Hampstead sustained their worst home League defeat for a long time on Saturday, when Walthamstow Avenue, winners of the Athenian League las season and undefeated in the present League campaign, won by five goals to none. The score hardly represents the worth of the Hampstead side, but the Avenue had an easy passage in the last half-hour. Only one goal was scored before the interval, and up till that time Hampstead, although not shaping like winners, had nevertheless played sufficiently well to have beaten several clubs in the League.

After a somewhat lucky goal by the Avenue early in the second half, they fell away considerably. Embleton, the visitors' outside-right, led his opponents a merry dance. Butland and Elwell were quite incapable of holding him, and with the light fading Smith, in goal, had an unenviable task. He was beaten five times, but the fault was not his alone. Dean played a sterling game at right-back against very capable men, and if Elwell's work had been up to the same standard the defeat would not have been so severe.

The referee refused to allow the teams to leave the field at the interval, because he was afraid it might not be possible to finish the game. Play was delayed once or twice through injuries; on one occasion three or four men needed attention, and there was a concensus of opinion that the full-time whistle blew several minutes before the second "45" had expired. However, the referee is the sole judge of such matters, and as it was not a matter of defeat by a slight margin, no one was unduly worried.

Walthamstow proved to be the best side that has visited Claremont Road this season, and being so strong they could afford to dispense with methods which some referees would have dealt with severely. An unusually large number of free kicks were awarded against the Avenue for unfair play, Young, Walsh and Evans coming in for rough treatment. The game was not handled too well.

In the Hampstead side were two new men, Bruton (from Cheshunt), and Hooper (who has played for St. Albans and Tufnell Park, among other clubs). The test was a strong one for young players. Hooper came out of the ordeal fairly well, but Bruton apparently thought that the opposition was even stronger than it was reputed to be, and seemed afraid to take risks. With more experience, however, he may prove to be the player so much needed.

Hampstead started well by getting a corner kick through good work by Butland, and for some time it looked as though the visitors would be given a hard fight, Moore being conspicuous, and Evans showing great dash. It was soon apparent, however, that in Embleton and Lewis the Avenue had a particularly strong wing, and but for Dean, who crossed over, one of their movements would have brought disaster. After Evans had put in a fine shot, which Young, the Avenue goal-keeper, tipped over the bar, the visitors returned to the attack, and from a centre from the left wing, Embleton, with a clever hook shot, opened the scoring after fifteen minutes' play.

Undismayed, Hampstead played up strongly, but did not play such an open game as the Avenue, whose combination was always perfect. The visitors' forwards had the advantage of being well supported by the halves, of whom Vango, as pivot, was the star, although his methods were often open to criticism.

Evans lost no chance of taking a shot at goal, and some of his efforts certainly deserved better luck. With one hard drive he skimmed the cross-bar; a little later he brought Young to his knees. Moore gave his inside men several openings, and also found the net himself, but the referee's ruling that he was offside could not be questioned.

It was a game in which Hampstead could not afford to throw away chances, but unfortunately this is what happened. The Avenue men were much more dangerous, and tribute must be paid to Smith that he was not again beaten before the interval.

In the second half Hampstead were overpowered and after the first few minutes never looked like saving the game. A rather lucky goal by Pulling really settled the issue. Perhaps the best goal of all was the third, scored by Embleton, who ran with the ball from near the centre-line. Beyond having exercised good ball control, he was much too fast for Elwell, who was left helpless.

Although the light was not sufficiently bad to warrant the game being abandoned, it was very difficult for most people to follow the play, and therefore the game lost much of its interest, particularly as Hampstead were a well-beaten side. There were many stoppages through accidents, some of which were brought about by the tactics of the Avenue men, and ambulance men and club trainers were kept busy.

Smith was badly shaken by running against the goal-post, and while he was powerless Young stood between the uprights and saved one really good shot with his foot.

Near the end Lewis and Lucas scored further goals for the Avenue, who well deserved their win, but not by such a margin as 5-0.

In view of the score, it might be thought there was nothing to be said in praise of Hampstead, but that is not so. Although he was not quite fit, Dean played a splendid game and Mead put up one of his best performances. The advance of these two players has been the most gratifying feature of the season. We also liked the work of Moore (who ought to have been given more to do), Evans and Walsh, while Young (who a little while ago seemed to be showing signs of age) did well at right-half.