Match Report

Hendon
1
Redhill
2
Date:
Saturday 08 October 1927
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Hampstead

Match Report

From the Hendon & Finchley Times, 14 October 1927 (including teams) :

Changes made in the Hampstead team for their match with Redhill at Claremont-road on Saturday brought no luck, the Surrey side capturing both Athenian League points. At the interval the score was one all, but Redhill got another in the second half, and Hampstead, though having a good share of the play, made no response. It must be confessed that the visitors, on the run of the game, deserved their win, and but for an exceptionally good show by Goodwin it would have been more pronounced. Indeed, Goodwin's work was really the only satisfactory feature from Hampstead's point of view. He seemed to be deceived by the flight of the shot which gave Redhill their first goal, but he was scarcely ever at fault afterwards, and it was the best display since he resumed his position in the Hampstead team.

It will be seen [from the line-up below] that Pease was omitted from the Hampstead team. His form this season has not been up to the old standard, and this has led to a certain amount of barracking from the crowd, which has in turn had an influence upon the committee. Pease has rendered the club good service, and it is to be hoped that barracking will not become a growing form of amusement at Claremont-road. Preferably let us have a few words of encouragement to players when things are not running well.

Wardlaw took Pease's place at centre-half, and Bucci, on the strength of his play with the Reserves, was brought in at left-half, but the change did not work well, and with Anderson injured, the half-back line was very feeble. A weakness in this part of the team was mainly responsible for defeat. Bucci was not equal to the task of stemming a fine wing in McCarthy and Wilkins, and unfortunately Allwright, who was immediately behind him, was not too good in his clearances. Wardlaw, probably in an effort to do two men's work (he never spares himself) proved unequal to filling the position of centre-half satisfactorily, and Anderson has often played better. There was little or no cohesion between the halves and the forwards ; and so great was the gap between the two lines that Hampstead at times seemed to be playing five backs. Far too frequently a Redhill player was left absolutely in possession of the ball.

There was a palpable weakness on the right wing. Young certainly sent across a number of good centres but he is better at inside-right than on the exteme wing. It was hoped that Ryding, who had been dropped for one match, would make good, but he could not be pronounced a success, while Shearcroft did not have one of his best days. He did a good deal of head work, but had the misfortune of seeing the majority of his shots go over the bar. The best work was done on the left wing, Howell and Smy proving a good pair. Hampstead's only goal came from this wing. At the end of thirty-five minutes Howell was badly fouled near goal after a fine sprint, but, regaining his balance, scored. The whistle, however, had gone, and the referee negatived the goal and awarded a penalty. This was taken by Smy, and bare justice only was meted out when that sharpshooter found the net. The scores were thus equalised, Redhill having scored a good goal through McCarthy at the end of five minutes.

Hampstead had good reason to be satisfield with the position at half-time, seeing that Redhill had proved by far the better side. It is true that they had had the advantage of the wind, but this was a gift on the part of Wardlaw, who had won the toss. Smy put in one or two hot pile-drivers which Rose, the Redhill captain, did well to clear, but the other forwards finished up most movements very tamely.

In the second half, during which Anderson went to outside-right, leaving Ryding to take a place in the half-back line, there were some promising movements by Hampstead, but after McCarthy had scored a second goal for Redhill the feeling was general that Hampstead would be once more on the losing side, and this proved to be the case. The visitors' second goal might not have been scored had some of the Hampstead players not foolishly eased up in anticipation of a free-kick for an infringement, but the referee had no hesitation on the matter.

Redhill had a very serviceable side, Church, at centre-half, being very prominent. Hampstead could have done with a player of his calibre in the same position.
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From the Surrey Mirror, 14 October 1927 (including teams) :

Redhill journeyed to Hampstead on Saturday and returned victorious by 2 goals to 1, thereby annexing two very valuable points, and, incidentally, notching their first victory on the Hampstead enclosure since joining the Athenian League. Notwithstanding the fact that Hampstead are by no means the formidable combination they have been of recent years, the form displayed by the Reds was distinctly encouraging, and they would have received no more than their due had the margin been much greater. The combination of the forwards, especially during the first half, was of a high standard, and if the inside men only continue to adopt the principles of the " W " formation, i.e., play behind their wing forwards, and and exploit the forward pass in preference to the square pass, there is every reason to anticipate continued success. The halves also showed to better advantage, their passes being generally well-directed and executed at the right moment. Both backs played a sound game, and Rose enjoyed a comparatively comfortable afternoon.

Winning the toss, Hampstead elected to take advantage of the slope, but from the commencement the visitors took up the running, and in the first few minutes came near to scoring, when Wilkins, after beating three opponents, sent in a shot which Goodwin saved at the expense of a corner. Barnfather was next in the picture with a characteristic pile-driver which gave Goodwin a rare handful. Continuing the pressure, the Reds dominated the game to such an extent that the Hampstead defence was spread-eagled, and it was only due to the clever anticipation of Goodwin in the home goal that no score was registered, good efforts by Smith, Goodson, and Wilkins being nicely dealt with by him. The team work of the visitors at this stage was a treat to watch, and although a goal seemed imminent at any moment it occasioned some surprise when McCarthy, receiving from a high centre by Barnfather, netted with a lobbing shot that Goodwin made no attempt to reach. Occasional attacks by the Hampstead forwards were capably dealt with by Webb and Jeffrey, and, continuing to enjoy much the better of the game, a runaway victory for the Reds seemed probable. This was not to be however, for in attempting to stop Howell, who was easily the best of the home vanguard, Cable was late with his tackle, and a penalty was awarded the homesters, Smy bringing the scores level with the resultant kick. This encouraged the homesters and play up to the interval was conducted on more even lines. Anderson, the home right half, was compelled to retire with a leg injury just before the interval, which arrived with the score one-all, which greatly flattered the homesters.

When play was resumed, Anderson occupied the outside-right position, Young occupying the former's berth at right half. Redhill continued to enjoy the major portion of the game, and ten minutes from the resumption took the lead, Barnfather swinging across a high centre which one of the home backs completely misjudged to enable McCarthy to find the net with a well placed shot. Play after this was somewhat desultory, the Reds apparently contenting themselves with their one-goal lead, the only outstanding incidents being a fine effort by Goodson, whose header rattled the crossbar, and a similar effort at the other end by Shearcroft, which Rose did well to turn for a corner. In the last few minutes Hampstead attacked strongly, but no further scoring took place.

Referee: Mr. H.M. Stokes

Hampstead

1
Ernie Goodwin
2
Albert Parsons
3
H H Allwright
4
A Anderson
5
Bob Wardlaw
6
George Bucci
7
Freddy Young
8
F T Ryding
9
Harry Shearcroft
10
Jimmy Smy
11
George Howell

Match Events

G McCarthy
6''
36''
Jimmy Smy
G McCarthy
56''

Redhill

1
F Rose
2
G W Webb
3
G L Jeffrey
4
W J Cable
5
S Church
6
F R Long
7
G McCarthy
8
A C Wilkins
9
L Smith
10
W Goodson
11
D Barnfather