After a lapse of six years, Hampstead have reached the final of the Middlesex Senior Cup, in which they will meet Hayes (the most-talked-of amateur club of the season) at Wealdstone on Easter Monday. The odds may be in favour of Hayes, but if Hampstead can play as well as they did against Barnet last Saturday, it will be a battle royal.

By beating Barnet by six goals to one, Hampstead accomplished their best performance this season. Barnet have never had a bigger surprise. It is true that they were without Morris, their most prolific scorer, who was on the sick list, but the absence of one man should not have made such a difference. The margin in Hampstead's favour perhaps slightly [over?] represents their superiority, but unquestionably they were much the better side.

The previous week, at Finchley, the clubs drew at two all, Hampstead equalising just on time. The spin of the coin for the choice of ground in the replayed tie went in favour of Hampstead, and with ideal conditions prevailing for both spectators and players, there was the biggest gate of the season at Claremont Road; indeed, we are informed it was the best since the ground was opened. There were over 3,000 present, the gate takings amounting to just over £100, but the clubs do not benefit greatly, two-thirds of the money going to the County Association.

Fortunately, Butland, who met with an injury at Finchley, had sufficiently recovered to take his place in Hampstead's side, and no changes were necessary. On the Barnet side, as we have said, Morris was missing. This brought in J. Willmott at right-half, A. Snaith taking Morris's place at centre-forward.

Barnet won the toss, but as there was practically no wind, the only disadvantage to Hampstead in the first half was that they had to face the sun, which was not over-powerful.

The opening exchanges were fairly even, but gradually Hampstead got into their stride, and the way in which Dean and Compton tackled the Barnet front line inspired confidence. Bucci was not long in showing that he was fit to meet all comers, and the visitors found it difficult to get near goal. On the other hand, Walsh and Butland put in good shots for Hampstead, who forced the first corner. This was taken by Morton, who placed the ball so accurately that it was an easy matter for Potter to head it into the net.

Potter's success - at the end of eight minutes - was gratifying to those who admire his work, because his record as a goal-getter is not great.

Immediately on restarting Barnet got a corner which was taken by Gatland, but Smith fisted out confidently, and he subsequently showed that he had taken to heart advice given the previous week. He did not cling to the ball so affectionately as has been his wont. From another corner kick Richardson headed over.

Hampstead's wingers were not strikingly successful, but Evans lost no opportunity of shooting, while Walsh and Potter were full of vim. Evans had sent in some brilliant but unsuccessful shots, but at the end of 19 minutes he managed to get through after some good work by Potter. It was by no means a great goal, there being little force behind the ball, and it looked as though Jones might have saved.

The next goal, however, was of quite a different calibre. Moore worked his way into the centre and with one of his powerful drives drove the ball home. In transit it touched Evans' head.

Barnet must now have realised that they were up against a completely different side (in strength if not in personnel) to those they had met in the games already played this season, and it must be said that they responded nobly to the frantic calls of their supporters, who were astounded at the manner in which the game was going. But their efforts were of no avail. Snaith was out of his element at centre-forward, and other much-vaunted forwards could not get going. Dean was once again capable of holding Finch, and though on the right wing Gatland was bustling about a good deal, Compton put paid to many of his intentions.

Morton was a long time getting into his stride, but his first good effort nearly proved too much for Jones, who fisted over the bar for a corner kick. This was quickly followed by Hampstead's fourth goal, Walsh giving Jones no chance with a wonderfully strong drive.

This was the end of the scoring in the first half. There would have been several more goals but for good work by Smith and Jones, who were often hard pressed. Smith had perhaps the more difficult shots, but he was in tip-top form.

Morton was prone to get offside, but there was one occasion when he was wrongly pulled up. In the closing stages of the first half Dean did excellently. There was just a chance that Barnet would retire for a rest with one goal to their credit, a free kick being given them just outside the penalty area, but Richardson shot wide.

There have been occasions when a side has won after being four goals down at the interval, but Barnet's play during the first "45" must have failed to hold out any hope that they would pull the game out of the fire.

When the game was restarted it was seen that Snaith and Wright had exchanged places, and when positions are altered by a captain it is generally because the position is desperate. But Barnet's position went from bad to worse. Within a short time they were six goals down, and there were visions of double figures.

Hampstead showed no mercy. They played as if they had leeway to make up instead of being goals in hand, and some clever manoeuvring between Evans and Morton almost led to a goal. Evans, who had a good deal of buffeting, just failed, but then followed a rare incident, a penalty kick awarded aginst Jones. Having run out to clear, he brought Morton down illegally, and was apparently nettled when the referee ordered a spot kick to be taken. Just as Dean was preparing to take the kick Jones altered the position of the ball a few inches, apparently with the idea of disconcerting Dean. But there was a counter-move on the part of Dean, who then drove the ball out of Jones' reach.

Morton soon afterwards got Hampstead's sixth and last goal with a good shot, Evans assisting in a movement which gave the little right-winger his chance.

Barnet did not despair. Hopes of making anything like a decent fight had vanished, but they stuck to their job. Snaith deserved success with a fine shot, but Smith was equal to the occasion. Like many others, this shot was tipped over the bar very skilfully. Smith was playing so well that it looked very unlikely that he would be beaten, and he would not have been but for the fact that Young handled in the penalty area. His act did not look intentional, but the result was the same, Richardson converting.

Fifteen minutes then remained for play, but fatigue on the part of both teams and wild shooting combined led to the score of 6-1 remaining unchanged. One shot by Walsh was ludicrous, and had the issue been in doubt there would have been groans. As it was, one spectator pertinently asked whether Walsh thought Hampstead had got too many goals.

In one of his dashes for the ball, Butland ran into the fencing on the wing, injuring his knee, but he was soon in harness again. Young saved a sure goal from one of several corner kicks taken by Barnet, and just on time Smith caught the ball high up and made one of the best saves of the match.

Thus ended a memorable game. Barnet had expected to win. The club had been so much in the limelight this season by reason of their progress in the Athenian League that the daily newspapers led one to suppose that Hampstead had not the ghost of a chance. But it seemed to have been forgotten that except for a defeat at Redhill, Hampstead had not been beaten since Christmas Day, and if the same team had been available from the beginning of the season their name would not now be in the bottom half of the League table.

The mingling of old and new blood works well, and the team spirit is pronounced. One or two of the players on Saturday were not at their best, but the willl to win was strong, and that goes far. Outstanding players were Smith, Dean, Bucci, Potter and Evans.

In defensive work Barnet did not shine so well as Hampstead. It is an asset to have youth on one's side, and while the Barnet backs have reached the veteran stage, Dean and Compton are almost at the beginning in senior football. Bucci, at centre-half, is playing as well as ever he did. Like most centre-forwards who score freely, Evans gets a good deal of attention from opponents, and on Saturday he was feelinng the effects of some hard knocks. Nevertheless he did well.

Barnet are one up on the season's results but the goal average is the same. There was a strong rumour around the ground that in view of Easter engagements - a tournament in France is interesting them - the Barnet club were indifferent to Saturday's result, but there was nothing in the play to lead one to think this rumour had any foundation. Members of the Barnet committee were unagreeably surprised at the ending.