By seven goals to one - the number might have been 17 if the shooting had been what should be expected from an Athenian League club against a weakling - Hampstead emerged from their F.A. Cup-tie on Saturday at Claremont-road before a good crowd. The fact that they led Waltham Comrades by a couple of goals at the end of eight minutes may have caused them to be indifferent, but in a Cup-tie it does not do to trifle with opponents, and when, at the expiration of twenty minutes, Goodwin was beaten by Crutchley, there was naturally a little anxiety as to what might happen, because the fright given by Berkhamsted Town just a year ago had not been forgotten. However, just on half-time Hampstead got another goal, and put on four more in the second half without response, the Waltham boys being clearly outplayed, although they never gave an indication that they were downhearted. They received much encouragement from a little band of supporters from Hertfordshire, while those who naturally wished Hampstead to make further progress were swift to appreciate any good movements by the visitors.

The game was not two minutes old before Ryding, from a pass by Young, beat Boswell, and the Hampstead centre-forward had hard luck in not getting a second directly afterwards from capital work by the inside men and Young. However, at the end of eight minutes, Smith, following up a long kick by Allwright, again found the net, Boswell, apparently thinking the ball was travelling outside, making no attempt to save. He was not the only one to be surprised ; many of the spectators were unaware that Smith had been successful until the ball was placed in the centre. This was Boswell's only serious mistake ; despite the number of goals scored, he did excellent work.

Hampstead continued to press, and although a number of the shots lacked sting and others were ill-directed, Boswell had a real gem from Smy, who was the most aggressive of the forwards. With advantage he might have distributed the ball more, but his work compelled admiration. Gradually, however, the visitors got going, and a good pass by Nicoll enabled Crutchley to score, the movement emanating from a free kick for an infringement of the throwing-in rule. The Hampstead wing halves must be more careful in this respect. This disaster made Hampstead realise that the game was not safe, but although much pressure was exercised, the Comrades seldom beating the home backs, it was not until almost the last kick before changing over that Howell got a third goal for Hampstead. Immediately prior to that Goodwin was in difficulties, and it looked as though the teams might cross over on level terms. Up to this time the superiority of the Hampstead team was apparent, but their football was of too delicate a type. The ball was not swung sufficiently from wing to wing. On several occasions, however, they had exasperating luck, and had the control of the game been in the hands of a particularly strict referee, two penalties might reasonably have been given against the Comrades for handling the ball.

In the second half Hampstead continued to play pretty but ineffective football. Boswell had a penchant for fisting the ball out with one hand, and some of his saves were of a daring character. After a quarter-of-an-hour Smy got a goal of the tip-top order, the ball going in touching the top of the net at a terrific rate. Coming from a pass by Ryding, it was the best goal of the match. After that all doubts as to the result vanished. Pease had had many pots at goal without success, but one of his long shots was deflected into the net by a Waltham back ; Ryding scored the sixth goal from a rebound, and the seventh, and last, came from Smy following a shot by Smith.

The visitors proved a sportsmanlike side, and should do well in less-exalted circles. In addition to Boswell, Thorpe and Munns were serviceable players. For Hampstead, Parsons, Wardlaw and Smy were prominent, and with the introduction of Allwright the defence has been materially strengthened. When a team scores seven goals one hesitates to be too captious about the forward line, but we question whether those responsible for the selection of the Hampstead team are completely satisfield with the results up to date.