Fresh from their Middlesex Senior Cup victory, Golders Green defeated Sutton United in the Athenian League by 2-1 at Claremont Road on Saturday. The visitors' defence could not stand against a vigorous front line supported by the halves, while the Golders Green backs were too good for the Sutton attack. When Sutton did get through, their finishing was poor, but altogether Barlow, in the Green's goal, had a restful afternoon.

Golders Green had hoped to field their cup-winning team, but Owen and Bucci were suffering from injuries, and were replaced by R.L. Evans, at inside-left, and F. Long, at left-half, both of whom did first-rate work.

The Sutton team included at inside-right, F. Vanner, a newcomer to the side who has played for the Army against the Navy and the Air Force this year.

Golders Green won the toss and chose to play into the wind. It was soon obvious that the Sutton defence was in for a busy time. Graves got the ball out to Breagan, who made good ground and centred. The ball struck Cooper and was deflected into the goalmouth, but Eldrett held it. W.E. Thomas led a Sutton attack, but Graves broke it up, and Golders Green swept back to open the scoring three minutes from the kick-off. F. Boston put the centre in for R. THOMAS to head into the net over the goalie's head as he came out to meet the ball. It was a neat piece of work by Boston and the centre-forward.

Golders Green continued to press, and a beautiful shot by Ellison, just below the bar, was well held by Eldrett. Thomas failed to connect a centre from Breagan, and the clearance put the Sutton left wing on the attack. Pratt centred well, but Graves held West off while Barlow dealt with the ball. Pratt came again, but shot behind the net, and from the goal-kick Ellison passed the ball out to Breagan, who went all out on his own, but was going too fast to turn the ball round to the net.

Golders Green suffered misfortune by the loss of F. Boston, who, running over the touchline, collided with the fence, and had to leave the field for a time. With only one wing to feed, Golders Green were badly handicapped, and Sutton, with one less source of danger, strengthened their attack, but without result. In the meantime there were some nice movements between Lovell, Breagan and Ellison, and once R. Thomas went through in good style, only to be pulled up by Cooper. Thomas passed neatly to Evans, but he had his back to the goal and could not turn in time.

In spite of being one man short Golders Green soon had the Sutton defence guessing, and beautiful work was put in by Breagan, Evans, Long and Lovell. Sutton came near to scoring, however, when W.E. Thomas shot close across the goalmouth after W. Boston had headed away from West.

When F. Boston returned to the field he featured in some strong attacks, and once struck the crossbar, Eldrett catching the ball as it fell. Thomas also had bad luck with a couple of shots.

The first corner of the game came to Sutton ten minutes ten minutes from the interval. W.E. Thomas placed the kick well, but Barlow leapt out to punch clear.

Golders Green now slackened off a bit and the defence were not clearing well. Graves' tactics were dangerous at times, his passes back leaving Barlow a very small margin of safety. Sutton were now concentrating upon their right wing, and although Long played a grand game, the Green seemed for a time to be missing the experience of Bucci. Half-time, however, arrived with Golders Green holding the one-goal lead.

Early in the second half a golden opportunity was missed when the Sutton goalie missed badly, but neither Thomas nor Ellison could reach the ball in time for a shot.

A movement started by Burns led to another attack b y the Sutton right wing, but Long robbed W. E. Thomas and pushed the ball forward to F. Boston, who drew the Sutton goalie out, but shot too high. Lovell secured the ball from the goal-kick and sent Breagan away. He centred well, and Thomas might have converted with a first-timer, but he passed out to F. Boston, whose shot went six inches outside the post.

Shortly afterwards THOMAS was knocked out when trying a header, but he quickly recovered and, in spite of his shaking, he got his head to a well-judged pass from Evans and put the ball well into the net to increase the home lead.

Sutton nearly scored when West drove the ball hard to the top of goal, but Barlow reached it. Then West forced a corner of W. Boston, but from this Willicome headed over the bar. Pettitt had a shot, but sent the ball yards wide.

At the other end Breagan and Ellison worked well to prepare the ground for Evans, but he skied the ball. Breagan centred again to Thomas, who met it with his head, but West cleared.

The Sutton forwards came into the picture from time to time, but were poor finishers until W.E. THOMAS eventually found the net, the ball glancing in off the underside of the crossbar.

Sutton fought hard for the equaliser, but the home defence were playing steadily again and in the closing stages Golders Green looked more like increasing their lead. Boston had had bad luck in missing with a shot off one of Lovell's passes and Evans went near with a header of Breagan, who shortly afterwards shot across the goalmouth after a splendid solo effort. Even W. Boston came three parts up the field and reached the Sutton goalie with a long shot.

Golders Green fully deserved the victory, but there should have been a higher score ; too many chances were missed.