Match Report

Uxbridge Town
0
Hendon
2
Date:
Saturday 22 September 1928
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Uxbridge Town

Match Report

From the Hendon & Finchley Times, 28/09/1928, p.11 :

Hampstead have not picked up many League points away from home during the last two seasons, and therefore those won at Uxbridge on Saturday were very acceptable. They scored two goals to love, and throughout proved the better side, the result hardly reflecting their superiority. At Hampstead, on September 8th, Uxbridge lost by four goals to one, and have yet to win a League point. Several new men have come into their team this season, the latest recruit being W.E. ("Taffy") Harris, an erstwhile Hampstead man who has been lost sight of for a time. Hampstead seems a good recruiting ground for Uxbridge, seeing that they also have as playing members three other Claremont-road men in Goodwin, Barnes and Applebee, while it is rumoured that others who cannot find places in Hampstead's first eleven are migrating to Uxbridge Stadium.

Barnes was an absentee from last Saturday's game owing to an injury. Harris, at centre-forward, was not particularly impressive, but on heavier grounds he may prove useful. Applebee, too, was not at his best, but Goodwin, in goal, gave one of his finest displays, and, in conjunction with Hoare (right-back), must be given the credit for keeping the Hampstead forwards out after the first ten minutes. In the closing stages Goodwin completed a good afternoon's work by saving a penalty.

It will be seen [from the team below] that with the exception of A. Owens (left-back), Hampstead were at full strength. The return of Moody and Moore made a wonderful difference to the side, the centre-half being in brilliant form, and equal to any player on the field. If the wing halves would more consistently feed the wing forwards, then the Hampstead's first line of defence would, we think, be equal to that of any side in the Athenian League. Wardlaw retains his form in a wonderful degree, while no better move was made than that of giving Young a place at right-half instead of retaining him in the forward line. He is a tireless worker, and though on the small side, is not afraid of tackling an opponent.

The forwards were better together than in the previous match with Botwell Mission, but while there was some improvement in Neil's play, he does not shine in trapping the ball, and his marksmanship is often at fault. The others gave satisfaction, although Miller ought with advantage have seen that Sherman was given more oppportunities. So far he has not let the side down, and Miller, with his vast experience, might be more helpful to him.

In the first half Smy and Moore, helped by the halves, gave an exhibition of football which could not fail to draw cheers even from Uxbridge supporters. Ashby, the Uxbridge captain, who has received many honours, seemed utterly at sea in endeavouring to check their movements. Playing against the wind seemed no big obstacle to Hampstead, who kept the home defence well employed. Sherman put in one nice centre which was not profitable, and from another from the opposite wing the young outside-right shot by, but at the end of five minutes a combined movement by Moody, Neil and Smy led to the captain (Smy) beating Goodwin, the goalkeeper having no chance. Three minutes later he was again well beaten from one of Moore's many well judged centres.

At this stage a severe defeat for Uxbridge was presaged, but as it happened there was no further scoring, although Hampstead had the game well in hand. Uxbridge were seldom dangerous. Even Gatland failed to reproduce quite the form shown in the previous match between the teams, although he was the best of the bunch. Thanks to fine work by Webb, who had good support from Bucci, Smith was not often seriously tested. Once he looked like being beaten by Gatland, and his work in pushing the ball round the post was praiseworthy. Most of the danger to the home side came from the left wing, Moore, assiduously fed by Smy, sending across many centres. How Neil failed to convert one of these must have surprised Goodwin : the centre-forward had a hundred to one chance. Uxbridge improved as time went on, but never gave much cause for anxiety, and it was the general opinion that they were fortunate in not being more than two goals down at the interval.

In the second half play was on more even lines, the change in the formation of the Uxbridge side keeping Hampstead's left wing more in subjection. Gatland dropped back to right-half, and while this meant a weakening of the front line, it was a wise move. For a time the effect was not felt, Goodwin's charge undergoing a miniature bombardment. From a free kick taken by Moody, Goodwin did well to tip the ball over the bar, while a shot from Smy would probably have broken the net had it gone into goal instead of hitting the post. Smith was slightly injured while saving from Applebee, but the best opening of all was given to Trafford, who should have scored. In this half Sherman was given a little more work, and from one of his shots the ball rested on the goal net. Hoare, playing magnificently, saved the Uxbridge goal from falling time after time. Just on time Miller was fouled in the penalty area, and took the free kick himself, but Goodwin saved smartly.

The Hampstead team did not lack vocal support, and their followers found the victory quite refreshing after the many set-backs that have been received on the ground.
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From the Uxbridge & West Drayton Gazette, 28/09/1928, p.18 :

By defeating Uxbridge [Town] by 2-0 on Saturday Hampstead have secured the maximum number of points from the Reds, who have yet to win a league game.

Hampstead took command early and within eight minutes of the start had scored the two goals by which they won. They deserved their victory for their team work was much superior to that of Uxbridge, whose forwards, though industrious, failed to combine in anything like an effective manner. This was due, largely, to the cleverness of Moody, the Hampstead pivot, who dominated the game in the opening period, and played up well to Moore and Smy, whose brilliance on the left wing was an outstanding feature. After the first ten minutes the Uxbridge defence took a firmer grip on the opposition attack, and in the second half, with the team re-arranged, owing to an early injury to Copley, they had a fair share of the game but the forwards failed to take advantage of several good chances. The nearest they came to scoring was when Trafford had an opening from Applebee, and sent over the bar with only Smith to beat. The Uxbridge backs, particularly Hoare, played magnificently, as did Goodwin, who crowned a good performance by stopping a penalty shot as the game was nearing its end.

In the second half Copley went to outside right, and Gatland to right half, and while this change weakened the attack, the winger did splendid work in breaking up the combination of Moore and Smy that had caused so uch trouble in the first half. Ashby, who in this period played at centre half, also firmly held Moody, and fed the men in front of him judiciously, but neither Harris or Goodman was able to make use of their opportunities. When Smy scored the first goal he appeared to be offside. Moody sent the ball to Neil, who ran to the right to clear Lailey, and sent the ball back to Smy, who, standing a few yards out, scored easily. Three minutes later a clever bit of work by Smy and Moore enabled Miller to get the second.

Hampstead

1
Sid Smith
2
Freddy Webb
3
George Bucci
4
Freddy Young
5
Percy Moody
6
Bob Wardlaw
7
Freddie Sherman
8
Ted Miller
9
Billy Neil
10
Jimmy Smy
11
Stan Moore

Match Events

Uxbridge Town

1
Ernie Goodwin
2
J Hoare
3
C N Lailey
4
E J Ashby
5
A Copley
6
R R Hodges
7
W G Gatland
8
E R Applebee
9
W E "Taffy" Harris
10
H Goodman
11
W G Trafford