From the Hendon & Finchley Times, 7 September 1923 :

Hampstead Town, who have a greatly improved team this season, gave such a fine display in their opening Athenian League game at Southall that they must be counted very unlucky in not at least sharing the points. Having got a workmanlike eleven together, their most urgent need would appear to be a lucky mascot, for throughout this match they enjoyed a large measure of attack, constantly putting in likely scoring shots, yet the home goalkeeper managed to save all but one splendid effort by K. Seabrooke. The Hampstead defence also operated well, but could not prevent the two goals scored against them, both being deserving efforts.

In the first half the experiment of playing F.G. Young at centre with K. Seabrooke at inside right did not work at all well, and a reversal of positions in the concluding stages made for effectiveness. Travers Day was so well guarded that he had little chance to shine on the wing, and the home side showed good generalship in defence throughout.

McCracken gave an improved display in goal, and had practically no chance with the two scoring shots. W.T. Field and W. Harry operated well at back, and of the halves R. Wardlaw was the least effective, and has yet to show his true form.

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From the West Middlesex Gazette, 8 September 1923 (including teams) :

Sunny and warm weather prevailed when Southall opened their Athenian League fixtures on Saturday with a visit from Hampstead Town to the Western-road enclosure, where two thousand spectators saw the home team make a promising start by defeating the visitors by 2-1 after a capital game that was fast and interesting throughout.

Southall made one alteration, D. Adamson going to outside left in place of A.C. Wilson, who was unable to play, and A. Pemberton was brought in to fill the inside berth. During even end to end play that marked the opening stages there were narrow escapes at both ends. Kelso made a good impression at first by the way he supplied Hunt with neat passes that enabled the winger to get going, and, though it took some time for Hunt to find his direction, he swung across one beauty that Alford failed to get to with his head and Pemberton mistimed at easy range. At the other end there was also a thrill when Holding smartly turned round the post a shot from Seabrooke. Hampstead Town began to have a little the better of the play, their forwards being fast and dangerous, with Kirby, whose centre had given Seabrooke the chance to try a shot, being particularly prominent. But Southall were sound in defence, Buttery being conspicuous in good work in which Stocks and the three halves ably did their share, Stocks being applauded for two smart stops. A smart clearance by Fidler near goal frustrated a dangerous thrust by Wise. Southall set up a series of spirited attacks, Hunt playing a leading part in their development, but bad markmanship rendered them fruitless, first Kelso and then Pemberton sending over the bar from excellent positions. Pemberton made a better attempt with a ground shot that narrowly missed the posts and called upon McCracken to save another. Play continued fast and keen, with each end undergoing alternate pressure, Hampstead responding with a vigorous attack that ended in Seabrooke heading inches wide of the posts, with Holding, who had unsuccessfully tried to punch away Kirby's centre, out of goal. Six minutes before the interval, after McCracken had smartly saved from Kelso and Harry had cleverly robbed Alford, Pemberton snapped up an opening presented by a pass from Alford and drove in a hard cross ground shot that sped under McCracken as he fell in an effort to save. In the next minute Holding was called upon to save in a hot tussle round the Southall goal. Southall again pressed strongly and McCracken punched out a good shot from Pemberton. Alford failed to improve on a capital centre from Hunt, but immediately after made a good run, and though forced outward, contrived to get in a hard shot from a diificult angle, McCracken dropping the ball but recovering and clearing. Half time : Southall, 1 : Hampstead Town, 0.

Hampstead Town opened the second half with a vigorous onslaught and after five minutes' play, from a centre by Kirby, Seabrooke equalised with a shot from twenty yards out, the ball slipping through the arms of Holding, who, though troubled by the sun, had seemed to gather the ball safely. Except for a nice attempt to break through by Pemberton, who, however, shot hastily and wide, the Southall forwards were being held in check, and the home defence was soon being hard pressed again by the strong attacks by the Hampstead front line. Holding adroitly turned round the posts a ground drive from Young and Wenham was fortunately on hand to kick away from the goal line after Holding had been compelled to run out and leave the goal vacant. Further good attempts were made by the visitors, Lewis Smith narrowly missing with a vigorous drive and Wardlaw having a fast shot well saved by Holding. Commencing with a capital run and centre by Hunt, from which Adamson sent over the bar with a well-tried header, the Southall attack became more active and aggressive and the Hampstead goal in turn became subjected to hot pressure. Hunt, securing possession near the centre, manoeuvred for position and deserved a better fate for a splendid shot that missed the top corner only by inches. A miskick by Fidler let through Kirby but Buttery came across promptly and put him off his shot which went wide. Twelve minutes from the end a perfect centre along the carpet by Hunt left Pemberton with the goal at his mercy. He made no mistake, beating McCracken for the second time with a fast and well-directed ground shot. The home defence became shaky towards the end and Hampstead's determined efforts to equalise seemed likely to succeed, but, after Holding had punched out for a corner a fine shot by Wise, the defence regained control and Southall were again pressing when the whistle went for time. Result : Southall, 2 ; Hampstead Town, 1.