Baldock Town fell heavily before Hampstead Town in the F.A. Cup competition at Cricklewood-lane, on Saturday, the score being 10-2 in favour of the home side. As Baldock had beaten Wealdstone in the same competition, it was expected that they would put up a close fight, but at no time did they appear capable of holding their own. They played pluckily, but were overwhelmed, and the only good purpose the match served, apart from providing Baldock with a share of a 2,500 gate, was to give the Hampstead forwards shooting practice. As they scored ten goals it might be imagined, as in some previous matches that have been won by substantial margins, that the forwards were in fine fettle, but had it been so they might have scored twenty goals. Many gilt-edged chances were missed, and with the exception of S.E. Cousins, at outside-right, it cannot be said that their football was sound. The goals were obtained by Reinke (5), Wise (2), Bush, Ball aand Pease, the last-named finding the net from a penalty kick. Baldock scored twice in the first half. The first goal came from a penalty kick, taken by W. Barker following hands against Clarke; and the second was the result of a long shot from the outside-left, A. Redding, which Goodwin should have saved. At that time the score was only 3-2 in favour of Hampstead, but before half-time they brought their total to five, and after changing ends added five others without response.

Baldock suffered through a weakness in goal, E. Barker being unable to do himself justice in consequence of an injury to his spine in a previous match. We doubt the wisdom of playing him, as he was even unable to take a goal kick, but possibly there was no reserve custodian to take his place.

There were four pairs of brothers in the Baldock team, which must be somewhat near a record. In the Hampstead side A. Thorlby played at right-half in place of H.G.M. Barnes, who was injured in the Barnet match, and proved a decidedly useful substitute.