Hampstead made an inglorious exit from the F.A. Cup on Saturday, despite the fact that they were playing at home. Southall won by three goals to none, and the score does not over-represent the superiority of the West Middlesex side. In no department were they inferior, and as a team they showed a workable arrangement which was sadly lacking on the other side. From the start Hampstead looked a beaten side, and the longer they played the more this was evident.

Following a run of three wins and a draw, Sutton United, Wealdstone and Redhill being their victims, something better than this was expected, particularly as they were at full strength, but the cleverness that had marked the work of the forwards against Wealdstone and Redhill was missing. Eagles failed to hold the line together, and the team might be compared to a flock without a shepherd. They were much slower and by no means so clever as Southall. Many passes failed to reach the spot intended, and the Southall halves intervened successfully times without number. Like Hampstead, Southall are depending largely upon young players. They are experiencing difficulties, as a side is bound to do when old servants have to give way to new blood, but on Saturday's form they have progressed faster than Hampstead in the building-up process.

it was stated officially that the attendance was 2,800, and this was the best gate of the season. It was therefore unfortunate that Hampstead should give such a disappointing display. The conditions were ideal, and the state of the ground cannot be put forwards as an excuse. Perhaps the ordeal of facing the camera before the match was too great an ordeal. It is not the first time that this has proved a bad omen.

Southall set the pace and maintained it to the end. Hampstead had to face the sun in the first half, but this did not entirely account for the weakness of the side. The backs had a gruelling time, and it was fortunate they were not so inept as the other divisions. Evans showed the greatest promise when he was anywhere near goal, and he could complain of being unfortunate when two of his shots almost grazed the crossbar. While Compton is quick to recover, he has a tendency to advance too far up the field, and it was from his wing that, at the end of 20 minutes, Southall scored, Gibbs easily beating Smith from a pass by Breagan. This was the only goal scored during the first half, but it was entirely due to the defence (unfortunately we must except Rees) that the position was not worse.

Play in the second half had proceeded 20 minutes before Southall scored again, Spalton, an old Dulwich Hamlet man, walking the ball into the net after Smith had partially cleared a splendid shot from Collett. Just before the end Spalton scored again direct from Black's pass.

There were a few minor injuries during the match, Dean and Evans, among others, requiring treatment, but it was in no case due to unnecessary vigour, and the game was played in a good sporting spirit.

We congratulate the Southall forwards upon their display. Perhaps it looked better than it really was because of the ineptness of the opposing five. With centre-forwards and centre-halves exchanged the result might well have been the other way, because although there were other weak spots, these were the most pronounced in Hampstead's side. Evans was the only player to show real promise in the first half, but he was as hopeless as the others towards the end.