Hampstead won their first match of the season on Saturday at Cheshunt, which has never been a happy-hunting ground. It is true that they had only a goal in hand, and had the match continued for another quarter-an-hour the verdict might have been in favour of Cheshunt, so well were they playing in the closing stages, but at the same time Hampstead must be congratulated on picking up two Athenian League points on a ground where they have so often been defeated. Taking the game throughout, they deserved to win. The only weak spot on the visiting side was at right-back, Margetts being unable to cope with a left wing of above average merit.

The selection of the Hampstead team was left until the eleventh hour, and when the players took the field it was found to differ in three places from that which appeared on the programme, Bloxham, Gudgeon and Shearcroft being replaced by Margetts, Pease and Ryding.

The winning of the toss by Wardlaw gave no advantage to his side, there being an absence of wind and sun, but at the beginning of the game Hampstead took matters in hand, Ryding distributing the ball well to the wings and keeping the line nicely together. Smith (an old Cheshunt player) seemed very anxious to shine, and co-operated well with Warren, from one of whose centres Howell shot outside. Warren himself was fast and tricky, and some of his work deserved better results. Ryding just failed to take advantage of a nice pass by Warren, who had cleverly beaten Cooper, but the enterprising centre-forward was responsible for the first goal, obtained at the end of about ten minutes. It came from a very fast shot just outside the penalty line, a free kick being given for a foul on Howell. Miles was completely beaten.

After this reverse Cheshunt showed improvement. Haynes, who is captain of the Hoddesdon side, being often dangerous. He missed a splendid chance after Goodwin had run out, but his next effort was of a tip-top order, and Goodwin, whose form inspired more confidence than it had done previously, did well to save. At length, however, Haynes, from a pass by Fox, equalised the scores.

The game continued to run on even lines, play veering from end to end, neither goalkeeper being long idle. Many chances, however, were missed, the forwards of Cheshunt being perhaps more at fault than the visiting attackers. Harper and Halfhide had good openings, and at the other end Ryding should have scored. However Hampstead got a lead of 3-1 before half-time. From a corner kick Ryding obtained the second goal, and the other came from the foot of Warren.

In the second half the two sides contested every inch of the ground, and it was really a fight worth watching. At the beginning Hampstead attacked, but Wicking and Ray defended dourly, and one save by Miles from Ryding was most praiseworthy. Howell missed a gilt-edged chance, but after Cheshunt had taken a turn at attacking - work which revealed that Goodwin had not lost his goal-saving powers - Ryding gave Howell an opportunity to steer the ball into the net, thus making the scores 4-1.

Then we saw Cheshunt at their best. Goodwin had ever to be on the alert, one of the best shots dealt with being from Halfhide. At length he was beaten by Cullen, a young centre who was a substitute for Judd, following a scrimmage. It was strongly contended by some of the Hampstead players that the ball had been punched into goal, but after a consultation with the linesmen the referee allowed the point.

Hampstead did not allow themselves to be ruffled by the incident, and had a fair share of the play, but Cheshunt were in a desperate mood, and when Harper scored a third goal the excitement was intense and there were visions of a drawn game, if not a victory for Cheshunt. Hampstead, however, rallied, and prevented further disaster.

The sides, as the score [of 4-3] indicates, were well matched. The number of free kicks was unprecedentedly large for an Athenian League match, but the penalties were mainly for minor offences. Of the Hampstead side Goodwin, Parsons, Wardlaw and Ryding stood out prominently, and for Cheshunt Miles, Wicking, Cooper and Haynes were conspicuous.