Hampstead made history on Saturday. Until then they had never beaten Leyton at Claremont Road, although they had had a win and a drawn game to their credit at Leyton.

Saturday's victory by five goals to two was more decisive than was expected, but it was earned by good all-round play and by splendid team work. It came at a time when some tonic was needed to revive the drooping spirits of supporters following three consecutive defeats. If the form on Saturday can be maintained, Hampstead, despite disappointing results against Walthamstow and Southall, are going to have a good season. It is true that they have also dropped League points at Barnet, but that was a game in which no injustice would have been done had honours been divided.

One important change was made in the constitution of Hampstead's team on Saturday. This was the introduction of A.D. Buchanan into the forward line in place of Welsh, who is on the injured list. Buchanan, who is the son of the manager of Thames F.C., for which club he had a couple of games last season, gives promise of providing the sting to the attack which has been needed. We did not see much shooting from him on Saturday. He seemed to take up the role of a half-back more than that of a forward, but undoubtedly he had an influence upon the side as a whole. After Leyton had twice been allowed to draw level, the score being 2-2 at the interval, the Hampstead forwards, well supported, played magnificent football, Leyton being a well-beaten team long before the finish, although they played gallantly until the end.

Evans placed four goals to his credit. He is a player of moods, one upon whom too much reliance cannot be placed, although no one can say that he does not always go all out for victory. He has had spells, so bad at times that it looks as though the committee would be justified in dropping him, but then, as on Saturday, he jumps into the limelight by heavy scoring, and thus ensures his place for several matches to come. Of 25 goals scored this season Evans has 13 to his credit, and as Welsh with 3 is the next highest scorer, it is evident that Evans cannot as yet be dispensed with.

His goals against Leyton were the result of good work by the whole line of forwards. The ball was much better distributed, and consequently the wingers had more opportunities. Evans was content to give others a chance, and in turn he was fed judiciously. Bramley is improving weekly at outside-right, and Peck, whom he substituted, may have some difficulty in regaining his place. We hope, however, that if the committee so wish, he will willingly stand by as reserve. On the other wing Lloyd was conspicuous, and Butland, full of vim, often upset the calculations of his opponents.

The big victory can be traced in large measure to the fine work of the halves, of whom Graves, a newcomer this season, was outstanding, apart from the fact that he scored a goal. He baffled his opposing wing times without number. Rees has settled down very nicely as pivot, and he compared by no means unfavourably with W. Caesar, Leyton's centre-half, who has had a much longer and wider experience. Bucci, the captain, was also in form both in attack and defence, some of his shots being the best of the day. His action in giving Leyton the benefit of a strong wind in the first half, after winning the toss, was much criticised, but fortunately his side did not suffer, Leyton having the unhappy experience of battling against an equally strong wind upon changing ends.

Leslie Compton, who had had his first experience of representative senior football on Thursday at Oxford - where, it is said, he created a good impression - had to face a remarkably fine forward in E. Collins, but he played with the coolness of a veteran and proved of enormous value. With a weak man to pass, Collins could have worked havoc. Dean also played well against a capable left wing in F.A. Davis and S. Bazin.

Smith, in goal, does not give the impression of being so safe this season, but it was not a bad performance to keep the Leyton score down to two goals. Smith had no chance with the first goal, which was scored by Davis. The second came from a sudden and swift shot from Sparrow, the old-time Barnet player, who, despite the long time he has spent in the game, has lost none of his cleverness. He is still a brainy player. Smith appeared to be unsighted.

Facing the wind, Hampstead gave their supporters a pleasant shock by scoring almost from the kick-off. There was a pass from Butland to the right. Bramley then sent across to the other wing, where Butland gave a touch to Evans, who opened the account.

Buchanan, who in appearance reminds one of F.H. Sherman, for some time Hampstead's star right-winger, quite early created a good impression. With a huge kick following a corner Compton brought temporarily an end to dangerous work by Leyton, for whom Collins was doing remarkably well. A lovely shot from his foot was tipped over the bar by Smith, but the Leyton men were very persistent and within a quarter-of-an-hour they equalised through Davis, following a corner kick. Smith had no chance to clear.

After this success Leyton went ahead as far as midfield play was concerned, the manner in which the ball was trapped being a lesson to the Hampstead men. Gibbs, their left-back, had a nasty shake-up in attempting to stop Bramley, but fortunately made a quick recovery.

Both sides struggled hard for the lead. A fine shot from Collins hit the crossbar; and at the other end Butland narrowly missed from a well-judged centre by Lloyd, who was giving a splendid exhibition.

Hampstead, perhaps, were fortunate in getting ahead from the second time, though credit must be given to Graves, who brought about Leyton's downfall. From a long distance he sent the ball into the goalmouth, and in paying attention to Evans, who, as his custom, was well on the spot, Deller allowed the ball to go into the net. After good work by Rees and Lloyd had almost brought another goal for Hampstead, Leyton equalised through Sparrow, who was rather unlucky in not getting through again following a delightful exhibition of passing by the whole line.

The interval thus came with the sides on level terms, but Hampstead emerged with the greater credit having regard to the assistance Leyton had received by playing with the wind.

Early in the second half Leyton set up a hot attack, and there were several occasions when it looked as if they would take the lead. In one instance Smith was out of his goal when Leyton were dangerous, but two offside decisions against them helped Hampstead.

Buchanan had a part in the scoring of Hampstead's third goal. He gave a nice pass to Evans, who lobbed the ball over Deller's head. Thus Hampstead, for the third time, took the lead, and moreover retained it. As a matter of fact, there were no times when Leyton gave signs of recovering lost ground.

With a wonderful shot which skimmed the crossbar Bucci started an attack which lasted for some time. Butland missed one good opening, and Bramley put in a shot which just failed. It was, however, from a run by Bramley and a good centre that Evans scored Hampstead's fourth goal, and just on time he got another. Evans, in the closing stages, was undoubtedly out for blood. He was never far from the goalmouth, and this led to several offside decisions against him.

The game was fought out in the best possible spirit, and the referee, who was one of the best we have seen at Claremont Road, had an easy job. Leyton took their defeat like sportsmen and were ready to congratulate Hampstead upon beating them for the first time at Claremont Road.