Friday 08 September - Reserves - a good recovery

Golders Green Reserves made a good recovery after being two goals down against Tooting and Mitcham [United] Reserves at Claremont Road. The result was a 4-2 win by the Green, whose total included one penalty goal. Three penalties were awarded during the game, but one for Golders Green failed. The visitors were two men short, and the Green filled the gaps for them by [loaning] Stockwell and Willmott. In fact the game opened ten-a-side, but the eleventh men were soon on the field. Although they were not the first to score, Golders Green opened strongly and danger came to the visitors through good foraging work by Johnny Hill and his service to the left wing. Pratt opened the score for the visitors. Taking up a forward pass from Morris, he got away well and shot on the run, the ball striking the underside of the crossbar and falling over the line. Golders Green retaliated with attacks on either wing, but without success, and when Tooting pressed again they were awarded a penalty on the grounds of obstruction of a player. Parrott took the spot kick and netted to give Tooting a lead of two. This was soon reduced, a beautiful centre close up by Morgan being converted by Winslow, who banged the ball well into the back of the net. Golders Green looked like equalising during a scramble in front of the Tooting goal, but it ended with Winslow shooting high. The equaliser eventually came from Griggs, who took a centre from Winslow and shot in as the goalkeeper fell. Soon afterwards Hill netted, but the whistle had gone for offside. The Golders Green were awarded a penalty for an offence against Griggs, but W. Boston shot straight at the goalkeeper. Half-time arrived with the scores level, but Hill gave Golders Green their third after the change of ends, and another should have come when Winslow broke away and centred, but Griggs got offside. Tooting were playing the offside game with considerable success, but after many failures the Green obtained their fourth goal from another penalty for obstruction. This time the shot was entrusted to Bustard, who made no mistake, shooting neatly into the corner of the net. Hill went near with a fine low shot, and close on time Griggs got his head to one of Hill's centres. It was a good effort, but he missed the net. Golders Green : W.E. Barnes; R. Ward, W. Boston; H. Robson, R. Button, F. Long; G. Morgan, J. Hill, J. Griggs, L. Bustard, Winslow. Tooting & Mitcham : Buchanan; Parrott, Reeve; Anderson, Turnbull, Stockwell; Cocker, Morris, Pratt, Willmott, Rowe. (Hendon Times & Guardian, 08/09/1939, p.3)

Posted at 18:00

Friday 01 September - Hat trick for Griggs

Golders Green Reserves followed the example of their seniors and gained two League points from Barnet. This is a point up from last season, when the game was drawn 2-2. The 1st XI incidentally reversed a 2-1 defeat, which was the result of the corresponding Claremont Road game last year. One or two changes from the advertised side were made as Peverell was unable to get away from business and Westwood was injured. In the opening half, although the Green had a fair amount of the play, they were unable to score, but Barnet used their chances so effectively that they were three up at the interval, all the goals having been scored by a centre-forward who was proving very elusive. After the interval, however, Button tightened his hold on the path up the middle, and the visitors got going. Bustard and Hill were continually engineering opportunities, and very soon Morgan had taken advantage of two of these to put the Green within striking distance. The closing stages of the game were remarkable for the advance of the new centre-forward, Griggs, who earned a well-deserved hat trick. Bustard, Hill and Page were prominent with the necessary spade-work, and the team played very satisfactorily together. The victory is all the more creditable when it is remembered that both Robson and Davidson were on holiday and Ward had been taken for the 1st XI. Golders Green : W. Painter; P. Martinson, T. Caswell; F. Long, R. Button, W.E. Barnes; G. Morgan, J. Hill, J. Griggs, L. Bustard, W.A. Page. (Hendon Times & Guardian, 01/09/1939, p.2)

Posted at 18:00