Having once again been excused the qualifying rounds of the F.A. Amateur Cup, Hampstead made an inglorious exit from the competition on Saturday at Claremont Road, Welton Rovers, a Somerset team, inflicting defeat by six goals to two.

Although little was known of the qualities of the visiting side, so heavy a reverse was quite unexpected, and although the Rovers scored an early goal, there was nothing in their play during the first half-hour to suggest that they would even win, much less have four goals in hand. They appeared to be quite a moderate side. But, as occasionally happens, the match provided an occasion when everything goes in favour of one side. It is no exaggeration to say that if the figures had been reversed, a more correct representation of the run of the play would have been given.

Playing remarkably good football, the Hampstead forwards, strengthened by the return of George Bucci at outside-right, and with Shearcroft in his old position, were hammering at goal for the greater part of the first half.

The Welton backs were a serviceable pair: not particularly brilliant. But in the Somerset goal-keeper, Curtis, Hampstead found a stumbling-block. Smith has done great things for Hampstead in goal, but nothing finer than that accomplished in this match by Curtis. Admitting he was sometimes lucky in his clearances he possessed a wonderful gift in positioning himself, and shots from all angles were dealt with successfully. We lost count of the number of corners conceded by the Rovers. Sometimes three or four were taken in succession, but it was all to no purpose so far as Hampstead was concerned. The ball would strike the uprights and the cross-bar, but past Curtis it couuld not be got during the first half, at the end of which Welton were three goals to the good.

Curtis had a big ovation on leaving the field at the interval, and it was repeated at the close, Smith, the Hampstead captain and goal-keeper, joining in the congratulations. While disappointed, Hampstead supporters showed true sportsmanship by giving honour where it was due.

Luck went against Hampstead in other ways. Much worse than defeat was the loss they sustained through Walsh having to leave the ground for hospital with a fractured rib. The accident occurred just on half-time. So far as one could gather, no one was to blame. Walsh was carried off the field in great agony, the very efficient ambulance men who are in attendance at Hampstead's games giving every possible assistance. To everybody's surprise Walsh returned to the field after the interval, although it was evidently against the wish of the Hampstead committee and players. While admiring his anxiety to help the side out of a difficulty, it was an unwise course. Naturally he was of little use, and another fall brought about the end of his play for that day. Had the accident not happened, it is quite possible that Hampstead would have recovered lost ground.

The game opened sensationally. Playing with the wind slightly in their favour Hampstead attacked, and from a pass by Evans, Moore sent across a beautiful shot which Bucci was within an ace of heading through. It was a fine piece of work and had a goal been scored, it might have had a big bearing upon the result. Smith was then called upon, and from a beautifully placed corner Welton scored, Butland, in an effort to clear, sending the ball into his own net.

This unexpected reverse did not upset the Hampstead side, a vigorous attack being set up. Moore and Evans were the dangerous men, and the latter was fouled just outside the penalty area. Moore sent across some fine centres, and although he has been out of harness for so long, Bucci put in good work at outside-right and proved himself the best man Hampstead has had in that position since Sherman's departure.

Occasionally the visiting forwards would break through, chief danger coming from Nash, at outside-right, but the work Smith was called upon to do was infinitesimal compared with the responsibility thrust upon Curtis. Shearcroft took his share in the attack and one or two of his shots reminded us of the days when he was in his prime. Dean was largely responsible for the visitors' second goal. Miskicking badly, Smith was placed in a dilemma. He ran out with the object of thwarting Blacker, the Rovers centre-forward, but was not successful.

Half-time was fast approaching when the Rovers got their third goal through Pratten, following a free kick against Mead. Then came the accident to Walsh, which caused more sorrow than the fact that Hampstead had practically lost their chances of proceeding further in the competition.

The crowd in the stand rose to cheer Curtis as he wended his way to the dressing-room. To him more than to any other man was due the Rovers' favourable position.

Hampstead started the second half in a [?] manner, and when Bucci found the net after a fine run by Moore, there seemed just a possibility that Welton would find more than their match. There was much surprise when Walsh was seen again on the field. He refused [? to go off ?] when asked, but it was patent that he would be of little service to the side. Notwithstanding a desire to treat him gently, he was [?] when a serious attempt was made to dispossess him of the ball, and following another fall he was taken away to hospital.

Welton had much more of the game in the second half, and the weakness of Hampstead's defence was brought into prominence. Elwell [?] failed to come up to expectations [? by getting ?] out of position, and when beaten he seemed to make no effort to recover lost ground. Coupled with his [?] Dean was hardly fit to play owing to knee trouble. He did his best to cover up his partner's sins of omission and commission, but was not equal to playing a double role.

Further goals were scored for Welton by Pratten, Roberts and McFarlane, but had Smith played to his usual form the last two goals would have been saved. They looked simple goals.

Just on time Bucci justified his claim to be Hampstead's best all-round player by getting his second goal which left Welton winners by six goals to two.

It was a thoroughly disappointing game for Hampstead. There would have been less regret had they been up against a first-class side. [??] the chances of Welton Rovers winning the Amateur Cup are exceedingly remote.

[N.B. Much of the report is close to illegible due to the report being in column 1 of the right-hand page coupled with the difficulty of getting the page flat enough to copy successfully owing to the proximity of the spine of the binder to the column concerned. The transcriber has done the best he could under the circumstances.]