On the Walthamstow Avenue ground on Saturday, Golders Green put up a splendid fight, but again failed to wrest full points from the Avenue. As in the previous week at Claremont Road, the Avenue won by the margin of a goal, scored at the end of 15 minutes by Furness, at centre-forward, who was not playing in the first encounter. It was a fine goal, but Golders Green had equally good chances to score, and the construction of the forward line will have to be changed unless some improvement takes place.

There is a lack of penetrative power. There is far too much reliance placed upon Evans, and when he fails there is only one result. For three weeks in succession Evans has been facing the Walthamstow defence, and it is pretty certain that they have got acquainted with his ideas. On Saturday he worked most untiringly, but failed to get through a rock-like defence. Of the forwards Drinkwater, at outside-left, seemed most likely to score. He is lacking in inches, but makes up for this deficiency in other respects, and we are quite sure that unless something untoward befalls him he will have a good tally of goals to his credit before Christmas. On the other wing Breagan played a very good game, and Spalton showed a vast improvement on the previous week. Rowe was disappointing. He is a clever player, but it would seem that age is beginning to tell upon him. He lacks speed.

Broadis returned to the half-back line, which was thus strengthened, and indeed it compared favourably with the Avenue's middle line. Bucci, who captained the side, was strong in defence, and also showed that if he could be spared from the position of pivot, he could, as in former days, be a useful forward. But even more gratifying was the success of Butt, at right-half. He is a good tackler, and recognises thhe importance of feeding his wing. With that improvement which should come after playing more games, the loss of J.W. Bloxham, undoubtedly a good half, will not be felt so acutely as was thought would be the case.

Ellis, late of Hendon, appeared at left-back in absence of Richardson, on holiday. He made few mistakes until towards the end, but fortunately these did not spell disaster. He was more reliable than Dean, who does not seem quite so fast as he was at the beginning of last season, and he was frequently in difficulties.

Smith, in goal, was the hero of the Golders Green side. He was pestered with shots in the first half, in which the Avenue had the benefit of a very strong wind, and it was surprising to find at the interval that he had been beaten but once, and then from a shot which gave him no chance. At times he was surrounded by opponents, but he wriggled his way through without losing possession of the ball. Smith has his own methods of goal-saving, and is inclined to court criticism, but taking a long view there are few better custodians in the League.

Golders Green are still without a League point, and with cup-ties coming along the club may for some time be figuring in the bottom half of the table, but on Saturday's form we do not see why they should not have a successful season. We are quite sure that few clubs will take points from Walthamstow Avenue, last season's champions, unless they have a run of misfortune.

Winning the toss is often of doubtful value. Not so on Saturday. The Avenue had choice of ends, and naturally took advantage of the strong wind. Apart from this stroke of ill-luck Golders Green started without Drinkwater, whose late arrival created some anxiety. His appearance created a cheer, but we hope he will earn no more for unpunctuality.

It was soon apparent that the visitors were up against a big proposition. Dean found it difficult to deal with the ball against the wind, and corners came to the Avenue at brief intervals. The first decent effort for Golders Green came from the right wing, but Drinkwater was given offside. Evans just failed to improve on a fine run by Breagan, and Rowe shot high over the bar.

A little later, just before Furness from a pass by Willshaw got the deciding goal for the Avenue, Rowe missed the easiest of chances. Had he turned his opportunity to account, a different tale might have been told. Evans worked very hard with no result: he might have done better if he had trusted his wing men.

Soon after the Avenue found the net Evans gave promise of equalising, but he was fouled just outside the penalty line, and Broadis failed to make good with the free kick.

For the greater part of the first half Golders Green were on the defence, and with the chances offered to them the Avenue should have gone well ahead. Furness missed one good opening, but he was not the only offender. But if there were weak shots, there were many that would have beaten a less capable goalkeeper than Smith, who earned the admiration of the Avenue supporters as well as the good sprinkling from Golders Green area.

Whenever a corner was taken the Avenue attackers were well on the mark, and it was laughable on one occasion, when the ball went right across the goalmouth out of play to see two or three players tumbling headlong into the net.

At the interval Golders Green had reason to be proud of the fact that they were only one goal behind.

In the second half, after Smith had cleared from a free kick, Golders Green played in a manner which was distinctly encouraging. Evans almost headed through, and Drinkwater, who was finding more work than in the first half, made a good effort, his shot just skimming the bar. But though much of the play was in their favour, their ball control was not so good as Walthamstow's. While the home side could keep the ball low, it was too often in the air when the Greens were going for goal. There was, however, one desperate struggle in the Avenue's goal, and this gave Hine a chance of showing his worth.

As the game advanced the Avenue showed that the wind was a factor which could be largely countered, and they had a fair share of the play. Indeed in the closing stages the Golders Green defence seemed to get rattled, and it was fortunate that Smith had a safe pair of hands.

As the teams left the field the Avenue were loudly cheered, but the visiting contingent were not forgotten. It was recognised that they were a force to be reckoned with.