Golders Green gave a poor exhibition of football at Claremont Road on Saturday, and were deservedly beaten by Southall in the return League game. On the previous Saturday, at Southall, Golders Green won by 2-0; at Claremont Road the score was exactly reversed.

For the first time this season Golders Green lost by more than one goal. Seeing that Southall figured at the bottom of the League table (their play did not suggest that the position was a fitting one), Golders Green had been expected to win two much-needed points. This loss puts them in a most unenviable place. They have already lost five League games out of eight (three at home), and as the other lowly-placed clubs in the League seem to be showing improved form, Golders Green must take care to see that there are no more enervating displays like that on Saturday.

Those who saw the game will readily admit that luck was not on the side of Golders Green : on the other hand, no one will be prepared to deny that Southall were the better team. There was more punch in their attack and the defence was sound. Compared with the previous week, there were several changes in the Southall side, and in every case it was to the advantage of the side.

Golders Green were unfortunate in the fact that apart from the absence of Drinkwater, who has not fully recovered from a chill, they were without Breagan, the other winger, who did not make his appearance on the ground until the game had been in progress a quarter-of-an-hour. Golders Green started with ten men in the hope that Breagan would turn up, but it would have been foolish to have delayed completing the side for any length of time, and W. Joyce, a reserve, was brought into action. He played at left-half instead of George Bucci, the captain, who went inside-left, the front line (from right to left) being Bramley, Spalton, Evans, Bucci, and Knott.

The result was not at all satisfactory, although we cannot see that any other course could have been taken. Evans, who had been absent from the two previous games owing to an injury, was not a great success, but he had reason to complain of the support given to him. The pick of the forwards were Spalton and Knott. The latter was very enterprising and towards the end, when Golders Green were making desperate efforts to score without any luck, there were calls for Knott to be brought into the centre. Bucci, as captain, did not see fit to take that option.

As a substitute Joyce did very well, but one could see that the side was handicapped by the enforced changes, and Breagan looked a sorry man as he sat near the touchline unable to do his part.

An outstanding man in the Southall side was A.R. Eagles, their centre-forward, who was playing against his old club. Broadis did not play the part of policeman to Eagles quite so successfully as he had done at Southall. Eagles forced the corner which led to the first goal, and scored the second with as fine a shot as we have seen on the ground. Trapping the ball he swerved round and from a difficult angle gave Smith not the slightest chance of saving. One was pleased to see that Golders Green, by their cheers, could recognise merit from another team than their own.

Southall opened the scoring at the end of 12 minutes, Hardy, at outside-left, taking a corner kick which went direct into the net. After that Golders Green had a big share of the play, but, as in many other games this season, they could not press their advantage home. Lewis kept out some good shots, but much of the work of the Golders Green forwards was painfully weak.

While territorially the game was in favour of Golders Green there was more method about the Southall attack, Eagles not only distributing the ball well, but acting individually whenever he saw an opening. Just before half-time Eagles put Southall two goals ahead in the manner already described, and the interval came with little hope of Golders Green recovering lost ground unless they could show greatly improved form.

There was nothing thrilling in the play during the second forty minutes [?]. Golders Green started promisingly, but as time went on Southall proved that they were just as good, if not better, than their opponents. Knott was the most effective forward for Golders Green, but he greatly missed Drinkwater. Broadis, developing lameness, was off the field for a short time, and during this period Golders Green had hard work to keep Southall out, but Smith was safe in goal, and the defence in general was much sounder than it was in the early part of the game, when a misunderstanding arose more than once.