Hampstead have accomplished no better performance this season than that of beating Tufnell Park on Saturday by four goals to three in the Middlesex Senior Cup on the Tufnell Park Recreation Ground, and the sparkling football shown by the visiting club afforded an immense amount of pleasure to the large number of supporters. There have been few matches in which Hampstead have received so much vocal support away from home. It was hardly expected that the Park would be defeated, having regard to the position - the fifth - occupied by them in the Isthmian League table, but on the day's play the victory went to the better side, although it was touch and go until the very end. With the Park leading by a goal well in the second half and going strong, the prospects of Hampstead were not good, but they played throughout in most determined manner, and finding that the heavy state of the ground was not suitable to fancy work, followed the example set by their opponents of long passes to the wings.

Hampstead made three changes to the team that had done so well against Botwell Mission, and in each case the alteration tended to strengthen the side. Parsons reappeared at left-back, F. Centa, a reserve player, filled Wardlaw's old place at left-half, and J. Smy again partnered Howell.

Tufnell Park, having choice of ends, started in a manner that pointed to the fact that they would carry all before them. Applegarth, showing much cleverness and a fine turn of speed, soon caused Parsons much anxiety. However, he proved equal to the occasion, and when the match was over it could be said that he had never given a finer display for Hampstead. As Clarke gave him much support, Trevers was not greatly troubled. Hampstead forwards at length got going, and there seemed a prospect of Howell opening the scoring, but slow in getting in his shot, he was robbed. A more glaring error was made by Smy, who missed an open goal, and despite much good work on his part later, it seemed difficult to excuse his failure when a goal would have been such an inspiration. Fortunately, the team did not seem rattled, and caused play to be confined more or less to the Park end, the understanding on the left wing leading to many fine centres by Deeks, who controlled the ball in a masterly way. Shearcroft was a good leader of the line, and the manner in which they went for goal was very encouraging. The Tufnell Park forwards were equally good, until it came to the crucial point. Then the shooting was far off the target, and Trevers had by no means so many dangerous shots to save as did Dewick. Nice work by Anderson from a throw in led to Deeks hitting the posts, and although the right winger had in Ling a fine player to tackle, he was constantly getting the better of him. From a free kick for hands against Woosman (a cousin of the International player of that name), taken just outside the penalty area, Deswick saved grandly, but after several corners had been taken, there was another hot bombardment, and after the ball had struck the bar, Smith opened the scoring, amid terrific cheering from the Hampstead contingent, mostly gathered in the stand. The cheering had hardly subsided before it was seen that a penalty kick had been awarded to Hampstead, and f or the second week in succession Pease, acting as captain, found the net from the spot kick. Yet a third goal was to come within the space of five minutes, but this time it fell to Tufnell Park, Cawthorne having an easy passage through. Trevers was in a hopeless position, and was in no way to blame. After this the Park played up splendidly, but allowed many corners to be thrown away through poor place kicking. Trevers saved one or two good shots from the inside forwards,and just on the interval it seemed almost impossible that Shearcroft should fail to head the ball into the net, but luck was on the side of Dewick, who just managed to thwart the centre with his arm. Hampstead well deserved their lead of a goal at the interval, and their players came in for an ovation as they retired.

The standard of play fell off somewhat in the second half, but this was not surprising as the condition of the ground was getting worse and worse and rain fell heavily. Its state reminded Hampstead of what they had often experienced at Cricklewood-lane. However, the game was not without its exciting moments, first one team and then the other taking the lead. Howell was more effective than he had been in the earlier stages, and put in some fine centres, from which corners were forced. Generally speaking, these were well placed, and Shearcroft's head was very prominent in the final attacks. Realising the need of goals, the Tufnell Park forwards attacked violently, and were well backed up by the halves, one of the best shots coming from Woosman. This was a real test for Trevers, and the manner in which he shaped at shots from all angles brought confidence. Cawthorne concentrated a good deal upon Trevers, and upon every occasion when a goal kick was taken he rushed forward in the hope of disconcerting him. Pease took upon himself the task of acting as watch-dog, and as a result the referee felt bound to interfere. Fifteen minutes from the restart Cawthorne equalised the scores, the ball travelling at a terrific rate through the back of the net, and a minute or so later Tufnell Park took the lead for the first time through a fine shot by Bowles. In a never-say-die spirit Hampstead rallied splendidly, and from a well-timed pass by Deeks, Smith brought the scores level again, and after Shearcroft had just failed to head through from a free kick, Smith completed the scoring by performing his hat trick. Hampstead continued to hold the upper hand, and it was by the nearest shave that Smith failed to register another goal.

The whistle blew with the score 4-3 in favour of Hampstead, and no victory has brought greater joy this season. It was well deserved, as many of the Park supporters were prepared to admit, and it was all the more pleasing because it was the result of team work. No player was working for his own hand. Although not a strong kick, Trevers is shaping well in goal, and Centa, another of the younger players, came out of his first big match with honours. On the form shown in this match Hampstead would have been well in the running for the Athenian League championship instead of being practically at the foot of the table. In the next round they have to meet Southall, at Southall.