Misfortune overtook Golders Green again on Monday evening, when they were entertaining Hayes in the Athenian League. They led by 2-0 at half-time, but after Hayes had equalised in the second half, Bucci was injured and had to be taken to Manor House Hospital for attention to a head wound. Hayes were all over the Green for about ten minutes, but after this the ten men regained their force, and it was only Bucci's absence which lost them the full points.

Golders Green gave a brilliant display in the first half, combining well in all departments and giving the Hayes defence a lively time. The only criticism was against Graves, who did not clear strongly enough. The halves and forwards played with fine understanding and Thomas deserved more than his one goal. Evans played good constructive football, and Ellison was always valuable, while F. Boston and Breagan were both fast and in shooting form, until Boston had to drop back owing to the injury to Bucci.

Greygoose, the Hayes goalkeeper, brought off many fine saves.

Play opened with Hayes' right wing feeling their way along the touchline, but Golders Green made the first attack and Evans passed forward but too far ahead for Thomas. Then Thomas shot across the goal with a right-footer, and he went near with another taken on the run. Hayes got going, but Friday was offside. Farrow was also stopped by offside, and on the other wing Marchant sent the ball behind the net.

Golders Green, pressing again, were given a free-kick for a foul on Ellison, and Bucci placed the ball well, but Meeks cleared it. Taking another free-kick, Bucci struck the crossbar with a beautiful effort, and from the rebound Breagan failed badly, shooting yards wide. Another shot by Bucci brought Greygoose to his knees.

Hayes had another narrow escape when Thomas, leaping through the backs, sent in a smashing shot on the run and struck the bar. F. Boston also had bad luck to miss the net.

Golders Green were combining very well and were far more consistently dangerous than the visitors, even when, for a time, Bucci had to go on the left wing owing to a foot injury, F. Boston changing with him. Ellison was putting in some lovely touches, and Evans, also working well, deserved success when he scraped the ball past the wrong side of the post.

Golders Green had done everything but score, until, half an hour from the start, Breagan broke away and centred neatly for ELLISON to open the score, shooting from an awkward angle and placing the ball in just below the bar.

Hayes woke up and Marchant led an attack which resulted in a corner, but Bucci cleared the ball and Breagan forced a corner for the Green. This was cleared and Greygoose held a shot from Lovell.

Golders Green's second goal came when Bucci pushed the ball forward to Thomas on the halfway line. THOMAS raced the whole way down the centre of the field and let fly with his left foot, crashing the ball to the back of the net.

At the other end Friday was unlucky when he shot close across the goal.

Just on half-time Golders Green narrowly survived three corners.

Golders Green made a strong start after the change-over, and Ellison, taking a pass from Bucci, shot over the top. Greygoose held a shot from Breagan, but Hayes were soon doing a spell of pressing, and Graves, too far up the field, let the right winger away. Barlow stopped his shot, but could not clear, and POXON followed up to net Hayes' first goal.

Five minutes later FRIDAY equalised with a first time shot following a free-kick. The shot took Barlow by surprise, or he must have saved it.

Golders Green nearly regained the lead when Breagan streaked down the wing and centred to Ellison, but the shot missed.

Shortly afterwards Bucci and a Hayes man collided when jumping for the ball and both were knocked out, but, while Bucci had to be taken off the field, the Hayes man was able to continue.

Thomas brought fresh hope when he broke away and passed to Ellison in front of goal, but the shot was too high. Golders Green were now making a hard fight for the odd goal, and the visiting defence were given plenty to do, while Greygoose was often in action. F. Boston was making many openings, and once he struck the crossbar, Thomas being a fraction to slow to get in from the rebound.

When Hayes attacked Marchant was the most dangerous man on the field, and W. Boston had all his work cut out to keep pace with him, but the closest shave was at the other end, when, with Greygoose out of goal, Thomas could not get round in time for a shot. Breagan went near with a header off F. Boston.

Light was bad in the closing minutes and anything might have happened, but the ten men held on to their one point and were in fact more than equal to the visitors when time came.