Hampstead suffered their usual reverse at the hands of Barking Town on Saturday at Claremont-road before a big crowd. Last season Barking won both games by an odd goal. On this occasion they repeated the dose, a verdict of three goals to two in their favour giving them League points. There were one or two changes in the Hampstead team from that which drew with Summerstown.

The game was of a sensational character, Barking (the Amateur Cup finalists) getting all their goals, mainly through the opportunism of Weller, at centre-forward, before Hampstead had really settled down. Not one of them ought really to have been scored, the home defence being to blame. After Hampstead had opened the attack, and had given some promise of making a good fight, Lucas, a fast and tricky player, got away on the left wing, and his centre was tapped into the net by Weller, the ball passing through Goodwin's legs. Within a minute or so another goal was scored, Parsons miskicking at a spinning ball, and allowing Weller an opportunity to score, of which he was not slow to take advantage. Continuing to press, the Barking forwards gave Goodwin much anxiety. He saved many good shots, but was at length beaten again by Weller. On this occasion the goalkeeper was unsighted. It was a fine individual effort on the part of Weller that secured this goal, and he is to be congratulated on doing the hat trick in so short a space of time.

After this third reverse Hampstead came into their own, and by dint of hard work reduced the lead before the interval, Harvey heading a beautiful goal from Young's centre. It was a fine piece of work, McCracken, who had been very safe in goal, having no chance to save. From a long pass by Pease, Harvey almost headed through again, and at this stage of the game Hampstead were well on top although the visiting defence was not to be beaten. It seemed likely that the balance against Hampstead would be further reduced when a free kick was awarded just outside the penalty area, but nothing tangible resulted, Harvey being penalised for fouling the goalkeeper. Warren had some good chances, but his shots lacked power, and it was to Young that most of the spectators looked for goals. A first-time shot by Wardlaw almost grazed the goal-post, and from a well-placed corner there was a bombardment of the Barking goal, but McCracken proved equal to the occasion. Jjust on the interval a free kick was awarded against Hampstead in the mouth of goal because Goodwin was guilty of carrying the ball too far, but the trickery of Barking was of no avail.

In the second half Hampstead had the greater part of the attack, and had the forwards been more in harmony with one another Barking would have had a bad time. The defence of the home side improved immeasurably, Parsons, in particular, breaking up many attacks, and the Hampstead forwards were favoured with many opportunities. The outlook was bright when soon after the restart Smith, with a brilliant shot, drove the ball into the corner of the net from a well-placed centre by Howell, but the left-winger a little later missed one of the best chances that had come to hand. Receiving from Smith almost in the centre of the field, he got well away, but with apparently no one to face but McCracken he sent the ball over the bar.

Warren deserved a goal with a low ground shot which McCracken just happened to scoop aside for a corner kick, and Young, who was laid out for a few seconds, made one or two valiant efforts to bring the scores level, but the final whistle went with Barking in possession of the points.

Barking have a fine team and should do well in the League. McCracken, who was often unreliable when playing for Hampstead - his fatal errror in an important Cup-tie at Uxbridge will not readily be forgotten - played a fine game, and the fact that he retains his place in the team shows that his worth is appreciated at Barking. The club has a sound pair of backs, a capital centre-half in Vango, while as a line their forwards were superior to the Hampstead five, if not in individual work.

Parsons, Wardlaw, Pease and Young were the pick of the Hampstead basket.