Golders Green, after having to make several team changes, lost by 5-4 to Walthamstow Avenue last Saturday in the Herts and Middlesex League.

Golders Green had to take the field without Ebert (who has been called to the colours), Bucci and Weeks.

Munday dropped to left back and Birbeck, who came in at left half, had the herculean task of holding the redoubtable Jim Lewis. For much of the game he succeeded, as is proved by the fact that for the greater part of the match the Green held a two goals' lead. Whenever Lewis had the ball, however, danger threatened, and it is not too much to say that Jim Lewis is the Avenue side; he is a match-winner through and through.

As in their previous five League games the Avenue had only conceded an aggregate of three goals, it must have come as something of a shock to find themselves two goals in arrears in the first 20 minutes.

The game opened in thrilling fashion. Two quick Walthamstow thrusts ended, one with Winkless off-side and the other with Chaventre (their old Golders Green Reserve outside-right) squaring a ball close in with no one up to touch home.

The ball went to the other end, and Childs kicked into touch to stop Stroud, who had a fine game. Pinner saved from Pulling for a corner, and Fontana hit the post from Shorland's centre. Back again, Lewis headed just over the bar from a corner, and the Green went back into attack. Fontana put the ball to Pulling, and from his pass COCHRANE shot home a fine goal.

The game swung backwards and forwards for some time, and then Pinner saved from Pulling for a corner. Stroud put a ground pass to Breagan, and from his forward kine COCHRANE gained possession and again scored, to put the Green two up.

After half an hour, Avenue opened their account. The referee stopped play for some reason and bounced up. Lewis got possession and slipped to WINKLESS, who shot home. Both sides had further chances, but there was no addition to the score at the interval.

On resuming, Golders Green launched three heavy attacks. The last of these led to the third goal. Shorland centred and Pinner could not gather the ball; the ball went to PULLING, who shot into the unguarded net with ease.

Backwards and forwards the game swung, first one side and then the other thrusting through. Then the visitors gained two quick goals. Winkless got through, but his shot was saved for a corner, and from the kick LEWIS headed into the net, bringing the score 3-2. Following this, a free kick was taken by Childs, and again LEWIS got his head to the ball, which flew into the net well wide of Hart.

With the score equal a really hard fight ensued. For a time the Avenue got on top, but it was the Green who scored next. Stroud gained possession from a throw-in and centred for COCHRANE to head into the net.

Eight minutes were now left for play, and Walthamstow piled on the pressure. It was at this stage that LEWIS's mastery of the game asserted itself, and there is no doubt that it was his skill and experience which enabled the Avenue to snatch a win from what looked like certain defeat. He gained possession and went through, beating all and sundry en route, ending by putting an easy ground shot past Hart into the net.

Four minutes were now left. The Green made one or two efforts to net the winner. Breagan tried two shots, both of which went outside, and then the Avenue broke away. Chaventre got the ball to LEWIS, who put in a great drive. Hart touched the ball, but could only help it into the net to give the Avenue the winning goal.

Golders Green are to be congratulated for putting up a really magnificent game against a side which, besides Lewis, included four pre-war stars, and which has been carrying all before it. They will not play many games on this form and end on the losing side.