicks, but there seemed no player able to make use of them. Barking had a free kick just outside the penalty line which was saved and there were some other occasions when but for some clever anticipatory play by Smith, Barking would have added to their lead.