By a goal scored by W. Green at the end of twenty minutes, Enfield got full Athenian League points at Claremont Road on Saturday. Thus for the second week in succession Hampstead were beaten at home, and incidently, this was their seventh defeat before their own supporters this season. The fare at the moment is very unsatisfying, and some goal-getting men are needed.

It is no exaggeration to say that Hampstead had quite as much of the play on Saturday as they did when Enfield came to Claremont Road at the end of November and lost by six goals to love in the Middlesex Charity Cup. Yet they failed to score. Allowing for the absence of Evans (who dislocated his shoulder against Barnet), and also of Sherman, who however, hopes to make an early return, Hampstead should have won with several goals to spare. But there was not one forward who looked like finding the net, and as the Enfield quintette were almost as impotent, it was by no means a thrilling game. Credit must be given to the defences, but they should not have proved so invulnerable.

Hampstead's backs, Shorland and Wilton, did not suffer in comparison with the Enfield pair, Dyson and Lawrence, who have been much longer before the public. Wilton improves week by week, and as his football is clean he is quite an asset. Shorland has also settled down comfortably after a slightly restless period. Trevers kept goal in place of Smith, the captain, who watched the game from a comfortable seat in the stand. He was well advised to take a rest as he was feeling the effects of an injury sustained while playing for the Arsenal two weeks back. His understudy did well, but in a sense he was fortunate in not having a powerful forward line to face. The Hampstead halves maintained the reputation of the club, Young being evidently anxious to show that he was worthy of the honour of being called upon to captain the side. The weakness was in the forward line, and although occasionally a pass went astray, the attackers could not put forward the excuse that they were not supported.

It was unfortunate that Evans could not take the field, but we do not wish to emphasise this as an excuse for non-success. His deputy in the centre-forward position was H. Walsh, who had had a try-out with the reserves on the previous Saturday. He started so well that in securing him one thought Hampstead had met with the best fortune that had fallen to them for many a day. In the first minute or two Walsh got in one or two good shots, and gave indications that he would be a valuable player, but he caught the infection from which some of the other forwards have been suffering and towards the end, when he had exchanged places with Gardner, was a spent force. This may have been due to an injury (he seemed slightly lame), or lack of training. We hope he will not be discouraged, or that the committee will be too hasty in casting him aside.

Much good work in midfield was wasted through poor finishing. Moore started in something like his old form, but was never the Moore of his old days with Hampstead. He has lost not only pace, but shooting power, and his centres from the extreme wing are getting fewer and fewer. A little rest might do good. His partner, Potter, missed some good chances. Had he accepted one in the first few minutes the game might have gone differently. He has a habit of wasting a precious second before shooting. Despite useful work in the field, he has seldom shown much aptitude for scoring: one unkind critic has given his average for first eleven matches as one per season, and that he has already obtained. Most hope came from the right-wing, Butland being perhaps the pick of a poor line, but nothing tangible happened. Gardner was not as good as in the Barnet match. From the halves came some of the best shots.

W. Green, who scored the all-important goal, had a habit of working his way into the centre from the outside-right position with good effect. In most of Hampstead's games with Enfield he generally finds the net. Until Green scored, Enfield had never been dangerous, and as Hampstead had been playing against the wind, no one seemed unduly concerned. But having got the lead, Enfield stuck to it tenaciously and thanks to the fine work of the backs Hampstead never recovered lost ground.

On the whole it was a clean game. Dodd was inclined now and again to depart from orthodox methods, but was reminded that he was not now playing for Finchley - an unkind cut which might have been left unspoken. Dodd did a great deal of good work.