By a goal scored in the last five minutes, Walthamstow Avenue annexed full Athenian League points at Claremont Road on Saturday. The Avenue are one of the few clubs confident of winning at Cricklewood. Better clubs may go under, but Hampstead find it impossible to beat the Avenue there, though in their last two visits to Walthamstow they have picked up three points.

The weather on Saturday was conducive to good attendances, and there must have been over 3,000 people on the Hampstead ground. These included a good contingent from Walthamstow. Anticipations that it would be a keen struggle were realised. Both clubs were at full strength, and were evenly matched. It must be accepted, however, that Walthamstow were on the whole slightly the better side, and their victory was not begrudged, although the result had serious consequences for Hampstead. Their chances of winning the championship have been sadly jeopardised.

It was a game of lost chances, and admitting that the defence work was wonderfully good, more goals should have been scored. The visiting forwards worked with more cohesion than the Hampstead five, their passing being much more accurate, but the shooting was often very wild. We must blame the Hampstead forwards for weakness near goal, but they were not provided with so many glorious openings as the Avenue.

With one or two exceptions, the standard of play shown by Hampstead was lower than it has been in the last few games. One particular exception was Richardson, who might have been excused having had an attack of influenza. He had the stronger wing to face, and though Andrews, the Avenue outside-right, had too large a playground, this was in some measure due to that fact that Bucci was not in his best form. The same may be said of the other halves. It is to the strength of the intermediate line that Hampstead have pulled through on so many occasions, and the change for the worse was apparent. Richardson was magnificent, and with Dean playing fairly well, the back division did not compare unfavourably with the Avenue pair.

The work of the Hampstead forwards was not inspiring. The outside men, Breagan and Knott, were perhaps the best, and more use might have been made of the latter. Rowe had an off day, and those who have eulogised Evans as a centre-forward of International standard would have been disillusioned on Saturday's performance. However, it is no use crying over spilt milk. One supporter who was telling a member of the selection committee that an entirely new line of forwards was necessary may in a few days' time be saying that there is no line to equal them in London. Some people have short memories.

In the early stages of the game there were some nice touches between Bucci and Knott, but Jenner was not easily beaten. For Walthamstow, Wright, the old Barnet player, gave Andrews several chances to get going, and the clever right winger brought the best out of Richardson, whose tackling was very sound. From a corner, nicely taken by Breagan, Rowe put in a good head shot, and a second corner was given. This was cleared, and then Smith saved well from the Avenue's left wing. A hard ground shot might well have beaten him, but fortunately for Hampstead it went just wide of the posts. Hampstead had more difficulty in finding their men than the Avenue, and had the visitors' shooting been equal to their general work Smith would have had a much more anxious time. Lewis was the most dangerous man in the visiting attack, but a number of his shots were misdirected. Vincent missed an open goal, but atoned later with one of the best shots.

Spalton was also a bad offender in close quarters, but a little later Hine was responsible for a fine clearance from a ruck of players, and in the melee both Rowe and Jenner were hurt. The Avenue also failed to take advantage of a weakness on Smith's part.

Towards the end of the first part Hampstead pressed, and from a free kick, taken by Bloxham, the ball was sent into the goalmouth, but when the whistle blew for the interval neither side had scored.

There was not much improvement in the attacks during the second half, and one realised that the person who described much of the shooting as "rotten" was not exaggerating. Offside spoilt several good movements by Hampstead, Knott being in the goalmouth when he was penalised.

For a time Hampstead's goal was bombarded, and then Walthamstow had to undergo a similar experience. Bucci made one good shot which went over the bar, and his efforts to supply a deficiency on the part of the forwards led to loud applause, and a call upon Hampstead to "keep it up."

However, all their efforts failed. Similarly the Avenue were foiled until five minutes from the end, when, following a free kick taken by Phypers, Lewis found the net. Before he did so there was a deperate struggle on the part of Hampstead to clear.

Hampstead tried hard for the equaliser, Bucci placing a free kick with great judgment, but no one could take advantage of it, and thus the Avenue somewhat luckily got both points.