After a lapse of close on three months Hampstead Town renewed their Athenian League engagements on Saturday, Enfield coming to Cricklewood-lane to receive their usual defeat. This time the margin in Hampstead's favour was 5-1, but Enfield must be regarded as unfortunate, the score over-representing Hampstead's superiority. In the first half, in particular, Enfield played a surprisingly strong game, and thirty-five minutes had elapsed before the home side scored the first goal. It was obtained by Bucci, who sent the ball into the corner of the net, following a scrimmage, after Hewitt, the Enfield goalkeeper, had once saved. A few minutes later Ashby, from a centre by Wise, scored the second goal with a fine effort, and the visitors crossed over two goals in arrears.

Play in the second half was well advanced before Hampstead increased their score, Reinke heading into goal from a nicely-placed corner by Bucci. Ashby scored the fourth goal with a magnificent shot from Wise's pass, the movement being initiated by Bucci, and in the closing stages R.L. Lane, at inside-right, scored for Enfield, and Reinke for Hampstead.

Hampstead had their usual team except that G.A. Margetts came into the side at left-back. H.G.M. Barnes just recently joined the Enfield club, after playing many good games for Hampstead, although it was impossible to find him a permanent place in the first eleven. On his form last Saturday, he will be of real service to Enfield. He marked Reinke in splendid style, and for a time was quite equal to Pease. Although the plans of the Hampstead forwards were often upset, the spectators - a sportsmanlike crowd - could not refrain from applauding the spoiler, and the popularity of Barnes was further shown in the second half, when he returned to the field after recovering from a knock-out blow with the ball. After that blow he was not his usual self, but played with a determination to make the defeat as light as possible.

It is not often that a side presses so much as Enfield did on Saturday and yet obtain but one goal. The credit is largely due to Goodwin, who held the fort in his best style; to Clarke, who made some miraculous clearances; and to the trio of halves, Wardlaw, Pease and Thorlby, of whom the last-named, the youngest of the three, was by no means the least effective, although Wardlaw had the strongest wing to face. Bucci did well at outside-left, Wise, as usual, giving him many opportunities to shine, and it was pleasing to see another youngster in Ashby scoring a couple of goals.

Enfield were well served by the defence. Dyson and Moss, who have been on several occasions picked for representative games, defending stubbornly, and we have already referred to the work of Barnes at centre-half. The forwards were a go-ahead lot, and their worth is not represented by just one goal. At times they set up a hot attack, and quite early in the game, when a free kick was awarded against Hampstead in the mouth of goal, the home players could not complain of their luck.

With the exception of Cheshunt, Hampstead have played fewer matches in the League than any club, so that their position in the table gives a somewhat false impression. Of eleven games they have won 8, lost 2, and drawn 1, with a goal average of 28-13. Even Redhill, who look like pulling off the championship, have lost 20 goals in a dozen matches, so that so far the defence has played its part in Hampstead's successes.