Hampstead football stock has fallen a few points since last week, the visit to Uxbridge [Town] on Saturday in the Athenian League resulting in a defeat - the sixth in succession - by four goals to love. The figures do not quite represent the run of the game. Hampstead were certainly the under dog, but two goals, and not four, would more fairly denote the superiority of the homesters, for whom everything seemed to go favourably, except when they failed to score after Fulford, Rounce, and Redding had in turn struck the uprights and cross-bar.

Both teams had one of their best men playing for the County against Somersetshire, but Hampstead felt the loss of Pease more than Uxbridge did the absence of Ashby. Wise was also an absentee, and to make matters worse, Houghton failed to turn up until after the game had started, and rather than be reprimanded for playing short, George Darvill, one of the old school who now serves the club as assisatant trainer, willingly stepped into the breach. While he rendered useful service it was asking much of him to take the place of Houghton. Wardlaw played at centre-half.

Allwright, the Uxbridge captain, and Yates are old Hampstead players, and on their form in this game they would strengthen the Hampstead side. From Yates' centres two goals were scored. Dowse, who is an East Anglian, was making his first appearance in the Hampstead side, and is the best inside-right that the club has had this season. Harvey also did much better than in his first run with the first eleven, and while the figures might lead those who did not witness the game to think otherwise, Hampstead's failure cannot be attributed to the forwards. The weakness was in defence. The disorganisation of the half-back line contributed to the undoing of the side, although it must be said that once he had settled down in his new position, Wardlaw did well. Not much could be expected of Darvill, and Anderson, though not an outstanding player, did much good work. The weakness again lay in the back division, as it was not until the game was far advanced that Clarke approached anything like last season's form. The falling off in his standard of play has materially affected the fortunes of the team. Parsons, too, is not living up to expectations. It was due to his weak tackling that made Uxbridge's victory so decisive. Instead of relieving their lines promptly, the backs are often prone to dilly dally with the ball with dire results. As a consequence, although territorially the play was even, the Uxbridge forwards had by far the easier task. But for a superlative display by Brown, Hampstead would have been overwhelmed. In the Uxbridge goal Twitchen also performed wonderfully well, but unlike Brown he had players in front of him who afforded him much protection.

Shearcroft lost one of the best chances given to him during the game in the first few minutes, the ball hitting the post after he appeared to have the goal at his mercy. Success at this stage might have materially affected the result. Good work was done on Hampstead's left wing, Harvey co-operating well with Howell, while the nice touches made by Dowse promised to bear fruit. Fulford was the most dangerous forward on the home side, and he was given far too much latitude. Bad judgment by Parsons led to a strong attack on Hampstead's goal, Fulford, Redding and Rounce in turn just failing to score, but a minute or two later Yates opened the scoring from what many thought was an offside position as he was practically on the touch-line.

While there was disappointment at the referee's ruling, Hampstead continued to play pluckily, and Twitchen was often called upon, several corners being forced. There was one occasion when the attack was so persistent that the shout of "Goal!" was heard from the grandstand but Twitchen was not to be beaten. Brown was conspicuous for several grand saves, one of which brought him to his knees, and just on half-time he had such difficulty in disposing of a shot that he appeared to carry the ball through. It was ascertained later, however, that he was well on the right side of the line when the ball was got away. Redding scored a second goal for Uxbridge before the change-over.

In the second half Uxbridge held the advantage, and while Hampstead opened confidently, there was never any question as to the result. Uxbridge scored two further goals through Fulford, and while the first of these was contested on the grounds of offside, the referee consulting a linesman before pointing to the centre, the last goal was the best of the bunch, a fine centre by Yates being driven home by the outside-right, who had worked his way into a shooting position. Brown had no chance of saving the shot, or, indeed, any of the others that took effect. Hampstead struggled gamely to stem the tide of misfortune, but the end came without the Uxbridge goal being pierced.