Match Report

Southall
1
Hendon
2
Date:
Saturday 19 November 1921
Competition:
FA Amateur Cup
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Southall

Match Report

From the Hendon & Finchley Times, 25 November 1921 :

Hampstead [Town] in visiting and defeating Southall by two goals to one in the divisional final of the Amateur Cup put up a good performance, and whilst retaining one record achieved another. After five visits in recent seasons to the Southall ground in cup and league games, they have yet to sustain defeat there, and they have never before passed this stage of the Amateur Cup competition. They displayed marked superiority in brisk opening exchanges, when their opponents were inclined to unorthodox methods, and from a resultant free kick L.G. Vance opened Hampstead's score somewhat luckily, the ball bouncing into the net from an upright. Subsequently R. Kirby increased the lead with a grand shot following good combinational play. T.E. Holding, W. Harry, and E. House proved a fine defensive triangle for the home side, for whom Clark and Champion were unlucky not to score with good shots, only the brilliance of C.B. Evans saving the Hampstead citadel.

Following change of ends and with a stiffening breeze rendering valuable aid, Southall played up strongly and made many dangerous attacks. E. House failed with a penalty kick, which rebounded from the cross-bar; but later Champion scored with Evans out of his charge. Southall, however, despite playing strenuously and well, could not get on terms.

T.E. Holding in goal for the homesters, and W.E. Brewer, right half for Hampstead, were the best men on their respective sides. Lewis Smith, who came to Hampstead from Northampton, filled the vacancy caused by the absence of S. Howard injured, and although out of his position showed sufficient promise to justify his selection.

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From the West Middlesex Gazette, 26 November 1921 :

A record crowd on the Western-road ground on Saturday saw Southall lose to Hampstead Town after a strrenuous and exciting struggle by 2-1 in the last qualifying round of the Amateur Cup. Southall's defeat was chiefly due to the weakness of the forwards in front of goal when scoring opportunities came in he second half, after Hampstead Town had had much the better of the first half's play and led at the interval by 2-0.

Southall lost the toss and kicked off facing a difficult cross wind. Hampstead opened at a fast pace and were early dangerous, Kirby finding the net after being given offside. A pretty pass by H. Knight sent Robertson away and a perfect centre along "the carpet" came to Champion, but Brooker tackled and the ball came weakly to Evans who cleared. The opening play was fairly even, and quickly veered from end to end. Hampstead Town gradually asserted a superiority that they held to the interval. Their team work - the close understanding between each department - was far above Southall's; while their forwards were smart and played clever combination in comparison to which the efforts of the home quintette appeared loose and disjointed. The home defence were very sound, Harry particularly being responsible for some fine clearances. Hampstead opened the scoring after eight minutes' play. A free kick out near the touch-line, given against Fidler for "jumping", was taken by Vance, who, with a powerful kick, sent the ball across the goal to hit the further post and go in, Holding being deceived by the flight of the ball. After Southall had attacked, and Champion been frustrated in an attempt to get through, Hampstead resumed the offensive and Harry headed on to Kirby who went through, but Holding smartly saved his shot. Southall were strongest on the left wing, where Robertson put in several good runs. During one of these he was fouled and from the free kick Champion neatly headed in but Evans was alert and cleared without difficulty. The visitors now had a monopoly of the play and it was only the soundness of the home defence that kept them from scoring on several occasions. Holding gave a fine display in goal and saved good shots from Wise and Kirby. Kirby was brought down just outside the penalty area by what appeared to be a perfectly legitimate tackle by H. Knight, but the referee, who frequently pulled up the game for purely technical fouls, awarded a free kick. Taking the kick, Kirby shot tamely outside. A long kick by Dunstone deceived House and Wise ran through and got his head to the ball as it bounced, but was prevented by Howarth from accurately placing his header and Holding was able to save. Champion left the field for a time with an injured ankle. The home forwards livened up and Clark, after working his way through, had his shot diverted into the corner of the goal by Brooker, but Evans got to the ball and cleared. Hampstead's second goal was scored after thirty minutes' play. Kirby received the ball in the centre, and, while Southall stopped to appeal strongly for offside, beat Holding with a well-directed shot. In the next minute Holding at full-length, punched out a fast low drive that came as a surprise from Briscoe. Briscoe was again active and from his centre White beat Holding with a header, but Fidler kicked out on the goal line. Southall improved towards the close of the half, but weak finishing spoilt their chances. The best effort came from Champion, a splendid swerving shot being saved by Evans from just under the bar. From one of several excellent crosses from Robertson, Clark had a difficult chance from an angle, but shot wide. Norton, on the opposite wing, twice got away, but on each occasion centred behind. A corner kick by Robertson was ably dealt with by Evans from under the bar, and a header by Champion was smartly cleared.
Half-time : Southall, 0 ; Hampstead Town, 2.

Southall attacked strongly from the restart and infused a good deal of energy into their play. Their dash and bustle had the effect of completely upsetting the visitors' game and Hampstead Town were never so good in the second half as they had been in the first. For the first twenty minutes the Hampstead goal was subjected to an almost unbroken pressure, only one breakaway from the visiting forwards taking place during this period. Five minutes after the interval Champion was fouled in the penalty area and a place kick was awarded. House failed to convert the kick, hitting the crossbar, the rebound being cleared. The Hampstead defence was hard pressed, and during a warm time round the goal Southall made a fruitless appeal for hands in the penalty area. Another melee that followed another centre from Robertson ended with the ball being kicked out for a corner. Robertson was again prominent with a dropping shot that just cleared the further post with Evans beaten. The second half had been in progress fifteen minutes when Southall scored through C. Knight, who, following a corner, hit the under part of the crossbar and the ball bounced down over the line. Champion met with a further injury and had to be carried off, but resumed after a few minutes. The Hampstead forwards undertook a brief spell of attacking and forced a corner which was cleared, play being immeiately transferred to the other end, where Clark was responsible for a good run that forced Evans to leave goal to clear. Southall were still attacking with considerable dash and were swinging the ball about freely, but opportunities of shooting were often neglected. The pace showed signs of slackening and the visitors began to have more of the play. From a centre by Briscoe, Kirby sent in a fine shot which Holding did well to save, and Wise headed over from a corner. Southall again took over the attack, and continued to have the better of the play hereafter. Norton sent in a dropping shot and Knight rushed Evans as he was saving, an appeal that the goalkeeper had taken the ball over the line being rejected by the referee. Evans was injured in the collision, but was able to resume after a brief stoppage. Evans easily gathered a free kick from Fidler and ably saved a good shot from Robertson. At the other end Smith had a good chance, but shot weakly, and Holding made a series of good saves during a melee round the goal. The final whistle went with Southall again pressing.
Result : Southall, 1 ; Hampstead Town, 2.

Hampstead Town

1
Cyril Evans
2
W G Brooker
3
S Dunstone
4
W E Brewer
5
Arthur Thwaites
6
Les Vance
7
Stan Briscoe
8
Lewis Smith
9
Reg Kirby
10
Cecil Wise
11
H S White

Match Events

9''
Les Vance
31''
Reg Kirby
C Knight
61''

Southall

1
T Holding
2
E House
3
W Harry
4
G Howarth
5
E Fidler
6
H Knight
7
J Norton
8
C Knight
9
A E Champion
10
J Clark
11
J Robertson