Hampstead gave their supporters the surprise of the season on Saturday by walloping Botwell Mission by six goals to two in the Middlesex Senior Charity Cup. The game attracted a big crowd to the Claremont-road ground, Cricklewood, and the football was of the bustling type with hardly a dull moment throughout the hour and a half. Several apparently risky experiments, due to the return of re-conditioned players and the introduction of substitutes for those who have temporarily lost their form, had been tried, and on paper the home team did not look strong enough to give cause for much optimism. Added to that the visitors - holders of the cup - came down with a 4-3 victory against Hampstead in September to their credit and a truly formidable record in the Spartan League and other competitions, so that on the whole the prospects of a local success were by no means rosy.

Little was done in the early stages of the match to dispel this discouraging feeling. The Missioners winning the toss kept their opponents on the defence for a good slice of the first half and the facility which their forwards displayed when on the move seemed an indication of trouble for somebody ere long. Indeed, when Long broke through a quarter-of-an-hour from the kick-off and scored an easy goal there was reason for thinking that it was the first of many, but the reverse had quite a different effect on the home eleven, who so far had not settled down to any sort of cohesive action. It proved the necessary stimulus for bringing the best out of a side whose potentialities were merely a matter for speculation, and soon Hampstead were producing a form and combination rarely, if ever, exceeded this season. The equaliser came twenty-five minutes after the start from Shearcroft, who had little difficulty in converting a fine pass by Deeks, and it was chiefly a superb display by Walter, in the visitors' goal, which prevented Hampstead from taking the lead before the interval.

Immediately after the change of ends, however, the well-earned advantage was gained, Shearcroft again being honoured in scoring from Smith's centre, and ten minutes later Howell emphasised the margin by gathering up a swift pass from the right flank. The second half had been in progress twenty-five minutes when Shearcroft with a beautiful drive secured his third of the day and the fourth for his side, and then the visitors, who had been practically over-run, were allowed to take a brief excursion, during which Gower, the sparkling centre-forward, reduced the odds with a long shot into one corner of the net.

With about a quarter-of-an-hour to go Hampstead had no reason to rest on the safety of a 4-2 lead, but a few moments afterwards Pease put the result almost beyond doubt by driving the ball through Walter's legs from a penalty awarded for a blatant case of hands on the part of one of the Botwell defenders. There seemed no limit to the enterprise of Hampstead at this stage, but the next goal turned out to be the last, Smith completing the bag ten minutes from the end with the best shot of the lot.

Hampstead received a well-deserved ovation on leaving the field, and it would be difficult to leave out any of the eleven when considering the contributions made to this splendid victory. Certainly Deeks did the best he has ever done for the club, his dashing breakaways and unerring centres providing many valuable openings. Smith was also in a particularly thrustful mood, and the two between them worked together with great skill and understanding. Shearcroft showed much resource at centre-forward, and Howell came into prominence, especially in the second half, for some good left-wing manoeuvring, while Harvey played a courageous game and was much more effective than he has been in the past. Pease had his time fully occupied in looking after the intrepid Gower, but he came through the ordeal with distinction, and both Bloxham and Anderson did inestimable service in the half line. Clarke's return at right-back was a popular and welcome event and he gave many glimpses of his old enterprise with Beckworth playing steadily by his side. Trevers' elevation from the Reserves proved a happy inspiration, his confident and unadventurous goalkeeping fully justifying his selection.