Hampstead met with their usual fate on the ground of Sutton United last Saturday. Victory went to the Surrey club by two goals to one, all scored in the second half, Hampstead finding the net through Shearcroft just on time. By losing this match Hampstead are deprived of the leadership of the Athenian League, Leyton taking first place, and there seems little possibility of the position being recovered.

Although victory went to Sutton by the narrowest of margins, they should have won by more goals on the run of the play. Hampstead's forwards could not get going, but the defence was in fine fettle, and it was a tribute to the work of Smith, Bucci and Parsons that there was a clean sheet at the interval.

Sutton fielded full strength for the first time for several weeks, but the absence of Owens necessitated a change in Hampstead's side.

Wardlaw, who captained Hampstead's side, was beaten in the spin of the toss, and it fell to the visitors to play the first forty-five minutes in the teeth of a strong wind and with the sun in their eyes. The wind and hard ground combined spoilt what would otherwise have been an ideal game between two well-matched teams. While it was particularly difficulty to play against the wind, both sides were handicapped, and the ball was often out of touch. In this half Sutton had four-fifths of the play, and Hampstead's defence has rarely been so sorely tried. Happily the backs were in good form, the work of Bucci being particularly commendable. He seldom made a miskick, and he was well supported by Parsons, who, happily, is regaining the form which made him such a tower of strength to Hampstead before he was injured. Nevertheless, an immense amount of work fell to Smith, who covered himself with glory. Now and again there was deft footwork by the Hampstead front line, but there was a tendency to keep the ball from the outside men. Vanner was clever, but his work would have been of more value had he given the ball more frequently to Sherman. Potter was of little help to Moore, who, however, did not make the best use of his chances when they came to hand. Sutton had quite a number of corner kicks, Parsons ballooning the ball a good deal, and once he turned a complete somersault in his attempt to save a goal. Sutton's right wing was very conspicuous, and one of Smith's best saves was from Long, the ball being tipped over the bar. Just on half-time Nightingale ought to have scored from a gilt-edged chance, this not being the first occasion that he had lost an opportunity.

Having held their own as far as goal-getting was concerned under adverse conditions, it was thought that Hampstead would break their long spell of ill-luck on this ground, but Sutton played a really good game in the second half and well deserved two goals, although the game might have taken a different turn had a penalty kick not been given against Hampstead. There was a doubt to its legitimacy, or the referee would not have consulted a linesman before ordering the spot kick to be taken. Smith saved Mason's shot, but the Sutton centre caught the ball on the rebound and drove it home. This goal came at the end of eight minutes. Strong efforts to recover lost ground were made by Hampstead, two corner kicks being nicely placed by Sherman, while, from a free kick just outside the penalty area, Vanner skimmed the crossbar. Sutton missed a number of chances, but fifteen minutes from time Smith put them further ahead after Levy had struck the post. After this the result was never in doubt, but there was a surprise after many had prepared for leaving. Shearcroft, who had not had too happy an afternoon, securing the ball from a passing partial clearance and finding the net.

Tomorrow Hampstead are the guests of Kingstonian, who are very poorly placed in the League table, but Hampstead will have to play much better than they did last week against Sutton to bring back two points. There was nothing much wrong with the defence, depite the absence of Webb and Owens, but the forwards were a disjointed set, and could not find the net until the last minute of the game. The side is unchanged for tomorrow's game.