Despite strong criticism against the composition of the Hampstead football team, it is not doing at all badly. Although it was weakened on Saturday by the absence of Sherman (playing for his County) and Bucci (unfortunately unfit), another victory was obtained in the F.A. Cup, Oxford City losing at Claremont Road by three goals to one. Last season, on the same ground, Oxford City went under by the odd goal in three, and while we hesitate to say that Hampstead have a better side than last year, it is extremely gratifying to see that more progress has been made in the principal competition. Maidenhead United, Bicester Town, Uxbridge Town (after a replay) and Oxford City have been beaten in the F.A. Cup with a goal average of 18-8, and now Guildford City have been drawn to play at Cricklewood on November 15.

It is interesting to note that of the 22 players six only appeared in the match at Claremont Road twelve months ago - Randall and Holton on the Oxford side, and Smith, Young, Gardner and Moore for Hampstead.

Hampstead were not confident of victory (the London Press as a whole did not favour their chances), yet there was a period when they looked to have a very easy passage. With a quarter-of-an-hour in the first half still to run, they led by three goals to love, and were going strong. Then Oxford City, just before the change-over, got an easy goal (Smith, the Hampstead captain, is not likely to ever forget it), and subsequently the visitors had a full share of the game, although they were not able to reduce the lead.

Hampstead fell away disappointingly in the second half, and their followers were not sorry to hear the whistle go for the last time.

Outstanding players in the Hampstead side were Dean, Young, Butland and Moore. Butland, who has dropped into the left-half position very nicely, came in for much cheering at the end. He deserved it, and we are sure none of the players begrudged him the ovation. He is a popular young player (we emphasise the word "young" for the benefit of players not closely acquainted with him) and never shirks his job. He gets to the ball where many would lose a chance. All round, however, there is a speeding up in the team - this may be due to the new coach - but there were undoubtedly signs of weariness before the game came to an end.

For the first half-hour the home forwards did excellent work, Moore being particularly effective. The tardy appearance of Elwell might have been serious, as Oxford City went off with a rush, but happily Young made a timely clearance. After Shearcroft had somewhat blindly shot hard into Allison's hands, Gardner scored for Hampstead. The goal was largely due to Moore, who sent in a hard drive which led to Gardner scoring as the ball was partially cleared. This was a good omen, and for some time Hampstead had a big share of the play. For the City, Holton was the most dangerous forward. He put across many fine shots. His centres were marked by judgment, and from one of them Neate might well have scored. Poor kicking by Elwell - he was not in top form - almost led to disaster, but while work in midfield was good, the Oxford men did not strike one as accurate shots, and Smith was not greatly troubled. Dean stuck one as a much improved player, and he had his wing well in hand.

[From this point the report in the British Newspaper Archive copy becomes difficult to read on the left of the column, and it may be necessary to omit parts which are unclear.]

Hampstead's left wing was a constant source of danger, Moore, well served by Butland, Shearcroft and Evans, sending over some nice centres, but Evans spoilt several movements by getting offside. Shearcroft, apparently far happier as an inside forward than at centre, made many good efforts, one shot in particular testing Allison severely. The City goalkeeper did excellent work during a fusillade, and from a scrimmage near goal from one of Moore's centres it certainly looked as if he had been beaten, but the referee ruled that the ball had not gone over the line. Moore was persistent, however, and after had sent in another good shot without success, he had his reward. He was well placed in receiving a pass from Mead, and headed into the net.

This goal, which came at the end of 27 minutes play, was quickly followed by a third. Shearcroft gave Moore a neat pass, and showing some speed he worked himself into a position where he was able to give Evans an easy chance to score.

Though the score of 3-0 against them hardly did justice to Oxford, Hampstead were clearly the better side up to this stage, and they continued to press, Evans having hard luck in hitting the post from a pass by Moore.

Then came an unexpected goal for Oxford through Arnold, though the ball actually came off Smith, the Hampstead captain. He did not seem hampered, and indeed one of the backs might well have cleared, but instead of using his hands, as he generally does, Smith made a weak kick, and to his dismay, probably due to the state of the ground, the ball [screwed?] off his foot into the net.

Smith seemed to be so upset by the incident that a minute later he was penalised for [?] to the ball. Oxford narrowly missed a second goal. The whistle for half-time came as a welcome relief to Hampstead, as anything might have happened if play had continued for a few more minutes.

The second half was scoreless. Smith had much more work in this half, Oxford realising that there was still a chance of winning, and from Neate at outside-left he made one of his best clearances. The Oxford shooting, however, was not up to the standard one expected from an Isthmian League team. The play of the home side also fell off considerably and some mistakes were made in giving passes to Moore, whose work was nothing like the standard he had set up in the first half. [Lacuna] Evans and Shearcroft suffered from minor injuries. Walsh tried desperately hard to score, but the end came with Hampstead winning by three goals to one.

[Last two paragraphs omitted as mainly unreadable; they seem to chiefly discuss the ability of Hampstead's players and the club's hopes for the future.]