Match Report

Hendon
3
Southall
2
Date:
Saturday 08 March 1924
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Hampstead Town

Match Report

Beaten by two goals to one in the early part of the season at Southall, Hampstead Town managed to turn the tables on their old rivals at Cricklewood-lane on Saturday, the score of three goals to two reflecting the play. At one time Hampstead Town seemed destined to win easily, as they not only held a lead of three goals, but the visitors had been deprived of the services of A. Vance, one of their best forwards. As in several recent matches, however, a little slackening on the part of Hampstead Town was apparent, and when Southall had reduced the margin to a goal, there was great excitement. The visitors, however, could not maintain the pressure, and in the concluding stages Hampstead narrowly missed netting on several occasions, T. Holding keeping goal finely. While the ground record was not beaten, it was the largest crowd at a League match this season, there being added interest in the game by reason of the fact that the clubs are paired in the semi-final of the Middlesex Senior Cup, to be played on March 29th.

Hampstead placed in the field their usual team, and there were two changes in the advertised Southall side, Ryding taking the place of Clark in the front line, and Wenham appearing at half vice Gunnell. Owing to the unavoidable absence of the appointed referee, Mr. H.G. Tyler, one of the neutral linesmen held the whistle.

Hampstead took the offensive at the start, Howell, on the extreme left, outwitting Buttery frequently, but his final shots were not as well directed as usual, probably due to the heavy state of the ground. Indeed, most players had difficulty in lifting the ball, and many well-intentioned passes went awry. Some of the best work was done on Hampstead's right, Travers Day frequently showing a clean pair of heels to the defence, Young making him an ideal partner. On Southall's side most danger came from the left wing, Carter and Vance combining nicely, but Alford, in the centre, was too closely watched to be really dangerous. On one occasion, however, he had a gilt-edged chance, and Ryding, at inside-right, was once badly at fault. Corners fell to both sides, but a quarter of an hour had passed before the first goal came, Young scoring from a splendid pass by Wise. Play then veered in favour of Southall, but Harry and Field defended valiantly, while Little gave a particularly good display. Harry is an old-time Southall player, and being acquainted with his opponents' methods he put an end to many promising movements, Alford often being outwitted. Taking the general run of the game, however, Hampstead ought to have been more than one up at the interval. Holding must be credited with making splendid saves, but much of the finishing work of the Hampstead forwards was weak.

Appearing in the second half with a weakened forward line owing to the absence of Vance, Southall's prospects did not look favourable, but Alford had found his bearings and was always a thorn in the flesh of Hampstead's defence. His individualistic work was commendable, and the home side had a troublesome ten minutes. Recovering, however, Hampstead obtained two goals through Wise, both from centres by Travers Day, who was in excellent form, and with the score 3-0 in their favour supporters of Hampstead Town were on good terms with themselves. In a never-say-die spirit Southall exerted every ounce of energy and thanks to Alford, who scored two goals, the first from Carter's centre, and the other by bursting through the defence, the result was left open particularly as Howell had to leave the field. His absence, fortunately, was of short duration, and in the concluding stages Hampstead more than held their own, although they could not add to their total. On the whole it was a good game bearing in mind the state of the ground, which suffered through being played upon in midweek, and, seeing that the teams are old rivals, it was pleasantly contested.

[Note: the report published in the West Middlesex Gazette is currently unavailable.]

Report by Hendon & Finchley Times

Hampstead Town

1
E T McCracken
2
W T Field
3
W G Harry
4
Bill Little
5
Lewis Smith
6
Bob Wardlaw
7
Travers Day
8
Freddy Young
9
Kenneth Seabrooke
10
Cecil Wise
11
George Howell

Match Events

16''
Freddy Young
60''
Cecil Wise
65''
Cecil Wise
B Alford
75''
B Alford
80''

Southall

1
T Holding
2
E Buttery
3
H Gower
4
R Wenham
5
E Fidler
6
T Strevans
7
A J Hunt
8
F Ryding
9
B Alford
10
A Vance
11
M Carter