Golders Green put out the same team who did so well against Barnet in the F.A. Cup, but it was difficult to recognise them on the form shown on Saturday. There was lack of understanding, " push " was missing from the attack, and advantage could not even be taken of a penalty kick.

Southall were without Christopher, Keogh and Lewis, owing to a breakdown in their travelling arrangements, and they had to reconstruct their forward line, though Leahy, the former Golders Green winger, remained at centre-forward. Harman moved across from inside-left to inside-right in place of Keogh; Kennett took Lewis' place at outside-right; Black came in at inside-left, and Vincent deputised for Christopher on the left wing.

An unintersting first half ended with Golders Green one-up, through Coppola, and after the change of ends there was not even a reasonable promise of further goals.

Golders Green won the toss and chose to play with the wind. From the kick-off Vickers and Black pushed into the home territory, but Graves turned them back, and almost immediately afterwards W. Boston cleared the ball away from Vickers. Then Golders Green attached, and a free-kick from Caswell sent the ball to Breagan, who made ground and centred well, but Coppola headed outside the posts. Long sent in a fine drive from rather far out, but Jones held it. Then a well-placed centre from the right gave Brown a shot which looked a certain goal, but Jones cleared, and after F. Boston had tried ineffectually to break through, Southall took the game in hand again. Sculley pushed the ball to Vickers, who got away smartly, but his centre was intercepted by W. Boston, who passed forward to Brown and he worked well with F. Boston, but the movement ended with Boston shooting across the posts after a tussle in front of goal.

Southall's first real breakaway was achieved by Leahy, who succeeded in avoiding Graves, but was stopped by W. Boston at the expense of a corner. The corner kick brought Barlow out of goal, and before he could recover Vickers shot through, but the ball went behind the net and the tension was eased.

At the other end Brown and F. Boston worked an opening for Coppola, and the centre-forward reached Jones, who pushed the ball round the post. Golders Green survived another corner, forced by Leahy, and from the clearance they attacked, but Long was knocked out by the ball Wallace cleared. Golders Green continued to press, and Jones was called upon twice by shots from the centre and also by a long one from Bucci.

Breagan, big-hearted as ever, was playing an energetic game, but achieving little, while F. Boston appeared not to have recovered fully from his cup-tie injuries. Coppola was showing a fair degree of thrustfulness and was well served by Brown, but could do no damage.

Supporters' hopes were raised when Bucci delivered a long pass forward for F. Boston, who had a clear run for goal, but the ball went too far ahead. Then a free-kick was nicely placed by Ward and Boston got his head to the ball, but sent it over the bar. Long, showing useful anticipation, slipped in to take a pass from Brown, but his shot was just wide of the mark.

The first half was well spent when COPPOLA at last found his opening, taking a pass from Breagan to score with a neat shot, giving Golders Green the one goal which earned them the points.

After the change-over Golders Green were decidedly slow and uncertain of themselves. The halves pushed the game forward well enough at times, but the forwards showed no spirit, and soon Southall looked like being all over the home team. Leahy broke away, but was going so fast to beat Graves that he ran the ball over the line. Barlow cleared from a corner kick and brought off a grand save when Kenneth shot just below the level of the crossbar.

Golders Green pressed again, but the backs scrambled the ball away from an attack in the centre, and though Bucci recovered the ball for the forwards, they gave Jones no great trouble.

Golders Green were soon in danger again, and Barker claimed attention with a beautiful shot from far out, but the ball swerved away from the net. Golders Green were suffering from the old trouble of not marking the men, and Southall's left wing had far too much freedom. An equaliser from this quarter looked very probable, but Southall's shooting was not their strong point.

Towards the end of the game Golders Green strengthened up a bit, and Long deserved a goal, but was unlucky to hit the crossbar when he turned in a centre from F. Boston. From a corner kick, Brown headed into the goalkeeper's arms, and then Boston skied the ball over the top.

For ten minutes Golders Green had their chances, but wild passing was responsible for their failure, while Southall had the combination but not the finishing power.

Golders Green were awarded a penalty for a foul on Long, but Caswell, taking the spot-kick, gave a poor show and Jones saved the shot without much difficulty.

Play speeded up somewhat in the closing minutes, but no goal came and none was really expected.