Football at its cleanest and best was seen at Claremont-road, Cricklewood, on Saturday, in an Athenian League match, memorable for its interesting quality, between Hampstead and Kingstonian. Before the game both clubs stood high in the League table. Afterwards, thanks to a brilliant win by four goals to one, Hampstead ascended to top place in the competition, a signal honour which they have not enjoyed for a considerable time. What gives their supporters more cause for rejoicing is that the local team are potential champions on their merits. Although there are many corners to be turned before prospects can be estimated with any degree of certainty, the strong and workable eleven which Hampstead were able to put out for the last game should prove equal to all occasions.

"Jimmy" Smy's first appearance on the home ground this season earned him a special cheer from the 2,000 onlookers. He expressed his gratitude for this demonstration of confidence by scoring two goals - just to show that the faith was justified. The other pair were netted by Moore, and while nobody begrudged either their success, it would have been a nice reward for a lot of hard work if Neil could have received similar encouragement. There are many critics of the centre-forward, but he certainly spared himself nothing to please the crowd, and it is not his fault if he is one of the most unlucky players in amateur football.

The Surrey club brought their most serviceable side with them, and when, after winning the toss, they started a vigorous onslaught on the home defence, it seemed as if the wind would carry them to victory in the first half.

A side slightly superior in several departments, Kingstonian lacked nothing in dash and enterprise, but their finishing left much to be desired. Some excellent midfield play on both sides made the opening stages of the game a pleasure to watch, but it was a long time before a respectable pot at goal was seen. As the contending parties settled down to their task, the pace increased and then it was a ding-dong struggle with the ball rapidly flashing from end to end. Bucci, the local "man-of-all-work", who was easily the best back on the field, soon came into prominence for his deft tackling and lightning clearances. He played as one inspired and never wavered throughout the ninety minutes. Smith, in goal, also had one of his gala days, and these two between them frequently held the fort when danger threatened.

Hampstead's best thrusts in the early part of the game were made by Moore and Smy, whose nice understanding of each other's intentions immensely pleased the spectators. They worked into a number of scoring positions in the first twenty minutes, but nothing came of it all. The first real thrill came when the visiting outside-right broke through, and banged the ball toward the goal. Smith fell on the slippery turf and was helpless while the ball was taking its course. Luckily for the home side, an upright got in the way and saved the situation.

Soon after that there followed a vigorous bombardment of Hampstead's goal lasting nearly ten minutes. The visitors simply crowded round their opponents' citadel and one after another of the players tried to open the score. Smith showed his superb form by dealing confidently with shots from all angles and this, combined with some appalling aiming by the visitors, enabled Hampstead to keep their charge intact. Then came the biggest surprise of the game. The Kingston men paused for breath a moment or two before the interval and Young saw his opportunity. He slipped the ball to Moore, who was waiting well up, and the outside left had no difficulty in finding the net. Although it was a fitting reward for opportunism, Hampstead could not by any stretch of the imagination be said to deserve a lead at half-time. But after that they never looked back.

When the teams crossed over Sherman, who had been holding his own in the distant corner, came into the picture. It may be that the "stand" side is the better to play on, but certainly that is where most of the big deeds are done. Miller, too, benefited by the change, and one of his passes, superbly manoeuvred, gave Neil a scoring chance which the centre-forward ought not to have missed. The half was more than twenty minutes old when Sherman received one of his first opportunities of the match. He used it brilliantly and after tricking several opponents in the cleverest possible way he sent the ball over to Smy, who had nothing to do but score. The third and fourth goals also came through the influence of the outside-right. In one case he placed a corner to Moody and the centre-half passed over to Moore, who finished the effort by neatly heading in. Then for the final goal he put over a splendid centre which three forwards missed before Smy managed to fasten on to the ball and send it between the posts.

Kingstonian never gave up trying, but the last whistle was about to blow when they obtained their only goal, Soper scoring with a hot drive.

Flattered to a certain extent by the result, Hampstead, nevertheless, deserved success for their persistence, and the result should act as a tonic to them in their future engagements.