Golders Green were slightly more successful in their Christmas meetings this year, for, although they lost heavily on Christmas morning, they drew on Boxing Day, whereas Wealdstonme secured all four points last year.

But, considering the number of opportunities that came their way, Golders Green should have given a far better display at Wealdstone on Christmas Day. They opened the scoring early in the game, but thereafter the team fell away badly and poor work in the half-line had its natural effect upon the forwards and overworked the backs, so that Barlow was given a lot to do.

Golders Green were not at full strength, it is true, but Wealdstone were also playing a reserve. T. Lewis was absent from Golders Green and his place was taken by L. Bustard, who was a weak link in the team, so that W. Boston was overworked. F. Boston gave a good display on the left wing, but Leahy, on the right, faded away after a free-kick had been given following a foul by him on the Wealdstone goalkeeper. Broadis was busy all over the field and Golders Green would have been in a bad way without him.

The one change in the Wealdstone team since their previous week's match was the inclusion of K. Baldwin, who made his first appearance in the Wealdstone colours, taking the place of Cliff Ette. Baldwin comes to Wealdstone from St. Albans City and has a good record as a goal scorer.

The game weas played in bright sunshine and before a large crowd, but the ground was in such heavy condition that the football seen was not of the best standard.

From the kick-off Golders Green made one or two determined thrusts at the home defence and Leahy swung a well-judged pass across to F. Boston, who centred smartly to Walker, but he struck the post with a creditable try for goal. Again from a pass by Leahy, Bustard hit the post and then C. Walker saved from D. Walker.

Wealdstone seemed a bit surprised at this spirited opening, but their halves soon got the forwards on the move and Broadis had to tap the ball back to Barlow to clear. Friday sent the Wealdstone forwards away again and in an attack led by Potts, Jones was injured and had to leave the field for a short time.

Golders Green halves and backs were booting the ball well and if they had kept this up the result of the match would have been far different, but they later fell to fancy work and short passing, which was hopeless in the mud.

Barlow was first tested by Gaze and Wilson and he had to run out to clear from the latter. Shortly afterwards he only half cleared a shot from the latter and had to run after the ball, scrambling it away from between three forwards.

Golders Green made a promising raid on the left, but Loveday turned them back and Scott sent the ball out to Potts. His centre failed, but a few minuters later C. Brown sent in a stinging shot which Barlow did well to push over the top. Wealdstone spent some time trying to break through in the centre and after a wide shot from Gaze, Barlow was called upon several times and showed that he had not lost his nerve as a result of his bad fall in the previous week.

Then Breagan sent the Golders Green forwards into action and Browne passed to Leahy, who could not turn the ball round in time and struck the outside of the net. F. Boston was working well and from one of his centres Graves forced a corner. Boston took the kick and Graves narrowly missed heading into the net.

Twenty minutes from the start Graves opened the scoring for Golders Green, showing fine anticipation. A defender miskicked, Walker started out to pick up the ball, but GRAVES got there first and scored with ease.

At this point Johnny Browne was injured and had to leave the field, but he soon returned. W. Boston also suffered injury, but immediately upon his recovery he cleared a dangerous situation following the restart from the bounced ball.

A feature of the game was the Wealdstone passing and their uncanny knack of finding the right man almost every time.

A free kick lead to GAZE equalising and soon afterwards BALDWIN headed in a centre from the left wing to put Wealdstone ahead.

Golders Green were not quick enough in following up and lost some good openings in this way, but Graves had hard luck to hit the base of an upright with a shot which would have tried any goalkeeper.

At the other end Wilson forced a corner with a lovely shot which Barlow turned behind the goal, and C. Brown forced Broadis to concede a corner.

When Golders Green came into the picture again, F. Boston promised well, but only gained a corner. Then Golders Green were awarded a free kick, taken by Broadis, who placed the ball well, but F. Boston shot across the goalmouth. With a later free kick Broadis tried to drive the ball straight through, but it was deflected wide of the posts.

Before the interval, GAZE found himself with only Barlow to beat and shot in at close range, giving Wealdstone their third goal. BALDWIN added the fourth after the Golders Green defence had let C. Brown get away with the ball too easily.

In the second half Golders Green were markedly slower than their opponents and never looked like regaining level terms. Wealdstone were swinging the ball about and serving the wings well, while Golders Green did too much fiddling and short passing, keeping the ball in the centre of the field when breakaways might have been successful on the wings. Walker was also at fault for holding on to the ball too often. One good chance came to Leahy, but he lifted the ball over the bar and shortly afterwards he shot wide after Browne and Graves had manoeuvred an opening.

F. Boston, still working well, brought the Wealdstone goalkeeper to the ground with a fine, low cross-shot and Leahy nipped in with every hope of netting, but again shot too high.

Bustard was transferred to the left wing for a time, F. Boston taking his place at left-half, and later Jones took the wing position, but the changes, made owing to injuries, brought no change in the play. Wealdstone were always dangerous once the forwards got the ball and the wingers were allowed too much freedom by the Golders Green defence, whereas the Golders Green forwards were always well marked.

The nearest the Green came to a second goal was when Graves got his head to a centre from Leahy, but C. Walker held the ball well. Browne also looked like a scorer, but the Wealdstone goalkeeper saved by giving awaay a corner. Towards the end, Golders Green forced several corners, but none was productive, and the second half ended with no change in the score.