Though Sutton United occupied a much lower place than Hampstead in the Athenian League table, they well deserved their win on Saturday at Sutton by three goals to one. Indeed, Hampstead were fortunate not to lose by a bigger margin. At the interval the score was 1-1, but in the second half Sutton were peppering the Hampstead goal most of the time, and had it not been for an exceptionally good display by Smith (who was also fortunate to find many shots wide of the mark), the home side would have piled up a big score.

On the other hand, the Hampstead forwards cut a sorry figure. Minter, in the centre, got little support, and it is evident that attention will have to be paid to this department. A remarkable feature of the past season is that while playing in the Reserve team several members of the club have done extremely well, but they have failed to make good when they have been asked to play in the first team. J. Bloxham is an exception, but he is a half-back.

Hampstead were unfortunate in being called upon to take the field without Evans, Bucci (both playing for the County), and Rees, who is on the injured list.

For some time play was very even, but Smith had the more difficult shots to stop. Sutton have not been altogether satisfied of late with the work of Bedford, who has been a valuable goalkeeper for many years, but they appear to have a very good successor in Knight, who handled several shots in clever style. Smith was troubled two or three times by Williams, and once he was practically beaten by a spinning ball, but before a Sutton man could rush forward he had made a fine recovery. Minter, though out of position, got through much work, and one of the best shots in the first half came from his foot, but Knight cleverly tipped the ball over the bar. A little later Minter deftly worked his way into a shooting position, but his final touch went wide.

Some of the Sutton people were indignant with the referee when he refused to allow a goal from a shot by Williams. It certainly looked as if the ball had crossed the line. At the end of thirty minutes, however, Delventhal beat Smith with a good shot.

This reverse caused Hampstead to realise their danger, and for a few minutes they were on top of their opponents. Minter had hard luck in heading by following a corner, and McCarthy, who promises to turn out a useful player, sent in a good shot, but shortly before half-time Minter equalised. Sutton had an excellent chance of again taking the lead before crossing over, but G. Smith, though good in midfield, could not be complimentead upon his shooting.

The second half saw a deterioration in Hampstead's play so far as aggressive work was concerned. The backs played splendidly, but the services of Rees and Bucci were missed in the half-back line, and at no time did it seem likely that Hampstead would end the season with a victory.

Fifteen minutes from the change-over Pratt scored from a centre by Thompson, and with ten minutes to go Delventhal, with a brilliant shot, got the last goal. Smith was fortunate in several of his clearances, but we doubt whether Hampstead could have been served better in goal. Some amusement was caused on one occasion when he ran almost to the corner flag to clear, and finally sent the ball out of the ground.