Cricket was being played in an adjoining meadow when Hampstead F.C. opened their season's programme at Claremont-road, Cricklewood, on Saturday. The weather was fine but there was a fitful wind blowing straight up the ground, causing the ball at times to make some weird trajectories. Most encouraging of all was the attendance, which was well up to the average big gates that have favoured the club in fair as well as stormy times. The spectators were evidently willing to let bygones be bygones and enable Hampstead to start the new term with a clean sheet. Hopes were high in many hearts that with the influx of fresh talent from several quarters past misfortunes would be retrieved and the way paved for a rosy and prosperous future.

Hampstead supporters are like that and it is to be hoped that they are not doomed to disappointment again.

So far as Saturday's game can be regarded as a trial of strength the prospects are, on the whole, encouraging. Bromley were the winners of both meetings last year, but on their latest visit to the locality they may count themselves exceedingly lucky in getting away with one of the two Athenian League points at stake. Indeed had a golden opportunity in the shape of a penalty been treated in the way all gifts of fate should, there would have been no doubt about the result.

Bromley won the toss and set Hampstead kicking against the wind. Miller, the amateur international capture from St. Albans, was early in prominence for the local side. He provided the first incident by sending across a useful pass which nobody was able to take, and the ball went behind.

After this there was a long spell of atacking by the visitors and Hampstead were penned in their own half. Chief danger was threatened from the right wing where pretty combination was effected, but Young and Moody were able to break up a number of awkward raids.

It took Hampstead nearly twenty minutes to get properly into their stride, previous spasmodic rushes being spoilt by weak finishing. Miller gave Neil a forward pass which nearly ended in a goal being obtained, and Young caused confusion in the Bromley goal with a long shot, but the ball was again cleared. Bloyce was showing excellent form in the visitors' citadel, and it was his intelligent anticipation alone that saved his side half-way through the first stage of the game. Sherman sent across a splendid pass from a difficult angle over by the corner flag and Miller met the ball with perfect precision and turned it deftly towards the net. But Bloyce was too smart for the inside-left and the ball was punched over the bar for a corner from which Miller headed wide.

Hampstead kept up the pressure and Neil, Miller and Moore had scoring shots capably dealt with. The home side were playing better than their opponents at this point, and a goal seemed inevitable before the interval. But good defence on one side and inaccurate marksmanship on the other combined to delay what everyone was longing for and the interval arrived with the score sheet still unsullied.

Hampstead went off with a dash in the second half and Fish came near to scoring in the first few minutes following the resumption. But success was not long postponed. Moore was given a corner to take and the left wing placed the ball well away from the goal to where Moody was standing. The centre-half shot straight for the target, and aided by Miller, who was standing close in, the ball travelled into the net to give Hampstead the lead two minutes after the reopening of activities.

Owens was responsible later for stopping a series of determined efforts to get on terms, and Smith rose grandly to the occasion when he tippped over the bar a hefty drive from the visitors' right-back. At the other end Bloyce was having plenty of work, clever saves being made from Miller, Fish and Moore, the last-named missing a good opening provided by his inside partner.

The equaliser came half-an-hour from the interval, Smith being beaten at close quarters by a powerful drive by Mills.

The sensation of the match was provided a few minutes afterwards. Moore was going well for the mark when he was brought down badly near the goal and a penalty was awarded. There appeared some hesitancy on the part of the members of the home eleven to take the all-important kick, and finally Smith was brought up from between the sticks to try his luck. The crowd were getting ready to cheer the "leaders" when it was seen that the goal-keeper had completely " muffed " the shot. A cloud of dust was sent up as he kicked the ground and the ball rolled harmlessly well wide of the post. Robbed of what seemed at one time a certain victory, Hampstead never subsequently looked like making amends and there was no addition to the score in the remaining few minutes, both sides having to be content with a goal and a point apiece.

There is no doubt that Hampstead felt the need of Smy, who was engaged in a representative game elsewhere. With the captain in to strengthen the forward line and a little re-arrangement of the positions, the home side are likely to have a strong and reliable front string. Miller is an opportunist who needs all the openings he can get and there is the prospect of some admirable team work when the players have had time to adapt themselves to each other's style. The halves were steady and reliable, Young being the most ubiquitous of the trio, and the backs were for the most part sound, although there were occasions when more careful positioning would have been advisable. Smith was not unduly exerted, but apart from the missed penalty, he did his duty nobly.