Match Report

Uxbridge Town
4
Hendon
2
Date:
Wednesday 07 September 1927
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Uxbridge Town

Match Report

From the Hendon & Finchley Times, 9 September 1927 (including teams) :

On Wednesday evening Hampstead were the guests of Uxbridge Town in the Athenian League, and hopes that were entertained that they would gain their first victory of the season did not fructify, the home side winning by four goals to two after leading 3-1 at the interval. The figures were in accordance with the play, Hampstead being disappointing in the first half. They did much better on changing ends, even though the positions were necessarily reshuffled owing to an injury to Turner.

The absence of Parsons, Pease and Young was felt acutely, and there was no doubt about Uxbridge being a much better match-winning combination.

For some time neither goalkeeper was troubled, the first good shot from Hampstead coming from Anderson, who had cleverly trapped the ball, but it went straight to Tolson. A nice centre by Smith almost led to a goal, but Uxbridge, who played a much more open game than Hampstead, drew first blood at the end of a quarter-of-an-hour, a nice combined movement ending in Rounce finding the net. Hampstead looked like equalising through Howell, who, however, was just beaten by Tolson, who ran out to clear, and then, at the other end, Gudgeon made one bad mistake which might easily have cost his side a goal. Lomax also missed a glorious chance by sending the ball a few inches wide, but in the next minute he was well on the mark and Goodwin had a rare teaser to stop. At the end of twenty-five minutes the scores were equalised. Gudgeon put in a long shot which the goalkeeper only partially saved, and Smith accepted the opportunity offered to him. For the remainder of the first half Uxbridge were clearly the better side. The passing of the visitors lacked judgment, and more often than not the ball went to an opponent. Beeson and Streets played finely at the back, and the former had little difficulty in keeping Howell under control. With Turner getting injured the Hampstead defence was often in difficulties, and after Goodwin had done good work in a scrimmage, Uxbridge scored a second goal through Lomax. Goodwin, finding the backs well beaten, thought it wise to run out in the hope of averting diaster from the right wing, and Lomax, to whom a pass was made, found himself with an empty goal into which to shoot. Before the interval Uxbridge registered a third goal, Lomax being primarily responsible, although Goodwin actually carried the ball over the line in turning round.

In the second half Turner went to outside-left owing to an injury. Howell was his partner, Harvey played at left-half, and Wardlaw went to left-back. Different tactics were employed, a much more open game being exploited, and there was a vim about their work which was encouraging. For about twenty minutes they enjoyed quite a large share of the play, and reward at last came to them through Shearcroft, who was given the ball by Warren after a brilliant run. At this stage there were hopes that Hampstead would at least bring back one point, but Uxbridge rallied, and scored again through Rounce, who headed the ball past Goodwin following a free kick for hands.

From three matches Hampstead have gained only one point, and further changes in the team are inevitable. Goodwin again failed to give complete satisfaction, and we should not be surprised to see Trevers brought back into the first eleven. From all accounts he made some fine shows when the club toured in Germany at the end of last season, and while he may not make a strong kick he has a safe pair of hands. Bloxham did very well at back. He makes mistakes, but he is an untiring worker, and his rough and ready methods are disconcerting to opponents. Wardlaw was the best of the halves, he also did well at back. Anderson's work would be more profitable if he did not cling to the ball so tightly. Howell did not do much in the first half, but after change of ends, playing inside to Turner, he showed improvement. The problem before Hampstead's selection committee is to find a line of forwards who know how to shoot hard and straight and who will abandon pattern-weaving tactics.
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From the Uxbridge & West Drayton Gazette, 9 September 1927 :

In their third league game, and first home match, Uxbridge [Town] gained a meritorious victory by four goals to two over Hampstead on Wednesday evening.

It was a well-deserved win. For the first time Uxbridge showed the true team sprit, their display being in pleasing contrast to those against Barking and Barnet. They played a free, open game, were quick on the ball, and the shooting of the forwards left little to be desired. Rounce struck his true form as leader of the attack, and in addition to getting in many of those old-time deft touches, kept his wing men well-supplied with swinging passes, so that the Hampstead defence were kept always on the alert. He was well supported by Lomax - a very capable inside forward - and Redding, who was a fine opportunist, while Church and Fulford did well, though the latter was inclined to carry the ball too far up the wing before middling. Howarth was in good fettle, tackling and kicking with discretion, and the same remark applies to Ashby, who got through plenty of work. Gorman came in for Carey at left-half. He started somewhat shakily, but gained confidence as the game progressed, and gave little away. Both Beeson and Streets gave their best show of the season so far. The first-named was here, there and everywhere, while Streets was a model of coolness, and with his headwork served the side well. Tolson made a first appearance in goal through Twitchen being on the injured list. The Hampstead forwards saw to it that he had plenty of work, and he won unstinted praise for the capable way in which he did it. He made only one slip, failing to hold the ball which led to Hampstead's first goal, and brought off many fine saves. Uxbridge opened the score through Rounce, who headed in a cleverly placed centre from Church. Smith equalised after Tolson had pulled down a shot from the left, but Lomax, from Rounce, put Uxbridge ahead again, and scored a pretty third goal from Fulford's centre. Play in the second half was not quite so keen. Howell [Shearcroft actually] reduced the lead, but ten minutes from time Beeson placed a free kick beautifully for Rounce to head the fourth and last goal of a well-contested game.

Hampstead

1
Ernie Goodwin
2
C E Turner
3
Sid Bloxham
4
A Anderson
5
Bill Gudgeon
6
Bob Wardlaw
7
Reggie Warren
8
G H Smith
9
Harry Shearcroft
10
J E Harvey
11
George Howell

Match Events

G A Rounce
16''
26''
G H Smith
R M Lomax
35''
R M Lomax
40''
60''
Harry Shearcroft
G A Rounce
80''

Uxbridge Town

1
P Tolson
2
F E Beeson
3
L Streets
4
E J Ashby
5
G Howarth
6
J Gorman
7
W C Fulford
8
G C Redding
9
G A Rounce
10
R M Lomax
11
A Church