It could well have been a battle between Athenian veterans and Athenian tyros, between a team of old campaigners and a team of Athenian League recruits, when Hampstead were at home to Finchley on Saturday, and won by two goals to one. But the description, while true in Finchley's case, would be unfair to Hampstead. The Lilywhites have indeed just been recruited to the Athenian League, and are still fighting to find their feet. Hampstead, however, as they take the field this season, are almost as inexperienced. Several of their team are newcomers, and young at that, and as a team have worked together much less than Finchley, who are playing most of last season's eleven, a notable exception being Brocklebank, who has been engaged by Aston Villa.

Actually, then, the teams were far more evenly matched than would have been expected. Hampstead, though the better eleven, did not tower above Finchley with the superiority of old and tried campaigners. Finchley were never out-classed, and both in speed and stamina were little behind. Both teams were again and again hard put to defend themselves, and the score 2-1, with Hampstead just on top, is a true indication of the ding-dong nature of the struggle.

Despite the intense heat and the hard-bumping ground, the game must be called a good and fairly exciting one. Of course, a keen local rivalry existed between the teams - certainly it did between certain sections of Hampstead and Finchley supporters - and during the first half especially the contest was keyed up to the highest pitch of antagonism. Speed, rush and determined onslaught was the result, and if the perspiring spectators could not admire as much scientific play as they would have liked, they were undoubtedly amazed at the energy of men who could dart again and again after the ball and struggle incessantly for possession of it with all the fierceness of heroes and in all the blaze of a tropical sun. The only explanation of such a display was that the men concentrated on their game to so great an extent that the heat was forgotten! Soaked shorts and jerseys and broiling bodies with heads swimming in heat - these reminded them of it as they tramped into the dressing-rooms at half time. And they never seemed to recover from their gruelling battling when they came out to take the field again.

In the Hampstead side there were two changes from the previous game, Simmonds and Edwards standing down for Irwin and Shone. Wilton again played at centre-half instead of Bucci, still indisposed from injury. The Finchley side remained unchanged from the previous week.

Hampstead, who won the toss, got away first on the left wing, Moore running and passing well. Daniels cleared with a powerful header for Finchley, but Hampstead pressed for a time. Morton, after good work by Gardner, shot weakly into Jessup's hands. A goal-kick for the Lilywhites sent their forward line raiding the opponents' goal. A sharp, dangerous tussle and Shorland kicked clear. Attack and counter-attack followed rapidly, with some pretty passing at short range on the part of Hampstead. Hill had bad luck not to net for Finchley, but was too harassed by the defence. Baxter was dribbling and kicking well in the Finchley half-back line and repeatedly sent the forwards hot on the defensive. Bowyer, at centre-forward, had a swift shot at the Hampstead goal, but Smith again gathered it smartly. Bowyer shortly after caused the grandstand crowd some amusement by having to scamper off with a pair of torn shorts. Shone was leading the Hampstead attack with great determination, but his kicking in front of goal generally lacked sting. Finchley were not combining so well as they might. Cox centred too late in one badly-passed left wing attack, but Finchley narrowly missed a goal when Smith failed to kixk clear. Again Finchley raided, driving repeatedly near their opponents' goal and relentlessly teasing the goal-keeper himself. Daniels and Dodd, by good marking and well-placed kicking, were continually feeding the Lilywhites' forwards, but Finchley's forwards were also kicking weakly when right on top of the goalmouth. Their determined play, however, was soon rewarded. At the end of a quarter-of-an-hour Cox centred beautifully from a rapid left-wing attack, and Bowyer safely netted for Finchley - the first goal of the match. This shocked Hampstead into action and masterfully carried-out raids kept Jessup busy in goal. Irwin and Gardner were shining on the Hampstead right wing, a fine shot from the former just skimming the cross-bar. After a brilliant solo effort by Rogers, on the Finchley left wing, Hampstead at last got through. Gardner, with a superbly-timed kick from a centre by Moore, sent the leather sailing into the left-hand corner of the Finchley net. This goal came at the end of twenty minutes' play. The contest was perhaps now at his height, attack after attack by both sides just failing to penetrate. Hill, for Finchley, was beaten by a bouncing ball when a goal seemed certain, whilst Smith cleared spectacularly from Newman. Hampstead was forcing corners well taken by Irwin. Gardner and Moore were both prominent, the former having a long magnificent shot which went a fraction too high. Jessup made a sensational save later on, going full length to reach the ball. Hampstead's wing-to-wing passing was now a pleasure to watch, and the winning goal was scored as a direct result of these tactics. The ball was swung across from the right wing to Moore on the extreme left, who shot the goal with all the deliberateness of a mature player. With seven minutes to go before the interval, Finchley tried hard to equalise, but the Hampstead defence, and especially Smith in goal, were working well. Half-time came with Hampstead superior and leading.

The second half of the match was less exciting and less important. Both sides seemed tired from the heat, and play was neither so intense nor of so high a standard. Individual rather than concerted endeavour stood out, sound combination both in attack and defence being a rarity. Bowyer, Dodd and Jessup continued to play well for Finchley, whilst Shone, Irwin, Young, Shorland and Webb were noticeable in the Hampstead side. Cox, on Finchley's left wing, was playing poorly; young Morton seemed played out and was kicking rather loosely. Morton was injured and was off the field for a few minutes. Play was not too clean. Gilbey, Finchley's left-back, in particular, did not seem to be over-certain where he was rushing. Dodd was another offender. The irritating heat probably accounted for all this! In the tropics it drives men mad. Apparently neither spectators nor players were sorry when this productiveless second half came to an end.

Comments on players should be sympathetic rather than conclusive at the beginning of a season, and especially under such unsuitable weather conditions as prevailed on Saturday. Finchley's forwards must co-operate more in attack, some of them making the mistake of keeping the ball far to much to themselves. Bowyer and Rogers, however, must be complimented for some very good work. Finchley's half-back line played strongly throughout, Baxter especially shining. Gilbey and Wicking, as backs, did not use their weight to the best advantage, and were often unsure in kicking and slow in decision. Jessup, apart from some weak punching, played well in goal.

The play of the Hampstead forward line was a great improvement on the previous week, though Morton lacks experience. A spell in the Reserve team would do him a world of good. Wing attacking was often remarkably speedy. Moore was conspicuous, with Irwin not far behind. Wilton and Young pulled their weight at half, but Young was again the best of the line. The backs were stubborn and determined. Shorland was as dashing as ever, and Webb covered him judiciously. Smith, in goal, was in quite his old form. Once, weakly kicking off from goal, he almost let his side down, but on the whole he played magnificently, and had much to do in saving his side. He seems to delight in leaving the spectators gasping by his rushing out yards from the goal-mouth.