Waiving choice of ground, Bicester were handsomely beaten by eight goals to two in their F.A. Cup-tie with Hampstead on Saturday, but they had the satisfaction in sharing a gate of something over £50.

The result gave great satisfaction locally. The visitors played pluckily, but were no match for Hampstead, despite the fact that eleventh-hour changes were necessary in the home team. There was general regret at the enforced absence of the captain, S.R. Smith, who on Friday night injured his arm badly while at work. He is engaged in the machine department of "The Times" newspaper. Wilton and Johnson, who were included in the selected eleven, were also absentees through differences of opinion with the selection committee, and with Shorland being dropped there were four changes in the team - J. Trevers in goal, F.H. Dean at right-back, H. Mead at centre-half and H.G. Robinson at left-half. While admitting that the opposition was not strong, the substitutes did well, and the fact that every good bit of work on their part was cheered indicated that the policy of the committee was commended. Dissension in a team spells disaster, and it is better to have eleven whole-hearted players on a side, even though some of them may not be of the strongest available calibre, than to have a team not working in perfect harmony.

In the absence of Smith the cares - and also the honour - of captaincy fell to Young, and he started well by winning the toss, Bicester being called upon to face the sun. Right from the start Hampstead attacked, and within five minutes they were one up, Butland scoring from a beautifully-placed corner by Sherman. Butland was a really live wire, and did a lot of aggressive work. It was evident that the forwards as a whole were in better tune than they were in the Enfield match, this being largely due to the fine support received from the halves, of whom Young and Mead were particularly prominent. Many corners fell to Hampstead, and whatever may be said of the Bicester team as a whole, there is no doubt that the Oxfordshire club was well represented in goal, Simons making some magnificent clearances, from Walsh in particular. This player has not an attractive style, but he knows how to shoot, which is a big asset. Hampstead's second goal came from his foot, Mead having given him a well-judged pass, and immediately afterwards Evans headed a third goal for Hampstead from a pass by Moore.

Up to this time Trevers had not touched the ball, but Bicester adopted a more fighting attitude as the game proceeded, and fifteen minutes from the interval Neal scored their first goal. An appeal for hands was disallowed.

Young then got injured, and while he was lying on the ground Bicester got the ball into the net a second time, but obviously the player to put on the finishing touch was offside, and Hampstead heaved a sigh of relief. Bicester, however, played with great dash in the closing stages of the first half, and had somewhat hard luck in not scoring.

With the lead of a couple of goals and the return of Young, Hampstead started the second half in confident fashion. Play opened sensationally, a goal being scored straightaway by Butland. Simons caught the ball, but it fell out of his hands and rolled into the net.

Despite the fact that Walsh was badly kicked - the game had to be stopped several times for injuries - he was in grand form in the second half, he and Sherman making a strong right wing. From a pass by Evans, Sherman, though hampered, worked his way through to score Hampstead's fifth goal, and the next two goals were credited to Walsh. In getting No. 6 he banged the ball on to the post and it curled in at the opposite corner; and the next was probably the best goal of all. It was from a shot fully twenty yards out, and would have beaten most goal-keepers.

Bicester were now a thoroughly beaten team, but they played courageously, and in a scramble round goal Barker scored their second goal. Three minutes from the end Moore got possession and found the net. By so doing each of the forwards had the privilege of scoring.

The match was too one-sided to be classed as interesting, but those who are not satisfied unless there is a bagful of goals went away feeling they had had their money's worth.

Notwithstanding the changes to the team, Hampstead were never really extended. As we have said, the players drafted from the Reserves filled their parts well.