Following up their 8-1 win over Hayes at Claremont Road three weeks ago, Golders Green visited Hayes in a return Athenian League match on Saturday, and after a game of thrills ran out winners in another high-scoring game by five goals to three.

Golders Green were a decided improvement on their game against Romford, the return of Evans and Bucci making for a decided strengthening of the team. Considering the state of the ground from the frost of the last few days and the mist and rain which fell during most of the game, play was not of the highest order, both sides finding it difficult to control the ball.

As was the case at Romford most of the work of the forwards came from the Drinkwater-Knott wing. Times out of number Spalton was robbed when in possession for over-eagerness and attempts to be too clever. This was the only really weak spot in the whole of the team, the remainder playing as well as the conditions would allow. It could be said that so strong were Golders Green in attack that had it not been for a superb display of goalkeeping by Carr, they must have made a double figure score. The thrustfulness of both Chudley and Lloyd caught the defence on the run and was responsible for them giving away three easy goals.

Bucci won the toss and in the first run down the field Golders Green nearly scored. Evans picked up a pass from Drinkwater and shot, only to see the ball hit the upright and rebound into the goalmouth, where Carr cleared. A neat dribble with a bout of interpassing by Knott and Drinkwater ended with the latter shooting over. Golders Green opened the score after ten minutes, when Evans, receiving a pass from Breagan, found himself covered by Murphy, so he backheeled to Knott, who scored with a good cross-shot. Broadis came into the limelight when Brown was going through and robbed him and passed the ball down midfield. Hayes now repeatedly put on pressure and once when Pullen was going through Richardson brought him down unfairly and the referee awarded a penalty. Ward, the Hayes right-back, took the kick and shot well outside the goal. Again taking up the offensive, Golders Green put in some nice forward work and Knott had hard luck when Carr punched over one of his hard drives. Golders Green's second goal was scored by Breagan after Drinkwater had centred across te goalmouth.

From the kick-off Hayes scored their first goal. Broadis miskicked and Lloyd, following up the ball, beat Ellis and shot across the goal well out of Smith's reach. This livened Hayes up and for some minutes Golders Green were on the defensive, several shots being fired at Smith by Pullen and Chudley.

The "Green" increased their lead to two goals when Rowe headed in from a corner kick taken by Drinkwater. This was the extent of the scoring before half-time, although Carr twice saved what appeared to be sure goals with clever anticipation.

Just before the end of the first half it became doubtful whether the game could be finished, so dense had the fog become, but during the "tea interval" it began to clear and hardly had the teams kicked off in the second half when it lifted altogether. The first five minutes saw Hayes pressing hard and after Knott had gone off for some minutes (he fell on his shoulder rather badly), they scored their second goal. Chudley, who was acting as roamer in the forward line, passed to Pullen on the right wing, who centred across for Groves to convert. It was now developing into a ding-dong battle. Hayes were striving hard to equalise while Golders Green found it hard to incease their lead. They eventually did so when Drinkwater, receiving a long pass from Evans, drove hard past Carr. Chudley was injured when he and Broadis jumped to head the ball. He fell on his leg and was taken off for ten minutes. Ellis was finding Groves a source of danger on the Hayes left and it was a pass across from him to Pullen, who centred to Lloyd, that produced Hayes' third goal. This brought Golders Green's lead down to one goal again, but shortly after this was increased when, after Spalton had put in a good shot which Carr punched out, Drinkwater scored from the rebound. Groves then got away again from a pass by Lloyd, but shot over the bar. Golders Green were attacking when the final whistle went.

For Golders Green, Smith had little chance with the three goals that Hayes scored, while Ellis and Richardson were sound at back. Broadis and Bucci were the best of the halves, and Evans, although he did not actually score, was responsible for at least three of the passes which resulted in goals, while Knott and Drinkwater several times had Ward beaten.

Carr, in goal, was the outstanding man for Hayes. Time and again he saved shots which in the ordinary way would have scored. Harrison was the stronger of the two backs; Murphy tried hard under difficult conditions. Chudley, who had been promoted from the reserves, was a glutton for work, and the two wingers, Groves and Pullen, caused the Golders Green defence most trouble.