Hampstead entertained Woking, an Isthmian League side, in an Amateur Cup-tie on Saturday. The game was strenuously contested, the result being in doubt until the end. With the aid of a penalty kick, conceded just before the close and taken by Moore, Hampstead won by three goals to two. In a sense they were lucky to pull through, but it should not be lost sight of that in the first half they had much the better of the play, and ought to have been leading at change of ends by three or four goals instead of one. Woking scored through Warnes at the end of three minutes with a long shot which Smith apparently made no effort to stop. He is not often deceived in such a way, and it was not easy to forget such an unfortunate start. Let us say at once that Smith made no further mistakes, and some of his saves were brilliant. His work, however, was slight compared with that of Butler at the other end. With a modicum of luck, Butler came out of perilous situations with distinction. He was not chosen to play originally, but if he is a reserve custodian, then Woking must be distinctly fortunate in having such a good stand-by. To Butler must be given chief credit for keeping Hampstead's score down to three, and as he left the field at the interval he received well-deserved cheers.

It was a fine afternoon and the pitch was in very good condition considering the amount of rain that had fallen during the week. The "gate" was disappointing: the official figure was 1,400, which was much less than was expected. With one or two exceptions, the attendances this season have not been good, and until access to the ground is made easier the treasurer will never be free from anxiety as to whether Hendon Council's demand for rent can be met.

Hampstead had presumably their strongest side. Webb and Butland, it was good to see, had practically recovered from their injuries, which had proved troublesome, but for some time the little inside-left did not seem comfortable, and it was palpable that another week's rest would have been to his advantage. Webb came out of the ordeal with credit, although, like several others under his command, he must have been glad when the end came.

It was a stiff struggle throughout the whole ninety minutes. There were one or two incidents which did not reflect credit upon the Woking side. Although we do not wish to hold Hampstead up as paragons of virtue, they were cleaner in their methods. The game was well controlled by Mr. L.E. Gibbs, even though in one or two instances his rulings on the offside rule were open to doubt. The Woking backs, in the second half, opened a trap into which Gardner was prone to fall, and compared to the first half play, the second "45" was disappointing. The Hampstead side got disjointed, the players seemed incapable of keeping positions, and though the game was won, the exhibition was not one which holds out much hope of great progress in the Cup.

The game started punctually on time, and a correspondent who recently complained that Hampstead's side were inclined to dilatoriness in turning out, will be pleased to note this, even though it meant his losing the opening movements through his own unpunctuality.

Hampstead met with disaster in less than five minutes. Warnes, from twenty yards out, sent in a good shot, but with Smith unhampered in any way, no one thought it would take effect. The goal-keeper stood almost motionless, and spectators were amazed to find the ball in he net. Warnes must have thought himself very lucky.

Fortunately, the Hampstead players did not get rattled by this stroke of bad fortune, and settled down to really good foootball. Smith had ample time to recover from the shock, as the defence held the Woking forwards fairly easily, Warnes alone doing anything out of the ordinary. Helped by the halves, notably Bucci and Young, the Hampstead front line pressed heavily. Time and again Sherman outwitted his opponents and forced several corners. His placing of these was not quite so accurate as usual, but his play generally commanded admiration. Bucci, taking a free kick, gave Butler a proof of his shooting powers, as did Moore when Woking were penalised for treating Butland unfairly. Moore, by the way, seems to have quite recovered from his injuries, and put in quite a number of stinging shots. Some really splendid work was nullified by Gardner getting offside, and twenty-nine minutes had elapsed before the Woking goal fell. Accepting a pass from Butland, Gardner put in a fine shot which Butler touched, but failed to prevent the ball entering the net. After the pressure that had been exercised, this equalising goal was well earned.

Up to this time Smith had not been greatly troubled, but in the closing stages of the first half he came in for notice, one of his saves by tipping the ball over the bar from a free kick being a fine effort. Warnes was often too good for Parsons, but Webb kept a watcful eye on the wing other than that which was his special care, and more than once saved the situation.

Though Potter is not a powerful shot, he paved the way for Sherman to be particularly aggressive, and no better work has been done by the Hampstead forwards this season, although the reward was not commensurate. As we have hinted, Butler was the saviour of his side. Just before the interval Sherman got across a centre for which Butland was waiting, and Hampstead took the lead. The goal might have been saved if the Woking players had not eased up, apparently under the impression that the ball had gone over the touch-line before Sherman centred.

In the second half Woking were seen to more advantage, and at the end of ten minutes they equalised the scores through Donovan, Smith being slightly injured in stopping a good shot. The standard of Hampstead's work then fell off considerably, and some difficulty was found in preventing Woking from taking the lead for the second time. The deciding goal came twenty minutes after the resumption, following a fine run by Gardner. Inside the penalty area he seemed to have lost control of the ball, but one of the Woking men charged him unfairly, and the referee meted out the full penalty. To Moore was entrusted the spot kick, and loud cheers went up when it was found that the ball was in the net.

The subsequent play does not call for much comment. Both sides were apparently feeling the effects of the strain, although Woking seemed the stronger team. Once Young stepped in when the Hampstead goal was in danger, and there were one or two occasions when Hampstead were fortunate to keep the visitors from forcing a replay.

On Woking's display in this match they are not up to the standard of several Athenian League teams. Warnes and Butler were outstanding. Apart from one fatal mistake, Smith was splendid in goal, and of the backs Webb was the stronger, although Parsons had the better wing to manage. The halves were a good trio, Wardlaw improving after an inconspicuous start. Bucci and Young did yeoman service. Of the forwards Sherman was the star, but the others must be given credit for much excellent work. Moore was inclined to get out of position, and Butland's passes to him often went astray, but he shot with a good deal of power.