A great forty yards drive by Knott, which crashed full against the Barnet crossbar with Painter hopelessly beaten, was perhaps the supreme moment in a fine sporting encounter between Golders Green and Barnet in the semi-final of the Middlesex Senior Cup on Finchley's ground at Summers Lane on Saturday.

The game was witnessed by about 4,000 people, the receipts reaching the handsome total of £193.

Golders Green not only deserved their 2-1 victory, but they were distinctly unfortunate in not scoring on at least three other occasions. They were on top throughout and the Barnet attack was held in a vice-like grip by a defence which was both powerful and constructive. The victors played the kind of football which never fails to delight the eye - at times it might almost have been termed Corinthian. No time was wasted ballooning the ball into the air. Each man took up his position perfectly and quick, beautifully-timed ground passes from man to man reduced the amount of running about to a minimum. Often the ball was taken from Golders Green's own goalmouth into that of their opponents without a Barnet man touching the ball.

Golders Green's defence, as has already been stated, was far too powerful for a Barnet forward line which includes two Internationals in Finch and Morris. Golders Green had one in Evans.

Teamwork was the secret of the "Green's" success. There was cohesion and a perfect understanding throughout. It may seem somewhat invidious in view of the high all-round standard of the team to single out any particular Golders Green player. It would be impossible, however, to avoid special mention of Rowe and Knott.

Rowe was magnificent. In Finch he was opposed to perhaps the fastest amateur left winger in the country. Barnet fully realised this and plied Finch with pass after pass, though without the success they expected.

In the first half Rowe completely blotted him out, and only in desperation was Finch able to get past him once or twice towards the end of the game. In addition Rowe played a sound constructive game and gave Breagan numerous opportunities.

Knott was here, there, and everywhere. Officially he was at inside-left, but many times he was on the other wing. A tireless worker, he was responsible for many promising movements, and himself hit the bar on two occasions. The power of his shooting was extraordinary, and a drive such as the one narrated above was of a nature that is seldom seen in amateur football.

Drinkwater could not get going in the first half as he had the wind against him, and he generally had to run back to reach a pass which was intended to be in front of him. Later, however, Barnet found him a clever and dangerous raider and his goal was a gem of cool-headedness and opportunism.

Breagan, on the other wing, was fast and gave the losers' defence a trying time. He was greatly helped by the support he received from Rowe and Spalton, the latter playing an unobtrusive but clever game at inside-right.

Evans was somewhat patchy at centre-forward. Many of his passes were stamped with that class which earned him an International cap a few weeks back, but his great failing was his tendency to dally in front of goal when a shot would have been more profitable.

Broadis effectively subdued Morris, and, like Rowe, found plenty of time to back up his forwards. He obviously favours the third back game, but in this match it was hardly necessary, so seldom were Golders Green on the defensive.

Bucci played a sound game at left-half and Richardson and Ellis were a stalwart pair of backs. Ellis was a trifle unsteady at first and had the misfortune to put through his own goal in the last minute. For the major portion of the game, however, he was safe and capable of dealing with Finch on the few occasions when the winger eluded Rowe.

Smith, in goal, had little to do, but did it well. There were spells when he might have sat in an armchair without anxiety.

There was one change in the Barnet team, J. Richardson, owing to tonsilitis, being replaced at inside-left by F.G. MacDonald.

The team as a whole was considerably inferior to Golders Green. The defence was ragged and long before the end was reduced to kicking the ball anywhere to keep it out of the danger zone.

The attack, with little or no support, petered out time and time again before even reaching their opponents' penalty line. Too much reliance was placed on Finch, and when he was held there was no one to take his place as a spearhead for the line.

Except for a steady breeze blowing straight down the field, the conditions were ideal when the teams kicked off, Golders Green playing with the sun and against the wind. Barnet attacked immediately and Smith made a very good save from Finch. Then Golders Green replied and brilliant work by Knott ended in Drinkwater shooting weakly and wide of the post.

Evans went through on his own, but Painter left his charge and took the ball off his foot in the nick of time. Knott was showing brilliant form and took a shot from 20 yards which Painter turned over the bar. The speed of the shot was tremendous and the save a very good one. Evans received a nice pass from Knott when standing close in. He dallied and was robbed before he could shoot. A beautiful movement in which Knott, Breagan and Evans took part was stopped in the Barnet goal area when a pass to Evans was intercepted.

Little was seen of Barnet's attack, though they broke through on one occasion only for Richardson [not playing - MacDonald?] to shoot weakly. Later Morris put the ball high over the bar. Knott started another delightful movement in his own half which ended in Evans sending wide.

Morris, Marchant and Finch tried hard to stem the tide but Finch shot very wide when well placed from Marchant's centre. Painter caused a thrill when he came out to clear from Evans. He lost the ball and Breagan put it across an empty goal, but there was no one up to touch it in.

Broadis set Breagan in motion and the latter's centre was charged down. From the resultant corner Knott shot wide. Spalton, Knott and Breagan indulged in another of those beautiful movements which were a feature of Golders Green's game, but the attack petered out before becoming dangerous.

Drinkwater made a brilliant dribble from the touchline, but hus shot was saved at full stretch by Painter. Knott put the rebound yards over the bar.

Barnet made a dangerous raid and Charlton brought Smith to his knees with a hard drive.

Evans had very bad luck when he trapped a centre, pivoted round, and crashed in a shot which struck the bar with Painter well beaten. Drinkwater worked the ball into the goalmouth and in the furious melee which ensued Knott took a "pot shot" and again the ball struck the bar. Then, to complete the cycle of bad luck, came Knott's wonderful effort from forty yards which must have staggered Painter. Rowe sent the rebound wide. Barnet attacked desperately towards half-time, But Golders Green easily held them in check.

The last incident of note was when Drinkwater hooked a centre from Knott into Painter's hands from very close range. Half-time came with the score still Golders Green 0 : Barnet 0.

On the resumption Golders Green had the wind with them and attacked hard. After a time Barnet broke away, but Ellis robbed Finch before he got within shooting distance. Evans went clean through the Barnet defence, but Painter threw himself at his feet, hung on to the ball, and cleared it splendidly.

Several times Golders Green forwards shot just over the bar, but when Broadis took a free kick awarded for hands, he put the ball yards too high.

Then, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, Golders Green scored. Breagan cut in, and instead of shooting, he lobbed the ball to Evans who was standing almost on the goal-line. The latter had no difficulty in heading it into the net.

The second goal followed soon after. Barnet forced a corner which was cleared and the ball found its way to Drinkwater, who cleverly swerved behind Wade so that Painter was unsighted and coolly shot into the corner of the net. After this Drinkwater was frequently prominent and forced several corners. From one of these Painter made a clever one-handed save from Evans.

Barnet replied somewhat feebly and following a corner taken by Marchant, Snaith put a long shot over the bar. The rest of the game was mainly a duel between Golders Green's forwards and Painter, who saved several diificult situations. Evans had some good chances, but lost them through hesitating.

In the last minute Finch eluded Rowe and shot as Ellis came to tackle him. The latter deflected the ball with his foot and had the mortification of seeing it go into his own net.