Match Report

Hendon
1
Wycombe Wanderers
0
Date:
Saturday 23 January 1926
Competition:
FA Amateur Cup
Attendance:
3500
Venue:
Hampstead Town

Match Report

From the Hendon & Finchley Times, 22 January 1926 :

Owing to the unsuitable condition of the Child's Hill ground Hampstead were compelled to postpone their important Amateur Cup-tie with Wycombe Wanderers [on Saturday January 16th].

The referee, who visited the ground early on Saturday morning, declared it unfit, and this timely decision enabled the Hampstead officials to prevent a special excursion train bringing about one thousand supporters of the Bucks club on a fruitless journey.

The match will be played tomorrow (Saturday) at Child's Hill, kick-off 2.30. Extra time will be played if necessary.
_________________________________________________________________________________
From the Hendon & Finchley Times, 29 January 1926 :

By the narrowest of margins - the only goal of the match being scored at the end of twelve minutes' play - Hampstead Town gave their supporters a pleasant surprise on Saturday at Cricklewood-lane, where Wycombe Wanderers, who have been going very strong of late - their last defeat being on November 14th - were ousted from the Amateur Cup. The margin was small, but it must be remembered that while Wycombe were able to put a strong side in the field, three reserves were included in the Hampstead side, a great drawback in an important match. In place of Brazier (whose injury in the Finchley match is proving troublesome) S. Bloxham, a reserve half-back, filled the left-back position, J. Ashby replaced Nash at inside-right, and on the left wing G. Bucci took the place of Ball.

Despite threatening weather there was a gate of about 3,500. A big contingent came from Wycombe, and the stand was packed long before the match started.

The game was delayed thirty minutes, to the disappointment of the crowd, as after getting the players out the referee objected to the similarity of the visitors' colours with those of Hampstead. The rules provide that the visiting team must make the change, and as Wycombe were not provided for this emergency, hurried arrangements were necessary to equip them with white shirts. Their appearance in "spotless robes" a little after three was hailed with cheers. At one time it seemed doubtful if the match could be played to a finish. Fortunately the light held good, but the referee had taken the precaution to save a few minutes by refusing to allow the players to retire at the interval.

Considering the shocking state of the ground - regular frequenters know what the pitch is like after successive periods of snow, frost and rain - the game was a good one, but the visitors, accustomed to one of the best grounds in Buckinghamshire, probably suffered most by the conditions. Nevertheless, credit is due to Hampstead for winning against substantial odds. Even their most optimistic supporters thought a victory most improbable.

Wycombe were early aggressive, but Goodwin immediately demonstrated he was in good form. Then Musters saved a masterly shot, and a well-placed corner by Cousins was headed over. Hinton, who is a deadly shot, then tested Goodwin once again, but as play progressed Hampstead seemed to gather confidence, the fearless kicking by Bloxham helping tremendously. Bucks people are fond of giving players "pet" names, and Bloxham earned that of "Bullock." He was in no way perturbed, however, by the observations of the crowd. In a desperate scrimmage in the goal mouth, Bucci seemed likely to score, but although he was not successful he had the joy at the end of twelve minutes of sending in a centre which Cousins passed to Reinke, who rammed the ball home.

Encouraged by this success, Hampstead fully held their own, the forwards being conspicuous. Ashby, at inside-right, showed that the committee had acted wisely in giving him a trial, while Bucci, for a first-timer at outside-left in the premier eleven, was doing well with Wise. On one occasion Bucci gave Ashby a good chance, but he failed to turn it to account. Wycombe were inclined to adopt pattern-weaving methods, but finding such play unproductive Hinton encouraged a more open game, while at times he made solo efforts. Goodwin, however, came out on top when his goal seemed certain to fall. His clearances provoked cheering even from followers of the visiting side, who also admired the way in which he consistently put the ball over the half-way line following goal-kicks. Just on half-time Hinton made one of his best efforts, and Hampstead had very good reason to be satisfied when they changed over with a lead of one goal.

In the second half Hampstead proved quite equal to Wycombe in all departments. They were soon attacking, Ashby doing work which would in many cases have led to a goal. His cleverness with the ball was apparent even on a heavy ground, while he was not prone to selfishness. Reinke was troubled once with cramp and had to get relief from the trainer, but for the greater part of the game he surprised and even annoyed some of the Wycombe players by his dash. He made one or two single-handed runs, and Musters did well to tip one of his shots over the bar. Once or twice he failed painfully, but mistakes were bound to occur with players in a sea of mud. Goodwin was kept continually on the qui vive, and it speaks well for his custodianship that against such deadly shots as Hinton and Boreham he was able to keep a clean sheet. Just on time Wycombe forced two or three corners, and no one among the Hampstead supporters, we are sure, felt sorry when the game came to an end.

Pease was once again a great source of strength at centre-half, but taking the work of the eleven as a whole there was little to cavil about.

Hampstead Town

1
Ernie Goodwin
2
R S Clarke
3
Sid Bloxham
4
A Thorlby
5
Harold Pease
6
Bob Wardlaw
7
Sid Cousins
8
J H Ashby
9
Oscar Reinke
10
Cecil Wise
11
George Bucci

Match Events

13''
Oscar Reinke

Wycombe Wanderers

1
W J Musters
2
E Boreham
3
E Beeson
4
P Brooks
5
F Adams
6
F Gates
7
A Clarke
8
E C Druce
9
R G Hinton
10
R W Boreham
11
A W Fryer