Hampstead drew with Barking Town at four goals all at Barking on Saturday, and by so doing won four League points in the last three away games. Barking twice held a two-goal lead, and when they got their fourth goal with less than a quarter-of-an-hour to play, it looked odds on Hampstead being beaten.

But there is now more life in the Hampstead team than we have seen for a long time. The blending of young blood with old stock is bearing fruit, and one can trace the never-say-die spirit. Somewhat fortunate in getting a penalty kick, which Dean converted, they made a bold bid for victory. Evans equalised with a fine shot, which was a solace for some bad failures, but though they failed to get another, the defence succeeded in keeping the lively Barking forwards from securing a winning goal.

A strong wind hampered the players, particularly in the second half, but it was a capital game to watch, and far better than one expects in April between teams who have no chance of championship honours and no fear of relegation. While forwards in both teams missed glorious chances, the fact that eight goals were scored was a tribute to the strength of the front lines rather than to weak defences. As a matter of fact, the defence work was sound. The strong wind caused the ball to be misjudged at times, but Dean and Compton did excellently, and Morton, on Hampstead's right, will bear testimony to the sterling work of Gibbs, Barking's left-back, and also to that of Stannard at left-half.

Rees deputised well for Bucci at centre-half for Hampstead, and was well supported by the wing halves, Young evidently wishing to impress the committee that there is life in the old boy yet. It looked as if Smith might have saved the shot from which Barking scored their last goal, but he played a big part in the club's partial success, one of his best saves being from a corner kick in the last two minutes.

The Barking forwards played a very open game, and it seemed to be some time before all the Hampstead players realised that such tactics were likely to be more profitable than close passing. There was not much to choose between the teams in the opening stages, though Barking were the more dangerous near goal. Bramley failed to improve on good passes from Walsh and Morton, and others were slow in using opportunities. A claim against Hampstead for handling in the penalty area was not awarded, but Barking scored the opening goal at the end of fifteen minutes through Jarvis following a corner kick.

Hampstead took up the challenge through Bucci, who was unsuccessful with a splendid shot. Then Evans disappointed when he had a good opening. Keeble put Barking further ahead, and the home club might have got a third but for the fact that Smith was fouled in trying to clear.

A combined effort by Bucci, Bramley and Evans led to Evans reducing Barking's lead. It was a fine effort on Evans's part. Though stumbling in running through, he exercised remarkable ball control. Bramley got a good chance of getting on level terms when Evans gave him the ball, but he shot wide. Another fine opening came to Evans but his failure on this occasion may be attributed to the fact that an appeal for offside was heard but was unheeded by the referee. It is always well to play to the whistle. Half-time came with Barking leading by two goals to one.

Hampstead opened the second half in strong style, Evans sending in some good shots. From one of these the Barking goalkeeper was penalised for carrying the ball, but Hampstead did not profit from the free kick. A little later, however, they had a slice of luck. One of the backs, somewhat hampered, kicked back to the goalkeeper, who missed the ball, and Bramley, well on the spot, helped it into an empty net.

Though fighting in the teeth of the gale of wind, Hampstead continued to have a fair share of the game, and one of their best chances fell to Evans, to whom Walsh gave a nice forward pass. But again he failed. With a long cross-shot which struck the bottom of the goalpost, Carter, at outside-left, restored the lead to Barking, and immediately afterwards their fourth goal was obtained by Jarvis.

Things looked hopeless for Hampstead, but a penalty kick by Dean, who put the ball into the right-hand corner of the net, made the score 4-3, and it was not long before the scores were brough level by Evans, who restored himself to favour with the Hampstead supporters by scoring what we regarded as the best goal of the match.

Play in the last few minutes was fast and furious, both sides narrowly escaping defeat, but the goalkeepers came out on top.