After a lapse of several years, Golders Green this season entered the London Senior Cup competition, but it has been a short-lived and moreover an unhappy life.

Drawn away to Clapton in the first engagement, they lost to a penalty goal scored midway through the second half following a charge by Ellis, their right-back, which was quite unnecessary as there was no danger of a goal being scored.

Until that time Golders Green had had considerably more of the play than Clapton, and although they had not scored, it was more through bad luck than bad play.

Very frequently we have had to draw attention to the weakness of the forward line and their inability to snap up chances. Last Saturday for the greater part of the time they played really good football and must have impressed Clapton with the fact that Athenian League football is not far short, if at all, of the Isthmian League standard.

Saturday was one of the most depressing days we have had this season, and the attendance on the Spotted Dog ground at Forest Gate was on the small side. All the spectators were easily accommodated under cover, and from what we gathered Clapton do not enjoy big gates unless a neighbouring team is in opposition. Under the circumstances the journey was unprofitable in more ways than one to Golders Green.

Through the medium of the club's Supporters' Association a good number came from the Golders Green area, and others who came in their own cars patronised the special enclosure. Rain fell throughout the game, and the light was fast failing before the end.

Golders Green played the same side as that which had beaten Uxbridge Town in the F.A. Amateur Cup the previous week, but Clapton had two or three changes, chief of which was the return of their captain, J.F. Crussell, at left-back. It is not too much to say that he turned defeat into victory for Clapton. His ripe experience often put paid to the efforts of Golders Green's right wing, while he also found time to help others of his side when hard pressed.

During the first half Golders Green were distinctly the better side. They made far fewer mistakes in kicking on the wet ground than Clapton, whose goalkeeper was never long idle.

In view of the great impression made by Crussell from the beginning, it was good to see that the visiting left wing pair were not neglected, and some really effective work was done by Drinkwater and Knott, who quite soon have developed a perfect understanding. Both got across good centres, and Watkis, the Clapton goalkeeper, notwithstanding the fine pair of backs in front of him, often found himself in difficulties. Evans also was dangerous, and McDonald must be congratulated on one fine stop when the visiting centre-forward was plugging his way through. A neat header by Evans to Drinkwater also promised a goal, but it did not materialise.

Watkis in a few seconds punched out from Drinkwater and then from Rowe - two good efforts - and a prolonged attack by Golders Green came to an end by an offside decision.

Now and again Smith was brought into action, but one cannot recall many shots which gave him serious trouble. Clapton had two good wingers, but their front line as a whole was not impressive. Drinkwater, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying his game, gave Watkis a shot which he did well to clear at the expense of a corner; but he was distinctly fortunate when Evans lobbed the ball over his head only to find it striking the crossbar and going out of play.

Clapton seemed to have a good chance of opening the score when Clayton, at outside-right, got clean away, but his effort was wasted, and the only other notable incidents before half-time were two good shots by Spalton.

Taking the game up to this stage, Golders Green should have held the lead, but tribute must be paid to the sturdy opposition of Clapton's defence.

The second half was much more even, but far less interesting, the rain and the bad light seeming to affect not only players but spectators. The ball was frequently out of play through wild kicking, and it looked as though no one would be sorry when the end came.

So well matched were the teams that it seemed almost certain that a draw seemed the probable outcome, and this might have been the result had not Ellis, midway through this period, conceded a penalty kick. The spirit between the sides had not been such as is usually found in games played bu Golders Green. There were by far too many infringements, if not serious ones, calling for free kicks and the culminating point came when Christie, Clapton's outside-left, was brought down within the penalty area. Smith had no chance with the kick, taken by McDonald.

Golders Green made strenuous efforts to wipe out this bad mark, and gave Watkis a good deal of trouble, but Clapton managed to maintain their lead, which was gained not by merit but through an unhappy fall from grace by an opponent.