The Finchley F.C. ground at Summers Lane was besieged by some 4,000 supporters for the semi-final of the Middlesex County [Senior] Cup, when Hampstead met Barnet. The odds were fairly even, and such was the run of the play that they finished even - each side scoring twice.

The game was played in true cup-tie spirit, plenty of gusto and speed being accompanied by the inevitable roars of applause or boos of disgust.

The start was exciting enough, Finch scoring for Barnet at the end of ten minutes. Hampstead, however, soon equalised through Dean, who took a penalty kick for a foul on Evans. Just before the interval Ives gave Barnet the lead.

Although the pace slackened in the second half, Hampstead struggled hard for the equalising goal, and this did not come until three minutes from the end - through Walsh with a wonderful shot. The play throughout was even, although Barnet made the majority of the attacks.

Smith, the Hampstead captain and goalkeeper, excelled on several occasions, but he was not at his best, and seemed tempted to hold the ball too long. It should be pointed out, however, that he took the field after seventeen hours' work at a stretch, and seemed to be affected by the bitterly cold wind. The interval was somewhat prolonged because Smith had a fainting attack and for a time it was feared he would not be able to resume.

Dean, Young and Bucci may be singled out as the pick of Hampstead's team, although Butland did well until he was injured. Potter was the best of a rather ineffective forward line.

For Barnet, the old stalwarts, Hughes and Garrett, were safe at back, and the halves did well both in defence and in feeding the front line. Bucci kept Morris well under control, and Finch was the chief raider.

Barnet won the toss and elected to play down the field. Hampstead pressed but found Hughes and Garrett sound in defence. The strong wind considerably handicapped the players, but both sides maintained a fast pace. Ten minutes from the start Finch scored for Barnet. After beating Dean he lobbed the ball in, Smith making a poor attempt to save. Morris, the Barnet centre-forward, received an injury, but after attention continued playing.

Evans was then fouled in front of the Barnet goal, and Dean, taking the kick, equalised for Hampstead. Butland received a nasty injury to the shoulder when charged by a Barnet player, and it was found necessary to alter positions, Butland going to outside-left, Moore to inside-left, and Potter to left-half. Barnet pressed hard in attack, Wright landing his shot over the posts.

Hampstead had an anxious moment when Smith, running out to kick clear, was charged and dropped the ball. Young took a free kick for Hampstead, from just outside the penalty area. Barnet gained a corner after a scrimmage round the Hampstead goal, but this proved fruitless. From a subsequent corner Smith saved well by jumping and pushing behind, thus giving a corner, which in turn was safely cleared.

Barnet were making full use of the wind and the fact that they were playing down the field, and for a time they had play mostly in their opponents' area. Smith made a brilliant save prior to Barnet gaining several corner kicks in succession and making frantic efforts to draw ahead before changing over. From a corner Smith, hard pressed, let in a goal from Ives. Half-time found the score: Barnet 2, Hampstead 1.

Early in the second half Morris landed a hot shot which just went over the horizontal. Play was fairly even, Hampstead attacking and Barnet showing a sterling defence. Morris nearly scored for Barnet again, but his kick hit the horizontal. From the rebound Richardson found the net, but the whistle had gone for offside. When both were going for the ball Garrett and Evans received nasty blows. Barnet were awarded a free kick for handling, but Snaith shot wide enough for Smith to clear safely. Hampstead were then awarded a free-kick just outside the area, and Bucci just missed equalising by hitting an upright. Morton, for Hampstead, landed a cross-kick which, strangely enough, also hit an upright.

About three minutes from the end Hampstead got the goal they deserved to get for their efforts in the second half, and the cheers and applause that greeted Walsh's scoring spurred Hampstead to make a frantic last-minute effort to secure the winning goal, the Barnet goalkeeper saving a terrific shot from Young.

With only a minute to go, however, this was not possible, and the whistle came with the score; Hampstead 2, Barnet 2.