Golders Green's visit to Romford on Saturday was looked upon with great enthusiasm, as only four weeks ago, when Romford were at Claremont Road, Golders Green romped home by five goals to one. Romford is usually a happy hunting ground for Golders Green and it was quite expected they would at least get one point if not two. Romford's win was easily gained and nobody will say that the best team on the day's play did not deserve that win. Golders Green did not play with the determined effort that has been noticed the last few weeks, while it may be said that no doubt the forwards would have combined better had they had Evans in the centre to lead them. After their scoring feats of the last few weeks it was indeed a sorrowful display.

In losing this game by four goals to nil Golders Green suffered their biggest defeat of the season, for only on one other occasion - on December 9, when Southall won at Claremont Road by 2-0 - have they lost by more than the odd goal. Both teams made changes from the programme, Romford bringing in Pyner at inside-right with H. Reynolds on the wing in place of Patterson, their Scottish International; while Golders Green played D. Short in place of George Bucci, who had not sufficiently recovered from his injury of the previous week.

The move on Romford's part was a good one, for both Pyner and Reynolds played well and were a source of constant danger to Richardson, Golders Green's left-back. Short was not a success and one wonders if it would have been better to have played Joyce (who has taken Bucci's place more than once this season) in the left-half position. V. Gardner did not prove a capable deputy to Freddie Evans, although it must be said that twice in the first half he had hard luck with shots that had the goalkeeper beaten, but hit the crossbar to be eventually scrambled away.

Maskell, at centre-half, was the outstanding man in Romford's defence. Time and again he robbed either Short or Rowe to give an excellent through pass to Tann to see him shoot over. Peart, in goal, had a comparatively easy afternoon, for in the second half he hardly had one decent shot to save, so poor were the Golders Green forwards. Smith, in the other goal, played well, and had no chance with any of the four goals which were scored.

Richardson, acting as captain in Bucci's absence, won the toss and elected to play with the wind. In the first seconds Romford attacked and Skinner, receiving a pass from Tann on the left, put over a good centre which Short cleared with his head, and Pyner, receiving the ball, shot by. Keeping up the pressure Romford nearly scored, Tann sending in a good shot which Smith saved cleverly for a corner, which was sent behind.

Golders Green now pressed and Drinkwater put across a good centre from a pass by Knott, which Gardner headed into Peart's hands. After 25 minutes' play Romford opened the scoring. Tann, receiving in midfield, beat two men and passed to Pyner, who scored with a fine drive. Although the goal was against them this seemed to put life into Golders Green and for the next ten minutes they repeatedly shot at goal and once Gardner hit the crossbar with Peart well beaten only to see Spalton send in a drive which Peart cleared for a corner. In the next minute Knott, with one of his hard drives, nearly caught Peart, but he made a magnificent save. If this shot had scored it would have been more in line with the run of the play. No further scoring took place in the first half.

Direct from the kick-off in the second half Romford scored again. Webb received a pass from Anderson, worked his way out to the right and put across a fine centre for Tann to score with a beautiful drive. This greatly encouraged Romford and for the next few minutes Golders Green were bewildered. Time and again Rowe and Short missed their kicks, only to see a Romford forward make a good pass down the field. Shortly afterwards Romford scored a third goal. Pyner, who had been a glutton for work, shot through a crowd of players from a cross-pass by Tann. Golders Green then tried hard to break away, but only Drinkwater on the left was of much avail, and on more than one occasion he came in for some very hard charging from Burchell. Once Gardner had a clear field, but dilly-dallied about with the ball until he got nearly on the goalline, when Peart calmly came out and picked the ball from his toe. This was a certain opportunity missed. From a corner given against Ellis, Skinner put across a centre which fell at Webb's feet. He shot hard and Smith, who was unsighted, had no opportunity to save at all. This somewhat disheartened the Golders Green defence, for there was some miskicking to follow. Breagan then twice put across good centres, but Peart cleared easily. One incident nearly cost Golders Green a fifth goal. Smith, in attempting to clear in the goalmouth from three or four of Romford's forwards, over-stepped his paces, and the referee gave a free kick nearly in the goalmouth. The shot hit Broadis and went outside - easily a stroke of luck for Golders Green. Maskell then had a shot which Smith cleared easily. Romford kept up the pressure but were unable to increase the lead.

For Romford, Tann, Pyner, Maskell and Burchell were outstanding, while the best of a poor side for Golders Green were Smith in goal, Richardson and Broadis, while Drinkwater and Knott were the most impressive forwards.