Uxbridge Town gave a poor exhibition of football in their F.A. Cup-tie with Hampstead at Claremont Road on Saturday, where there attended just over 2,000 people, but it sufficed to give them the right to replay the tie at Uxbridge on Wednesday. Hampstead then gave a much improved display and won by 2-1 after extra time.

Hampstead ought to have won on Saturday, as they held a lead of two goals until well in the second half. At no time was their play brilliant - it never reached the standard that was constantly seen in the days when they played at Cricklewood Lane - but in the closing stages they went from bad to worse. Uxbridge realised that they had a chance of pulling the game out of the fire, and re-modelling the forward line, they scored twice through Underwood. Had the game been prolonged a few minutes Uxbridge would probably have won.

Hampstead made two changes in the team that had lost to Barnet by 5-1, Shearcroft taking the place of Gardner and Bloxham displacing Bell. Both are old and tried players, who have shared in many victories, but no one can say they gave complete satisfaction on Saturday. Shearcroft, it must be said, was a shade better in the centre than his two immediate predecessors, but Bloxham was much too long in getting into his stride, and seemed to lack pace. On his form in this match, Bell is to be preferred. Shearcroft had a tendency to get offside. This indicates push, which has been badly needed, but it also renders abortive the work of others. He was not too good in shooting but much would have been forgiven if he had taken advantage of an opening in the second half. A goal then would have put the issue beyond doubt. The wings were better fed than they have been in some previous games, Shearcroft distributing the ball with discretion. As a rule, near goal his head is more serviceable than his feet, and unfortunately few chances of heading the ball home came his way.

Moore and Walsh scored with good shots, but they should have got more, and although Butland worked hard he had no luck. Young was distinctly the best of the halves, although he will be the first to admit he was not on top form. Mead fell off in the later stages and could not keep under control the opposing centre-forward. The backs did commendable work, but the Uxbridge attack was by no means formidable. Smith had little to do until the game was well advanced, but he was sorely tried in the last few minutes, and some of the shots he was called upon to deal with might have beaten a less experienced man.

In the Uxbridge were two former Hampstead players. Goodwin, in goal, is keeping up the form which made him so valuable at Cricklewood Lane, to a remarkable degree: but Reinke, who has been injured, has not had a particularly good season, and he did nothing of note in this match until he sent in a centre which brought about the equalising goal.

Roche and Copley did well in the half-back line, but from a player with the former's reputation we expect more sportsmanlike conduct than he exhibited towards Walsh. At one juncture there promised to be trouble. Kirk was the best of a not too impressive forward line.

Smith, winning the toss, gave Hampstead the advantage of the wind. Quite four-fifths of the play was in their favour, and many corners fell to them. From one of these Butland lifted the ball over. Sherman and Moore got in some good centres, but the finest shot of all came from Walsh, whose driving powers have already earned for himself a name.

The scoring was opened at the end of 17 minutes by Moore, whose shot - one of his best - went into the top corner of the net. Butland had a share in this success. At this stage Hampstead were exercising a good deal of pressure, and Shearcroft, had he been on top form, might reasonably have been expected to score one if not more goals. At the other end Reinke was disappointing.

Goodwin made some clever saves, one from Moore being particularly smart, but at the end of half-an-hour he was well beaten by a shot from Walsh which hit the post.

There was no more scoring in the first half. Two goals to none did not over-represent Hampstead's superiority, although their form had not been convincing. Very little good football had been seen. A high standard of play is not expected in Cup-ties, but extremely poor fare had been served up.

Things did not improve in the second half. Kirk was early prominent for Uxbridge without success, and then Shearcroft, after passing much to Sherman, failed when the ball was returned to him. From the stand he appeared to have the easiest of chances. With two goals in hand there did not appear any need of anxiety for Hampstead, especially as they were able to keep the ball well into their opponents' half. Once Hampstead's goal had a narrow escape, the ball going right across the goal-mouth with no one available to give it the finishing touch, but at length the persistancy of Uxbridge was rewarded, Underwood heading through from a corner kick taken by Trafford.

With twenty minutes to go the position became interesting, but Hampstead's play had taken a downward turn, and the visitors well deserved their second and equalising goal, which was obtained by Underwood from Reinke's centre. In the closing minutes Uxbridge pressed, and one would not have been surprised had they won the match. To Smith must go the credit for saving the game. He saved grandly from Kirk's shot.