The month of December has proved one of the blackest in the pages of Hampstead's history. In one game only, that with Woking, have they been victorious, and that victory was by means of a penalty goal. There have been three losses on the home ground, and the only gleam of satisfaction so far as the Athenian League is concerned was the snatching of a point at Wealdstone. This was mainly due to the superhuman efforts of Smith in goal.

The time has come when it is difficult to select a team. The Reserves, with nine wins to their credit, are making a bold bid for Athenian League honours, but those responsible for choosing sides do not seem to place much faith in the ability of these reserve players to hold their own in the first eleven. It must be admitted that one or two, after prolonged trials, have hardly reached the standard necessary for the premier division of the Athenian League.

The great weakness at the moment is at centre-forward, where Gardner has operated for some weeks. His introduction to that position led to the loss of Shearcroft, who has secured a place in the Leytonstone side, and is reported to be doing well, although his new club are not winning matches. Shearcroft had his weaknesses, but he could score goals, and this cannot be said of Hampstead's inside forwards for the last few weeks.

With a view to strengthening the forward line, Young took Potter's place at inside-right in the home game with Barking Town on Saturday. This was made possible by the return of Bucci to centre-half, Johnson moving to right-half. Although the shifting of positions did not bring victory, it was undoubtedly a wise step. Johnson was quite at home in his new place, and Young, who was a very successful forward in the old days at Cricklewood-lane, added sting to the attack. If all the forwards had been equally good, Hampstead would have not been moaning the loss of two much-needed League points. The outlook is serious when five points are dropped in three games - two at home.

Barking Town were compelled to make two or three changes from the advertised side.

Considering the conditions under which the game was played - on a soddened pitch, in a rainstorm, and by men who had had a surfeit of football during the week - some excellent work was done. The clubs were well matched, and the contest on Saturday should give spice to the Amateur Cup-tie between the two teams on the same ground on the 18th inst. Hampstead played well enough to suggest that they will get through the next round of the Cup, but they must get rid of the habit of slacking off after the change of ends. In the two lost games they have held the lead at the interval, but then faded out of the picture.

With the wind in their favour Hampstead started strongly. In the course of the first five minutes many shots were sent in, Snook having an early opportunity of displaying his skill. Bucci figured prominently in a hot attack, and one often wonders what his best position is. Once the cross-bar was struck, and the Barking defenders can be congratulated upon coming out of the ordeal unscathed. As so often happens after such an attack, disaster befell what was apparently the much stronger side. James got away on the right wing, and from his centre Wiles put Barking one up.

This was contrary to the run of the play, but it was not long before the equalising goal came. This was due to faulty play by Barking's defence. The ball came from a back to Butland, who found himself in front of goal entirely unmarked, and had he failed to find the net imprecations would have been loud and long.

After that Hampstead played splendidly, and if the shooting had been equal to the work in midfield, all would have been well. However, the old fault was prevalent. Apparently fearing to trust the inside men, Sherman and Moore shot from many angles, but while one admired their doggedness, the team might have benefited if they had left the final kick to others. Sherman was as good as ever at outside-right, outwitting his opponents again and again, and it was galling to see so much of his work thrown away.

The interval was close at hand when Hampstead took the lead, through the initiative of Bucci, whose work both in attack and defence was much admired. From the centre-half the ball came to Butland, who passed it on so neatly that Gardner had the chance of retrieving lost chances. It was gratifying to find these two had a share in the goal, because unquestionably they had not fulfilled expectations.

The goal lead at the interval was less than was deserved by Hampstead, who must have entered upon the second half with some trepidation, seeing that both wind and rain were against them.

Before long the equalising goal came through Wiles, an enterprising centre-forward. Throughout the game the Hampstead backs had been prone to get out of position, mixing with the halves. This led to many free kicks against Barking for offside. But at last the home defenders were caught napping. They stood still under the impression that an offside decision would be given, but the referee waved the Barking player on, and Smith had no possible chance of saving the shot. The legitimacy of the goal was questioned, Webb, the Hampstead captain, being the chief of the disputants, and the referee was induced to consult both linesmen. The decision was against Hampstead, and although they were still on even terms, one instinctively felt that this goal would have an important bearing on the result.

It proved to be so. With a quarter-of-an-hour to go, Humphrey, the outside-left, got a third goal for Barking, and after that there was nothing in Hampstead's play to indicate that the lost ground would be recovered. Kemp had got the measure of Moore, who was nothing like so dangerous in this half, and while Sherman made some good efforts, and Young never ceased trying, the standard of the team as a whole deteriorated considerably. There was just a possibility that the match might have to be abandoned owing to darkness, but though it was difficult to follow the ball from the stand, in which most of the crowd had congregated, the referee was justified in allowing the game to run its course.

On the Barking side, Humphrey, Snook, Cornish and Kemp did creditably, and Bucci, Johnson, Sherman and Young may be named as among the most successful players for Hampstead. Smith, in recognition of his work in the Wealdstone matches, had a rousing reception on taking the field. He had an easy afternoon in comparison with the duties thrust upon him in the two preceding games, but though beaten three times, the onus must to a large extent be thrown upon the backs, whose work was not dependable. Periods of brilliance were followed by weak kicking. We do not see the huge thrusts up the field that we had from full-backs in old days. The forwards are also inclined to indulge in fancy work, which is fatal on heavy grounds.