Hampstead emerged from their F.A. Cup-tie with Letchworth Town at Claremont-road by the narrowest of margins (2-1), the winning goal being scored just on time from a corner kick taken by Wardlaw. The ball may have been touched by another player, but it appeared to go direct into the net. Hampstead's first goal was scored within five minutes of the start by Wise, from a beautiful pass by Howell, Clarke having just previously headed the ball from a group of three Letchworth men. This was Wise's first goal for the club this season, and this success on his part was deservedly cheered. Letchworth obtained their only goal after half-an-hour's play, Gray, at outside-left, deceiving Brown with a long shot.

Two changes were made in the Hampstead side from the previous week. The return of Pease enabled Houghton, who captained the Redhill side three years ago, to take up his proper position at right-half, while Deeks, an old Barnet player, made his initial appearance at outside-right.

Letchworth must be congratulated upon giving Hampstead such a close fight - indeed there were occasions when it seemed likely they would carry off the spoils - but while admitting that the visitors defended soundly, the Hampstead forwards failed lamentably time after time. The inside men lost golden opportunities, and there was often a suspicion that they had forgotten it was Soccer and not Rugby football. The outside men did not do badly, although Howell might have produced better results had he sometimes centred the ball instead of running so close towards goal. Deeks did not have a great deal of work to do in the early stages, but when he has settled down he is likely to stengthen the side. Evans was not so good as in some previous matches, while the success of Wise in scoring was a flash in the pan. He had many equally good chances, but luck was against him. One or two of his shots were within the proverbial inch of the cross-bar - on the wrong side, of course. Wardlaw had a very strong wing to face and therefore did not shine so conspicuously as usual, and while Pease defended well in addition to taking many shots at goal, the best half was Houghton, who was far more at home on the right wing than he had been in the previous match at pivot. No fault could be found with the backs. Parsons seems to improve week by week and Clarke was able fairly to hold his own. Brown was not troubled to any great extent. When he fielded the ball he did so confidently and for the time being this position gives the committee no qualms.

On the other side Olney, though favoured by fortune, kept goal exceedingly well, and was backed up by a sturdy pair of backs. The visitors were well served at right-half and centre-half, and Dear, who was introduced into the team at the eleventh hour, was an enterprising forward.

The game was contested in an excellent spirit. It is true that a fair number of free kicks were given against the visitors, but the offences were not grave. In the second half, when they were struggling hard to keep on terms, there was a tendency to kick the ball out of touch rather frequently, but this is a practice which most clubs are addicted when it serves to their purpose. During the first half a penalty kick was granted to Hampstead. The reason thereof was not clear but was possibly given for a foul on Shearcroft. From the action of the Hampstead players it would seem that they thought Letchworth had been unjustly penalised. It did not seem easy to select a player to take the kick and when Wardlaw, the captain, took matters into his own hands he kicked the ball straight to the goalkeeper who had no difficulty in clearing.

As has already been indicated, Hampstead had [more] of the play, and there were periods when the visiting defenders were so troubled that they seemed likely to put the ball through their own goal.

It was one of those games when there was an irritating amount of bad luck, but no one can gainsay the fact that considering the amount of pressure exercised the home team should have credited themselves with at least half-a-dozen goals. There was a prolific crop of corner kicks, several of which went out of touch, and it may be called tardy justice when Wardlaw, from the corner flag, brought victory to his side. On one other occasion Wise netted from an offside position.

While it is satisfactory to find that Hampstead, after sustaining five successive defeats away, have now won four times on their new ground, none of the games, except the mid-week 5-2 win over Enfield, appear to have given complete gratification, but the committee seem to be gradually welding a side which will uphold the traditions of the club. It must not be forgotten that Hampstead are almost as much strangers to the Claremont-road ground as their guests, while it is notorious that their play in the past has yielded best results on soft pitches.