Match Report

Hendon
5
Uxbridge Town
4
Date:
Saturday 02 April 1927
Competition:
Middlesex Charity Cup
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Hampstead

Match Report

From the Hendon & Finchley Times, 8 April 1927 (including teams) :

Hampstead have once again won their way into the final of the Middlesex Senior Charity Cup by virtue of a win over Uxbridge Town at Claremont-road on Saturday, and will now have the pleasure of meeting Barnet in the final on May 7th.

Hampstead reached the same stage last season, but went under to Botwell Mission in the final on September 1st (the match being delayed owing to the general strike) by four goals to three.

The win against Uxbridge by five goals to four, as the figures will indicate, was only secured after a desperate struggle. On two occasions during the match Hampstead were two goals behind, and the manner in which they pulled the game out of the fire caused immense pleasure to one of the largest crowds of the season.

Hampstead had twice this season gone under, somewhat heavily, to Uxbridge in League games, and this victory somewhat gilded a bitter pill. Once again Clarke was unable to appear at right back for Hampstead, but the re-appearance of Smy in the forward line had a telling effect.

Wardlaw, with his usual good fortune, won the toss, and Hampstead had the benefit of the wind in the first half. Right from the start it was seen that both sides had difficulty in controlling the ball, and the heavy rain at intervals was responsible for much miskicking. Uxbridge were soon in the picture, Dutton heading by, and a little later Trevers, with sound judgment, cleared in the nick of time, but as time went on Hampstead more than held their own, Anderson and Deeks being conspicuous. Shearcroft, busy as usual with his head, made one or two good attempts to find the net, and Hampstead well deserved to take the lead at the end of ten minutes, Smith scoring with a fine shot which Twitchen just handled, but failed to stop.

Uxbridge, playing in determined fashion, soon equalised, as after Fulford had made a fine effort Dutton sent in a shot which took effect. Trevers apparently was under the impression that the whistle wouuld be sounded for hands against one of his own side, and seemed to make no effort to save the shot. A minute or so later Rounce, from Fulford's centre, put Uxbridge ahead, so that Hampstead's joy was short-lived. Smy, however, restored the fortunes of the home side with a fine goal, and with the sides on equalising terms there was a fine struggle for the lead. Uxbridge bombarded the Hampstead citadel, Yates, Rounce and Redding in succession directing shots at goal, but the tension was at last relieved. After a free kick against Bloxham just outside the penalty line had been cleared, Hampstead took up the attack, and Smy missed a good chance after Twitchen had fumbled the ball. Several corners were forced, but the visiting defence was sound. Just before the interval Dutton made an opening for Rounce, and that brilliant opportunist, whose work was much admired, gave Uxbridge the lead for the second time, the teams crossing over with the score 3-2 in favour of Uxbridge.

The chances of Hampstead winning seemed none too favourable at this time, seeing that the visitors had the weather conditions in their favour, and there were some who thought it not unlikely that Uxbridge would repeat their recent victory of 6-2. There was justification for this foreboding when a minute or so from the re-opening Rounce, after missing with one shot, scored a brilliant goal from a pass by Yates, this completing his hat trick. At this point things were at a low ebb for Hampstead, but they recovered in a remarkable manner, largely through the efforts of Howell, the left-winger, who had a hand, or foot, in three goals which served to give Hampstead an unexpected victory. Shearcroft scored one of these goals from Howell's centre, and the other two were scored by Howell himself.

The excitement of the crowd as the fortunes of the game fluctuated was extended to the players, many chances being thrown away through lack of coolness. Both sides were at fault. The equalising goal was received with enthusiasm, but it was as nothing compared with the shout that went up when Deeks, meeting the ball with his head, sent the ball right in front of goal, and thus enabled Howell to bring victory to his side. Uxbridge did not mean to go under without an effort, and in the closing stages they were often in the vicinity of Trevers. Dutton made a fine attempt with his head, and once when Rounce had the goal practically at his mercy Hampstead had to thank Wardlaw for a splendid clearance.

It was one of the best contested games seen on the ground this season, and although a good deal of discomfort must have been felt by those who were not under cover, all local supporters went away pleased with the afternoon's sport. The victory was some compenastion for many disappointments, and although it is realised that in meeting Barnet it will not be easy to secure the trophy (which they have before held), hopes are entertained that the season will end with a victory over their old rivals, against whom they have not fared so badly in the last year or two.

In the game last Saturday Parsons, Pease, Deeks and Howell were the pick, and Uxbridge were served particularly well by Howarth, Rounce, and Fulford.
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From the Uxbridge & West Drayton Gazette, 8 April 1927 (including teams) :

Twenty minutes from the end of the game at Hampstead last Saturday Uxbridge [Town] seemed likely to repeat their meritorious performance of three weeks back. They were then leading by four goals to two and seemed to have the game well in hand. Whether they slackened off or Hampstead had been keeping something "up their sleeve" it is difficult to say, but the fact remains that the home team quickly added three goals and snatched a surprising victory by 5-4, despite a desperate rally by Uxbridge in the last few minutes.

It was a game in which the tide of fortune ebbed and flowed in remarkable fashion; a game in which some amazingly easy scoring chances were missed in an unaccountable way, and a game in which some glaring mistakes were made.

Uxbridge lost the toss and as a result had to battle against the strong wind and rain, severe handicaps these with the ball very greasy and the ground treacherous. Opening play was keen and even. Both keepers were in action in the first three minutes, Twitchen saving from Shearcroft and Smy, and Trevers from Rounce, while Dutton headed inches wide. Hampstead made ground through their wingers, and opened the game up well, but Uxbridge were inclined to keep the ball close. Hampstead scored first. Smith received from Deeks and shot hard and true and though Twitchen stopped the ball in the angle of the goalposts, he failed to hold the ball, which dropped over the line. The Reds were on terms three minutes later, when, following good work by Yates, Rounce slipped the ball to Dutton, who sent in a swift carpet drive which was a scorer all the way. In less time than it takes to tell, Uxbridge secured the lead from one of those flashes of delightful combination that the right wing often shows. Ashby sent Fulford away with a brilliant pass, and the winger's first-time centre was cleverly met by Rounce to score a pretty goal. Howarth, the Uxbridge pivot, scored the second goal for Hampstead. This usually safe header jumped to a shot from Smy, but instead of getting the ball away he deflected it past Twitchen. Later in the game he "all but" repeated the performance! Many hot and exciting attacks by both sides followed, and the defences worked extremely well. During a melee it seemed that the home goal must fall. Three times the Uxbridge men appeared to have it at their mercy, but on each occasion Trevers got in the way of the ball. Just before the interval the Reds took the lead, Dutton putting the ball through to Rounce, who, shaking off Pease and Bloxham, beat Trevers with an easy shot.

Uxbridge forced the pace on the resumption, and ere long Yates centred for Rounce to add a fourth goal, and Redding nearly got a fifth, his cross shot scraping the upright in passing by. So firmly were the Reds holding their opponents at this stage that Hampstead were seldom in Twitchen's vicinity but Pease then pulled his men together and Howell, who had done little in the first half, was very prominent on the left wing. From one of his centres Shearcroft reduced the arrears, and then Hampstead played up with surprising energy. They forced three corners in rapid succession. These were cleared, but later Twitchen came out to a shot by Smy, failed to clear, and the ball was tapped to Howell, who shot into an empty net. A determined struggle for the winning goal ensued. From a free kick close in Carey narrowly missed, and Fulford could hardly have failed to convert a centre by Yates had he not slipped as he was on the point of shooting. Dutton also came very near. The luck, however, was Hampstead's, and Howell did the trick from a middle by Deeks. Uxbridge redoubled their efforts but without success, and the end came with Hampstead the winners.

Hampstead

1
Jimmy Trevers
2
Sid Bloxham
3
Albert Parsons
4
A Anderson
5
Harold Pease
6
Bob Wardlaw
7
G P Deeks
8
G H Smith
9
Harry Shearcroft
10
Jimmy Smy
11
George Howell

Match Events

11''
G H Smith
H Dutton
13''
G A Rounce
15''
25''
Jimmy Smy
G A Rounce
42''
G A Rounce
47''
60''
Harry Shearcroft
65''
George Howell
75''
George Howell

Uxbridge Town

1
A Twitchen
2
F E Beeson
3
H H Allwright
4
E J Ashby
5
G Howarth
6
R J Carey
7
W C Fulford
8
G C Redding
9
G A Rounce
10
H Dutton
11
F A Yates