It has come to be regarded almost as an old tradition that Bromley should take away points from Hampstead Football Club's ground when they visit the Claremont-road enclosure in Athenian League fixtures. They evidently hoped to maintain this tradition on Saturday, when for the opening match of the season they brought with them a strong following of voluble supporters. They were disappointed, however, for in a game that was full of thrills and incidents and was played at a pace that, considering the temperature was about 80 degrees, was absolutely amazing, they had to be content with sharing the honours. The score of two goals each may be regarded as a true indication of the run of the play, although the home side missed a penalty in the first half.

In spite of the heat and the counter-attractions of summer pastimes, for which the day was certainly more suitable, there was a crowd of about 1,500 when, after the Child's Hill Silver Band had discoursed a selection of music, almost promptly at the advertised time, the teams came out.

Mr. W.E. Baker had charge of the game, with Messrs. W.G. Barter and J. Purrett as linesmen.

There was no new blood in the home side, though Sherman was away assisting the League against the champions (Walthamstow Avenue), and Bucci has not yet recovered from injuries received last season. C.H. Walsh came up from the reserves, and gave a thoroughly satisfactory account of himself at inside-right.

There was no advantage in the winning of the toss, and the turf was as level and green as a billiards table and the sun high in the heavens and shining across the ground when Hampstead set the ball rolling from the enclosure end. The visitors were first to attack, but the aggression was not of long duration. The home team at the outset displayed clever combination, and appeared to be much smarter on the ball than their opponents. It was the home left wing that looked likely to do the damage, Butland playing his usual fine and constructive game. Ten minutes from the start he was loudly cheered for a shot, made possible by the right wing's manoeuvres, and it so nearly entered the net that many people thought it had done so. Several more attempts to pierce the visiting defence hereabouts proved unsuccessful, Irish, their custodian, always proving safe. At the other end Wilton did good work, but failing to get round the ball he provided the stand spectators with rather an uncomfortable moment by once or twice depositing it in their midst.

One of the narrowest escapes the Bromley citadel experienced in the first half was when Butland was precipitated into the net, and a few minutes later the same player tested Irish with a rasping shot, while an effort by Moore went just over the bar, and Evans had extremely bad luck with a solo effort that looked like being a certain goal. Wilton at the other end conceded a corner with a wild shot, but nothing resulted. The visitors' attack at this stage came again prominently into the picture by reason of capital combination on their right wing, but Smith proved equal to the tasks that were given him and kept his charge intact, though on more than one occasion he had to run a long way out of goal to avert danger. Holbrook was prominent in one or two capital attacking movements.

Wilton, in a rather acrobatic tackle, turned a complete somersault and landed on the nape of his neck. The blood of the spectators ran cold as many even of those who were nearest to the scene of the accident thought he had broken his neck, as he certainly would have done had he and his opponent been travelling any faster. His absence from the field was only for a few minutes.

It was about half-an-hour from the start that the persistant Hampstead attack bore fruit. Moore and Evans initiated the movement which enabled the latter to score. Then the visitors handled in the penalty area, but Irish had little difficulty in negotiating Moore's rather feeble effort, and half-time arrived with the home side one up.

Some slight changes were made in the visitors' team after the interval, and Bromley forced a succession of corners early on, but the home side responded by several more, one or two of which Gardner should have made more use. Another of Butland's efforts missed by inches striking the corner of the goal-posts - it was one of the best efforts of the afternoon. The game had been going on for about a quarter-of-an-hour of the second moiety when Wilton was in trouble again. This time he fell very much as before, but had the additional misfortune of being accidentally kicked in the head. He had to be carried from the field, and was a much-missed man. On his return a re-arrangement of the team was necessitated.

A great improvement in Bromley's game appeared to co-incide with this piece of misfortune to the home side. It is true that their play was of the bustling, kick-and-rush variety, but it was our impression that the home side might have opened out a bit and instead of keeping to their scientific short-passing game should have booted the ball a bit more. Smith on several occasions eluded his opponents cleverly, bouncing the ball in front of him and getting clean away with it before they realised what had happened. Brind put the ball inches the wrong side of the post with a low shot. It rather shocked the home defence, and they had apparently not fully recovered from the shock when the visitors' centre-forward, Kitchener, scored with a brilliant shot.

Maintaining their attack, the redoubtable Holbrook received from a centre by Richardson and put his side ahead.

This seemed to spur the home side on, for there was little more than ten minutes to go when this happened. Twice Walsh put the ball into Irish's hands. Persistence on the part of the home attack was rewarded at length, when Moore scored with a beauty. The visitors took their turn at aggressive tactics, but Smith effected some more brilliant saves, and the game ended level with no further scoring.