At home for a weekend match after an absence of six weeks, Golders Green on Saturday entertained Hounslow in the first round of the London Senior Cup.

The visitors, who had waived the right to play on their own ground, were beaten by four goals to none, despite the fact that Golders Green were without their usual right wing, A.J. Breagan and T.E. Edwards. Breagan had not recovered from an injury sustained at Southend, and Edwards was out of town for the weekend.

Except that Golders Green improved on last year's performance by entering the second round, the match gave little satisfaction. Hounslow played poorly and never looked like winning, and even allowing for a very good display by the visiting goalkeeper, Golders Green should have won by a much larger margin. There was an absence of "pep", however, in their play. We imagine they would have done better had the opposition been stronger. Play was certainly not what we expected, and in view of the important Cup-ties ahead we look to a return of that form which kept them from defeat from the end of September to the middle of November.

Within five minutes Golders Green scored through Broadis from a free kick not far outside the penalty area. It was a hard drive such as we know he can make, and Rowe, in goal, was completely beaten. Golders Green's left wing were too smart for the Hounslow defence, and thus during the game we saw several free kicks taken because they tried to stop Evans and Drinkwater unfairly.

The next goal came at the end of 15 minutes. T.E. Evans gave a pass which enabled his namesake to start one of his characteristic runs, and although he looked as if he would fail in the end, Freddy managed to hook the ball into the corner of the net.

Two goals so early presaged double figure for Golders Green to atone in some respect for the huge score against them at Southend, but they failed to beat Rowe again before the interval, although the game was largely in their favour.

Hodge, who took Breagan's place, was a little time in settling down, and seemed disposed to part with the ball rather too quickly. However, as the game advanced he showed distinct promise, and with a little luck some of his centres would have been converted. His kicks from the corner flag were well on the mark. Only on rare occasions was the Golders Green goal in danger. Once was when the ball bounced over Godding's head when he had come out a yard or two, but Richardson saved the situation.

Hounslow were a go-ahead side, but their football was not very constructive, and near goal they were decidedly weak.

In the second half we saw little or no improvement in the play, and in the fading light it was fortunate that the game started punctually.

Hounslow failed to make any impression on Golders Green defence, and except for occasional spurts they had to concentrate largely upon keeping the home side's total to a reasonable figure.

Not long after the restart Drinkwater, from near the corner flag, sent in a shot which brought another goal. Hodge seemed to touch the ball, but the general opinion was that it was over the line without his assistance. It was a beautiful goal.

It was well on time when Jack Edwards, who is one of the Green's oldest players, but cannot get a regular place in the first team, scored the fourth goal. Between the third and fourth goals we saw much pressing by Golders Green, but the shooting was weak, and there was much cheering when Richardson attempted to teach the forwards how to score by sending in a hard shot which just failed to be successful.

It was good to see that Boston, Bucci and Drinkwater had recovered sufficiently from the mishaps at Southend to take their places in the side, and perhaps it was fortunate that they had an easy match.