A suggestion that some of the Hampstead men played in third gear instead of top gear was made at the close of the match on the Sutton United ground on Saturday. The home club won by four goals to two, and were well deserving of their victory. Listlessness marked the attitude of the Hampstead men at several periods, but perhaps this was due to the fact that they feared injuries.

Hampstead welcomed the return of Bucci and Evans, both of whom have been down with influenza, and the former was far and away the best man in the half-back line. Evans, however, was not particularly successful, but did not receive that measure of support to which he is accustomed. The absence of Rowe, on the sick list, gave Butler another chance in the forward line, this time at inside left. His play was not inferior to either of the other attackers, and for aggressiveness he certainly set an example.

Richardson played a sterling game at left back, but there was no other on the side of whom we can speak in laudatory terms save Smith, the goalkeeper. He was beaten three times in about fifteen minutes, and this would give one the impression that he was off-colour. It is true that he made a mess of things when the third goal was obtained, but the state of the ground may have been a contributing factor.

Anyhow, after that unfortunate incident he was never at fault, and he alone staved off a heavy defeat. He played with great daring, and even though he may have been lucky at times, no one could fail to be convinced that he is still a great goalkeeper.

Sutton United played a much-stengthened side, Eggleton, their new centre-forward, proving a fine leader and deadly shot. On Saturday's form Sutton should rise rapidly in the League table. Throughout there seemed a real incentive to win. They disdained fancy work, and their dashing movements proved troublesome to Hampstead. In Mason and Shepherd Sutton had a fine pair of backs whose powerful kicking was noticeable throughout. They seldom were at fault.

Hampstead were handicapped by the sun in the first half, but that hardly accounted for the disasters that befell them in the early stages. Eggleton soon showed his value by opening the scoring, and three minutes afterwards Solly, taking a free kick two feet from the penalty line, put in a shot which beat Smith completely. In a short time came another goal by Pratt following a shot by Eggleton, and the way in which Smith fumbled the ball made us wonder what would be the outcome.

However, the outlook for Hampstead improved largely through the efforts of the right wing. Two free kicks brought no result, but after Breagan had sent in a fine shot Spalton was successful, the ball bouncing over the goalkeeper's head. This goal came at the end of 28 minutes. Shortly afterwards, following a corner kick, Breagan obtained another goal, which completely altered the complexion of affairs, and made Sutton realise that Hampstead's position in the League table was not an utterly false one.

Hampstead made great efforts to equalise. Rees, from a free kick, shot straight into the goalkeeper's hands, and then, from a well-placed corner by Breagan, Hampstead had hard luck in not bringing the scores level. But this bad luck was counterbalanced by good fortune when Dean almost put through his own goal. Smith prevented disaster, and also dealt cleverly with a swift ground shot by Solly. At the interval Sutton still held the lead.

In the second half there was not much to choose between the sides. Both sides missed chances. Evans delayed in getting in a shot, but Spalton was a greater offender. Breagan had to be carried off the field, but happily was not badly hurt. Upon his return he soon got busy, although he has often been more effective than he was in this match. Knight, for Sutton, saved a number of shots in a manner which showed he was well up to Athenian League standards, but Smith had a much more difficult job. Several corners were forced by Sutton, mainly through weakness on the right wing, and it cannot be said that Sutton did not thoroughly deserve their fourth goal, which was obtained by Challis from a pass by Eggleton, the ball going through off the post.

Had Hampstead won this game they would have gone to the head of the League table, but despite the result they are only one point behind the leaders (Barnet) with two games in hand.