For the second time this season, Hampstead on Saturday conceded two Athenian League points to Sutton United, being beaten at Claremont-road ground, Cricklewood, by a penalty goal. The conditions were distinctly favourable to good football and there was a large crowd of spectators present in the hope of an afternoon's bright entertainment, but rarely has there been a game so singularly lacking in incident and interest. The first half was frightfully "tame", and it was not until well after the interval that things livened up at all. The only goal came twenty minutes from the start and was brought about as the result of a foul in the penalty area on Long, the visitors' outside-right. Bennett took the resultant spot-kick and scored with a shot which did not seem particularly difficult, although such occasions are always unnerving for a goalkeeper. Anyhow, Brown did not exert himself greatly in attempting to save it, and nobody seemed greatly pertubed as there was plenty of time left to wipe off the arrears. But Sutton stuck tenaciously to their lead and at no stage during the first half did Hampstead look like equalising. The only event of any real significance before the interval was an injury to Pease, who was carried from the field bleeding from a cut above one of his eyes, caused when he was trying to head the ball. He resumed just before the teams came in, after being absent about twenty minutes.

After changing ends the home side set about their task with grim determination and their opponents' goal was given several anxious moments. Five minutes from the resumption Smy raised the hopes of the local supporters by sending the ball into the net with a lovely drive from long range, but a disappointment occurred when the goal was disallowed for offside. This unfortunate experience was repeated ten minutes later when Smith stood offside to convert a fine opening by Pease. These two set-backs appeared to settle all Hampstead's chances of even sharing the spoils and neither goalkeeper was seriously troubled during the remaining exchanges, although corners were fairly frequent. It was evident from early on that the teams were excellently matched and as the game progressed it became still clearer that there was very little between them. Sutton undoubtedly had the better of the first half, but Hampstead were the more vigorous side in the second half, and viewing the game as a whole a draw would have been the best result.

Both teams were well served in defence. Brown brought off a number of smart saves and he was effectively covered by the backs, of whom Bloxham was especially enterprising. Anderson was the hardest worker in the half-line, but considering the disability he suffered owing to his injury, Pease gave a splendid performance. Smy was the pick of the forwards, but Howell might have achieved greater success had he been given more to do. The same cannot be said of Deeks, who had numderous oppportunities but was unable to turn them to account. Of the visitors Goddard, at right-half, was the star turn, and the right wing combination was a source of considerable danger.