Before a gate of about 2,600, Hampstead beat St. Albans City on Saturday at Claremont Road by two goals to one. The match was in the A.F.A. Cup, and by winning Hampstead earned the right to entertain Hitchin (tomorrow).

This was Hampstead's fourth consecutive cup-tie win. It was well deserved, but it was by no means a great performance and the class of football was not up to the standard that might have been expected. The strong wind, however, told against accurate kicking.

The assertion that Isthmian League football is a grade above that of the Athenian League was not borne out in this game, the Hertfordshire club being much less effective than they were a few years ago. They are now in the process of team-building, and of the old stagers H. Figg, the right-half, alone remains. He is still a fine player.

Hampstead won the game mainly through the half-back line, and if J.W. Bloxham can maintain the form that he displayed in this match the loss of Graves, who has returned to the North, will not be so deeply felt as might be expected. There was no better player on the field than Bloxham and that is saying much, because he has not long earned a place in the first eleven. P.A. Rees also gave a fine exposition at centre-half, and the captain, G, Bucci, in his old place at half-back, did much good work.

The forwards did not shine. The passing was often erratic, the right wing being particularly weak, while the shooting was far from convincing. The ball was scooped over the bar far too frequently, while many of the shots that were well-directed lacked sting.

For this match L. Compton had the honour of captaining the side. The announcement in last week's "Times & Guardian" that this would be his last appearance in the Hampstead side in view of his decision to join the professional ranks came as a surprise to a large number of people, and when he was found to be leading the local eleven on to the field his popularity was evident. It was a pleasing gesture to allow him to act as captain, but the responsibility was perhaps too heavy for his shoulders, judging by his display, which was not up to the usual mark. Moreover, he was unfortunate in losing the toss, and this gave City the benefit of a strong wind in the first half. In view of the fact that he was handicapped by foot trouble, F.H. Dean did well at right-back, but as we have said, to the half-back line victory was mainly due.

There was only one goal in the first half, and that was obtained by Meakins just before the cross-over. On the run of the play St. Albans City just about deserved this meagre lead, mainly because their positional work was better than Hampstead's, and because their shooting, though not too great, was more accurate. Hampstead's extreme wingers were mostly at fault. Evans was the most dangerous man in the front line. Notwithstanding the close watch kept upon his movements he made some clever individual attacks. On one occasion he unfortunately handled the ball when he was close in.

St. Albans' success was preceded by a hot attack, Smith punching out three or four times in succession and considerable amusement was caused when the ball in use burst.

On the whole the play in the first "45" was very uninspiring. Good shots were few, and St. Albans could claim what little credit was due for forward work.

Upon changing ends Hampstead gave a vastly better show. They were soon storming the City goal, and at the end of twelve minutes Butland equalised. He had previously had hard luck with his shots. St. Albans fell off considerably, but succeeded in keeping Hampstead from taking the lead until fifteen minutes from the end when Bramley, from a pass by Evans, scored the winning goal. A short time before this goal was obtained Bramley was injured and had to receive attention from the trainer.

But for a bad miss on the part of Eagles, who did not have a good day, Hampstead should have won with two goals to spare. A raid by Evans looked like bearing fruit, and to prevent a goal Gatward rushed out. Evans fell, but the ball would undoubtedly have gone through had Eagles not rushed forward and in some miraculous way kicked it over the bar. Fortunately for Hampstead this mishap came too late to affect the result.

While congratualting Hampstead upon the progress they have made in the A.F.A. Cup competition in their initial entry, we look to a much better performance from them tomorrow against Hitchin.