Match Report

Hendon
5
Uxbridge Town
2
Date:
Saturday 21 November 1931
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Hampstead

Match Report

Four consecutive League victories (two away from home) brought a much larger gate at Claremont Road on Saturday than is usually found when Uxbridge Town are entertained. It was quite unusual to see a long queue waiting to pass through the turnstiles just before the start, but this was partly due to the trouble that is given through the admission fee being increased from sixpence to sevenpence, change having to be given to many. It would help the stewards if people came prepared with the correct amount.

Those who for the first time saw Hampstead play could not have been greatly impressed. Although they won with three goals to spare, their play was not equal to that of the previous week, when they scraped home by the odd goal at Uxbridge, nor was it equal to the displays against the three Essex clubs who have fallen before them in consecutive League matches. One excuse could be found in the fact that Buchanan was hardly fit, and though he scored Hampstead's first goal, he was obliged to change positions before the end. Smith, Hampstead's goalkeeper, seemed at fault when Uxbridge took the lead for the second time through Kerrison, but we thought he was too old a campaigner to take heed of ironical remarks. The same people who jeered him have often cheered him to the echo when he has played brilliantly.

The teams were identical to those in the previous week, but Uxbridge gave a much better performance, and were somewhat unlucky to lose by three goals. Again they gave away a penalty for hands, and again Dean found the net. After they had equalised for the second time, Hampstead never looked back.

Play opened in Hampstead's favour. From a fine kick by Compton, Lloyd gave Evans an opening, but Goodwin cleared. He then saved from Buchanan, but a second or two later he almost put the ball through his goal.

Then came a surprise. Copley, who, at centre-half, played a wonderfully good game, secured from a corner kick taken by Uxbridge, and with a powerful shot some distance out completely beat Smith.

In the course of the next few minutes Butland made several attempts - some good, some bad, one shot striking the crossbar. Then Bramley, instead of shooting, neatly touched the ball to Buchanan, who was better placed, and the teams were again on level terms.

Hampstead, with the chances that came to them, should have taken the lead, but though there was much good work, particularly by Lloyd, the forwards did not seem happy, and Evans was often at sea. That he was closely watched was testimony to his goal-scoring powers. Once, when he looked like getting through, he was brought down, but, in the referee's opinion, it was done legitimately.

Just before half-time Uxbridge got their second and what proved to be their last goal through Kerrison, Smith being not entirely free from fault.

On the run of the play the score should have been the other way round, and those who attend solely in the hope of seeing Hampstead winning looked rather glum when the interval came.

The game had not been long restarted when a penalty kick was given against the visitors for handling. Dean, from the manner in which he strolled up the field to take the kick, is evidently the man selected in the dressing-room to be entrusted with this important piece of work, so many others having failed. Dean did not, and once more honours were even.

Hampstead continued to have the upper hand, and after Butland had hit the post, and Evans had failed to head through from Bramley's centre, the home side took the lead as a result of a nice movement initiated by Bucci. Lloyd centred, and this time Evans headed through. It was a good goal, but Evans must consider himself fortunate in getting the next. Uxbridge eased up, anticipating that Evans would be pulled up for offside (this had happened several times), but the referee allowed him to go on, and Goodwin was easily beaten. A moral: Play to the whistle.

Evans again found the net, but this time all were convinced that this enterprising forward was "guilty."

There were two or three occasions when it seemed that the Uxbridge goal had fallen, and those who shouted " Goal " looked somewhat sheepish. However, just before the end, Hampstead scored a fifth point through Bucci, the ball actually entering the net off the opposing left-half, Tibbett.

Rees, Lloyd, Dean and Compton were outstanding players.

As Barnet and Barking also won their League games, Hampstead's position in the League table remains unchanged.

Report by Hendon Times & Guardian, 27/11/1931, p.12

Hampstead

1
Sid Smith
2
Frank Dean
3
Leslie Compton
4
Leslie Graves
5
Percy Rees
6
George Bucci
7
Bill Bramley
8
Alec Buchanan
9
Freddie Evans
10
Bill Butland
11
Eddie Lloyd

Match Events

A H Copley
20''
25''
Alec Buchanan
C Kerrison
44''
50''
Frank Dean
65''
Freddie Evans
75''
Freddie Evans
88''
George Bucci

Uxbridge Town

1
Ernie Goodwin
2
R Kirkup
3
J W Richardson
4
C Powell
5
A H Copley
6
W H Tibbett
7
F Watts
8
C Kerrison
9
C Underwood
10
W Phillips
11
L Bradley