By clever football, spoken of as one of the best displays ever given on the ground, Hampstead beat Hastings & St. Leonards, at Hastings, on Saturday by five goals to one, and thus earned the right to meet Cambridge Town, at Cambridge, in the next round of the A.F.A. Cup.

The game was watched by upwards of 2,500 people. With the exception of a friendly game at the beginning of last season, when the result was 3-3, Hampstead had not previously met the Hastings side, who compete in the Southern Amateur League.

Hastings' record promised a most interesting fight, and so it proved to be, despite the big difference in the figures at the end. It was not until the second half was well advanced that Hampstead got the upper hand. Then Hastings fell away completely, and the visitors found scoring an easy matter.

Southern Amateur League football is somewhat different to that experienced by Hampstead in Athenian League matches and most of their cup-ties. It is more bustling, and much more "ginger" can be put into the game without fear of being penalised. Many incidents occurred in Saturday's game which would have caused stoppages in other competition games, but withal it was an exceptionally clean game, and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

So appreciated was Hampstead's clever display that an invitation, we hear, was extended to the club to play a friendly match on the same ground at the opening of next season.

In previous rounds Hastings had beaten Newhaven (8-1) and Haywards Heath (6-1), while Hampstead had accounted for Bristol University (13-3) and Midland Bank (6-0).

Hampstead were fortunately able to place in the field a full team, although one or two had not entirely thrown off the effects of influenza. Hastings were disappointed that De'ath was not available, but they were strongly represented.

The ground was on the heavy side, but nevertheless the play was fast. Boorman won the toss, and in the first half Hastings naturally played with the wind. While this gave them some advantage, it often proved a handicap, the kicking of the home players being so strong that the ball was frequently sent out of bounds.

Hampstead played a much closer game, and were not tempted to depart therefrom even when they were a goal behind.

In the early stages there were some interesting tussles between Knott and H. Parks, the Sussex County cricketer, and for a time the Sussex man, a sturdy type of fellow, had the best of the encounters. Before the end, however, the balance was on the other side, although Knott developed lameness and could not run fast.

An early miskick by the Hampstead defence led to Hastings getting the first corner, and, helped by the wind, the ball almost curled into the net.

At the other end there was a hot attack initiated by Bloxham, but it came to nothing. Corners were frequent. Hastings had three off the reel, and though Smith did well in clearing two, he was beaten following the third, taken by Pain, who was the most dangerous man in the home forward line. Boorman secured and cleverly steered the ball into the right hand corner of the net. Smith had not the slightest chance with this shot. This success came at the end of 12 minutes' play.

Hampstead were not dismayed, and began to get the measure of their opponents, but in front of goal they were not impressive. They hesitated in making first time shots. Spalton seemed the most effective man, and it was through him that Hampstead equalised exactly half-way through the first half.

We then saw Hastings at their best, and Smith was never long idle. He had to save many shots from Pain, who was finely assisted by Farrell, and it seemed as if the more open game that Hastings played would win them the match. Hampstead had a narrow escape when Adfield fell in front of goal in heading the ball, which went wide. Smith laughed heartily!

While Smith saved cleverly on many occasions, Hastings were also well served in goal by Mills. He neatly tipped the ball over the bar from a corner kick, and though three more fell to Hampstead in as many minutes, he was not to be beaten. Hampstead made desperate efforts to get the lead before crossing over, and the Hastings goal had a wonderful escape, the ball hovering within a few yards of the line for what seemed an appreciable time. After this bombardment Knott gave Breagan a fairly easy chance, but it was not accepted.

The teams therefore crossed over on level terms, but it was felt that by not scoring more than one goal with the use of the wind Hastings had thrown away their chances.

It transpired during the interval that Richardson had ankle trouble, and Hampstead resumed with ten men, but anxiety was allayed when Richardson left the dressing-room to the accompaniment of cheers from a small but enthusiastic following from Hendon way. Richardson is a popular player.

Spalton was soon in the picture with a shot that skimmed the crossbar. The game was stopped for a brief time through Boorman getting hurt, but his play was not seriously affected. Hastings were not yet a spent force. Smith was troubled whith one shot which he tipped into the air and then, at the second attempt, sent clear.

The turning point came when the game had been in progress twelve minutes after changing over. Following a free kick taken by Bloxham for a foul on himself, Spalton put Hampstead ahead.

After that Hastings' defenders had little or no rest, and it was merely a question of the number of goals Hampstead would score. In ordinary circumstances Knott's lameness might have had an effect upon the result, but though he could not run with any speed he proved useful, as may be judged by the fact that he scored twice. Between Knott's two goals other Hampstead players tried their luck. One or two good attempts were made by Evans, and a shot by Bucci brough Mills to his knees.

The Hastings' defenders seemed bewildered by the clever tactics of the visiting side, and it was often more by luck than judgment that they cleared their lines. Corner kicks fell thick and fast, Breagan being particularly accurate in placing them. With 11 minutes still to go Rowe, whose footwork was delightful, beat Mills with a good shot. This brought their account to a close, although they were continually in the goalmouth. Mills did well to keep the number down to five. Just before the end Hastings found the net, but the whistle had gone for offside.

This substantial win came as a refresher to Hampstead, whose record had not been at all satisfactory since their win against Midland Bank in the first week of the year. To beat a club of such standing as Hastings & St Leonards away from home with four goals to spare was a good performance, and the players are looking forward with confidence to reaching the semi-final of the competition at the expense of Cambridge Town.

We attribute Saturday's success largely to the improvement in play of the half backs. All three did well. Bloxham, who has been off-colour in the last two or three games, was particularly effective. Rees, after he had settled down, kept Adfield, upon whom Hastings rely a great deal, well in hand. There was no more useful forward than Spalton, but it was a victory in which all could take credit.