Hampstead created a sensation in Soccer football circles on Saturday by their handsome win at Bromley in the Athenian League. It is many a long day since they obtained such a decisive victory as seven goals to one away from home. Bromley had not been one of their happy hunting grounds, and in view of the fact that at Claremont Road on the opening day of the season Hampstead could only draw with the Kentish side, none except a few optimists thought them capable of pulling off the return game.

The fact that Wilton was unfit to turn out - he had not fully recovered from the effects of his injuries in the previous game - did not enhance Hampstead's chances, but a very good substitute for the left-back position was found in F.H. Dean, who, however, needs a little more experience. F.H. Sherman returned to the team, and while one would not attribute the remarkable victory to this fact, there is no doubt that he strengthened the forward line considerably. His play was adapted to circumstances. At times he went straight for the goal: at others he juggled with the ball, and so mesmerised his opponents that sometimes they got hopelessly confused. Towards the end Sherman wandered a good deal and seemed upset because free kicks - some unwarranted - were given against him.

Sherman was not among the goalscorers, but he played a big share in getting them. One of his shots, which struck the goal-post with terrific force, will not readily be forgotten.

The fact that all the other forwards found the net showed that it was not a one-man show. As a matter of fact we have not seen a better understanding among the players for a long time. They worked as a team - not merely as eleven units. The hollowness of the victory was due to the fact that there was no wastage of opportunities. It had evidently been impressed upon the forwards that their duty was to get goals, and there was none of the dalliance which has so often irritated Hampstead supporters. At every conceivable opportunity near the goal circle the ball was slammed at the target, and it is no discredit to Irish that he was beaten seven times. There were periods when it seemed probable that Hampstead would run into double figures.

Moore got three goals, Evans two, and Butland and Walsh one each. There were times last season when we thought Moore's day was over, but on Saturday's form he is good for a long spell yet. He has lost that lassitude which had come over him, and has also apparently realised that to needlessly run the ball to the corner flag before shooting is often unprofitable. It is interesting to note that he opened the scoring at the end of 15 minutes. Until then he had not had the slightest chance - in fact, we do not think he had even touched the ball.

The inside men, Butland and Walsh, gave great support. The former played with great dash. His appearance gives the impression that he is in the veteran stage, but appearances in his case are deceitful, and Bromley folk were captivated with his play. On the right wing Walsh served Sherman well. He does not appear fast, but judgment marks all his actions. It was unfortunate that just before the end he had to be carried off through knee trouble. Evans played a very good game at centre-forward, and by scoring the last goal met with due reward.

It was a good feature that Hampstead did not have to rely upon the halves to score goals. That is the forwards' job. The halves have to give them opportunities, and Potter, Johnson and Young did not fail in this respect. Potter provided a pleasant surprise. He compared favourably with any half on the field. For long he had been tried at inside-right, but has never been convincing as a goal-scorer, good though his general work might be. As a half-back he seems to have found his niche. On Saturday's form it will require an exceptional man to replace him. Johnson was a capable pivot - quite the equal of Bromley's centre-half, S.M. Osborne, who has often been a thorn in Hampstead's side. Young, who has served Hampstead so many years, is maintaining his form to a remarkable degree. Time will come when he will have to stand down, but he cannot be dispensed with yet awhile. No player is more consistent.

The score indicates that the defence generally was sound. Of the backs, Shorland had the harder task, H. Hobbis, at outside-left, being the best of Bromley's forwards. Dean, however, played quite as well as was expected, and one noticed how carefully he covered his partner when risks were taken.

The fact that Bromley could only score once was not because the forwards were terribly weak, but in large measure because in Hampstead's goal-keeper and captain they were up against a powerful obstacle. Some of his saves were indeed great. He has not discarded the habit of clinging to the ball even when he does not appear unduly hampered, but he is too seasoned a player not to know how best to act, and his mistakes were very few indeed. It is a disadvantage sometimes for the goal-keeper to be captain, but Smith is popular with the players, and is evidently bent on getting the best out of them. Incidentally, before the match opened, he showed the others how to score goals as well as save them.

The game was played at a fast pace despite sultry conditions. There was nothing in the opening stage to presage such a disastrous defeat for Bromley. As a matter of fact they had rather the best of matters, Young and Shorland being responsible for saving dangerous movements on the left, where Hobbis caused trouble. Good work on Hampstead's right led to a corner, carefully taken by Sherman, who also placed accurately from a free kick. From Walsh's pass Butland had a good opening, but Irish brought off the first of many clever saves, while at the other end Smith was not long idle.

At the end of fifteen minutes came the first goal. It was scored by Moore, whose hard shot just under the bar completely beat Irish. It originated in a pass by Sherman. Until then Moore had gone through a period of enforced idleness.

After this Hampstead never looked back. Thanks to Potter the left wing pair had quite a big share of work and both responded nobly. Moore sent in one centre which Evans just failed to reach by inches: a few minutes later, from a pass by Butland, Moore almost scored again. Not daunted, he soon put Hampstead further ahead, the work between the left wing which led up to this success being praiseworthy. An appeal for hands was ignored.

Bromley did not knuckle under quickly. They were ever on the move, but luck did not run their way. On more than one occasion they were within an ace of scoring, one kick by Shorland being wonderfully well timed. It was claimed that Smith had crossed the line in saving a difficult shot, but the referee ruled against Bromley. While Sherman could not find the net himself, though the force of his shooting almost broke the goal-post, he gave his colleagues plenty of chances. From one of these Evans made the interval score 3-0.

When it was found that Bromley could not hold their opponents, there were appeals from various parts of the field for positions to be changed, while some, sarcastically inclined, cheered the Hampstead side.

There was little or no change in the condition of affairs in the second half. All fears that Hampstead had run themselves to a standstill were soon dissipated. Walsh scored their fourth goal after Evans had struck the post with a wonderfully good shot, and with 30 minutes still to go Butland made the score 5-0, the ball entering the top corner of the net. He was within an ace of scoring again from a corner by Sherman.

From a long pass by Young, Moore ran in to score No. 6 and then Hampstead took matters somewhat leisurely. Hobbis reduced the lead with a goal which was well deserved, and even opponents could not refrain from giving him a cheer. He is a young player who should go far. Before the close, however, Hampstead scored again through Evans. With a few minutes to go Walsh was kicked, and had to be taken off the field.

Result: Hampstead 7 (Moore 3, Evans 2, Butland and Walsh), Bromley 1 (Hobbis).