By one goal, scored at the end of twenty minutes, Walthamstow Avenue beat Hampstead in the Athenian League at Claremont Road on Saturday. The visitors deserved their victory, but the goal which decided the issue was of an unusual kind. It was scored by Jobson, the inside-right, but he was assisted by a home defender, Compton, who, in attempting to head the ball, diverted it into goal over the head of Smith, who had run out to clear. Smith made a big effort to save. Turning smartly round, he just got to the ball, but it was then too late.

At the time it did not seem that this goal would decide the match. Until it was scored Hampstead, despite the fact that they had to play against the wind, had had more of the play than the Avenue, and for fully half-an-hour after change of ends, although the wind had dropped, they were chief attackers. But the forwards failed time after time, and the weakness was largely due to the fact that Evans, in the centre, found in Oliver, the Avenue's pivot, one who could not be easily shaken off.

Perhaps Bucci, the Hampstead captain, at centre-half, was more in the limelight than Oliver, but while giving him every credit for a brilliant performance, his side might have been better served had he trusted the forwards a little more. A gluttonness for work does not always help a team. R. Dean and Robinson, the other halves, failed to reach expectations, although those responsible for their selection feel they will make good within a short time. The issue of this match might have been different had Young and Butland been in the half-back line. Young, who had not missed a match for over two seasons, was standing down at the club's dictum, as there was desire to recontruct the line, and Butland was brought into the forward line. But experience has shown that Butland is much more effective in the first line of defence than as an out-and-out attacker, and Young, at least on last season's form, was streets in front of Robinson, who was introduced because Potter was on the injured list. The passes given by the wing halves were few and far between, and the fact that the forwards had to do so much fetching and carrying caused the line to be disorganised.

Hampstead played a new right wing in Peck and Welsh. The former, who has played for Cheshunt, caught the eye of the crowd, and received much encouragement. He promises well provided he gets support, and with Morton also available at outside-right the club would be well advised not to worry Sherman to play unless they can get a definite assurance that he will be able to turn out regularly. Welsh, at inside-right (he must not be confused with Walsh who was in the same position last season), has done good work for Hayes, the Amateur Cup finalists of 1930-31. In this match he was inclined to wander out of position, but this may have been due to the weaknesses in other spots. Butland was inclined to do too much off his own bat, although one could not fail to admire the vim he put into his work. One of the best shots of the match came from his foot. With Moore on the retired list after a long and honourable career, the need for a good left winger has arisen. Whether Bramley will fill the role remains to be seen. He was not too conspicuously successful on Saturday.

In the two matches already played F.H. Dean and Compton have not yet approached last season's form, but in the second half of Saturday's game an improvement began to be seen. Dean was very uncertain at the outset. He was outwitted far too often to be pleasant, and was not too strong in his kicking. While we do not wish the club to lose its reputation for gentlemanly play, football is not a parlour game, and a little more robustness on the part of Dean and one or two others would not be out of place. We might also give a reminder that it is not ungentlemanly conduct for players to speak to one another on the field, and by acquainting a colleague by word or gesture of their intentions misunderstandings likely to prove disastrous would be avoided.

Smith, in goal, dealt capably with a number of shots, although one cannot say he had a particularly trying afternoon. The new rule which allows a goalkeeper to run four steps instead of two with the ball is helpful to one who adopts Smith's method of clearing.

The ground looked in beautiful condition, but it was evident that players had difficulty in keeping their feet owing to rain. The teams were a bit late in turning out, and we hope it was not due to any fault on the part of Hampstead.

Bucci, who has taken over the captaincy from Smith, lost the toss, which placed the home side at a disadvantage in the first half, but for some time Hampstead more than held their own, Smith being rarely troubled. The Avenue, who played Jobson (inside-right) and S. Frost (left-back) for Halerow and Wood, did not appear to be so strong a side as last season, and the run of the game did not suggest that they would win. But a goal at the end of twenty minutes was decidedly encouraging to them, and well served at centre-half and centre-forward, and also on the extreme wings, they proved a very useful combination. They placed the ball to one another much better than Hampstead.

In the second half Hampstead gave a much better show, and shots from Butland, Welsh and Bramley, and even one from Compton from near midfield caused Young, the Avenue goalkeeper, trouble. But the desperate appeals from the Hampstead crowd led to no result, and towards the end the Walthamstow men were pressing strongly.