Match Report

Redhill
1
Hendon
1
Date:
Saturday 25 February 1928
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
2000
Venue:
Redhill

Match Report

From the Hendon & Finchley Times, 2 March 1928 (includes teams) :

Hampstead put up a fine performance in bringing away a point from Redhill, who are second in the League table to Barking. Hampstead were without Young at right-half, for whom Thorlby deputised, and Shearcroft (injured) at inside-right, Reinke filling this position, with Sear at outside-right.

Wardlaw lost the toss and Hampstead were set to face a glaring sun. At the start the exchanges were even, but after ten minutes' play Neil, receiving a pass from Sear, cleverly beat Church, when tackled, and went on and opened the score for Hampstead with a fine shot. Redhill then attacked strongly and Smith brought off a fine save from Wilkins. Play was soon transferred to the other end and Rose, in the Redhill goal, cleared well from a shot by Reinke.

From a breakaway by L. Smith it seemed certain he would score, but S.R. Smith came out, and the first-named put the ball over the bar. Redhill, however, equalised through Wilkins, who scored close in from a pass by McCarthy. The interval arrived with the scores one all, a good reflection of the play.

The second half was played at a fast pace, both teams attacking in turn, Redhill, perhaps, a little more than Hampstead, but they were foiled time and again by Smith, Shorland and Owens. Owens, particularly, was playing a great game. Ten minutes from the end Hampstead were awarded a penalty, but from the spot kick Smy put the ball straight at Rose in the Redhill goal, who cleared. Redhill then fought hard for the winning goal and Wilkins put in a fine shot, but Smith brought off a miraculous save. He dived through the air from one end of the goal to the other and turned the ball round the post for a corner. Hampstead cleared, and with two minutes to go Sear broke away and went full speed for the Redhill goal, and it seemed certain he would score with only the goal-keeper to beat, but just as he was about to put in his shot the ball bounced and hit his knee, causing it to go wide of the goal. The final whistle went with the teams still one all after a most enjoyable game.

For Hampstead, Smith gave a fine display in goal, as did Owens at left-back, whilst Moody, at centre-half, played a sound and cool game. Neil led the forwards well, and was always ready for a dash through. Smy was also responsible for some brilliant football, in fact the whole team, considering they were up against one of the strongest sides in the League, played well.
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From the Surrey Mirror, 2 March 1928 (includes teams) :

After having fulfilled engagements away from home for the last six weeks,
Redhill made a welcome re-appearance on the Memorial Sports Ground on Saturday, when they entertained Hampstead in a League match and drew, each side scoring once. Attracted, no doubt, by the fine weather, a crowd some 2,000 strong witnessed the game, which, despite the sun, which shone with enough brilliance to considerably handicap the team who were playing against it, and to make the going a trifle warmer than it has been of late, was fought out at a rare pace throughout. The Reds' display, particularly when one takes into consideration the noteworthy achievements which they have accomplished on foreign soil this season, was a little disappointing, a weakness on the part of the forwards in making use of oppportunities in front of goal, being largely the cause of their inability to annex both points. Some word of praise, however, is due to the visitors' defence, particularly Owens, who, it will be remembered, figured in the Redhill colours earlier in the season, and S.R. Smith, the latter giving a sterling display between the sticks. The honour of being the best back on the field undoubtedly fell to Barber, who was always a sure and fearless tackler, and placed the ball to his colleagues with rare judgment. Of the forwards McCarthy and Wilkins combined to make a dangerous wing on the right, but Goodson failed to strike form, and in consequence Goldsmith was given little chance of proving his worth, although at times he delighted the spectators with some pretty footwork. The Hampstead attack was characterised by two fast wing men in Levy, on the left, and Sear, the latter having hard luck on many occasions, when over-eagerness apparently led him to shoot wildly.

All things considered, the game was fairly even, and the score is a fair reflex of the play. Rose won the toss, and it was a curious fact that although Redhill gained some advantage in the first half by having the sun behind them, it was during this period that Hampstead had the better of the play. In the second half, particularly in the closing stages, the Reds attacked constantly, when the visiting defence was subjected to heavy pressure. The latter, however, prevailed, and when the visitors were awarded a penalty for an infringement by a Redhill defender, things looked black for the home team. Rose, however, effected a clever save from the spot-kick, and thus prevented what would probably have been the deciding goal. At the outset, Redhill initiated an early attack, Smith sending a long pass to McCarthy, which went astray, and a little later Goodson spoiled a nice movement by running offside. At the other end, Rose punched away from Smy, and Thorlby, the attack finally terminating when Edwards, who, incidentally, gave of his best, executed a neat clearance. About this time, the Reds were having the better of the exchanges, but after 15 minutes, Neil put Hampstead ahead as the result of a sudden break-away by Sear. Stung by this reverse, the Reds attacked hotly, and Wilkins and Edwards were prominent with good efforts. Ten minutes later, the home team drew level, a nice combined movement between Wilkins and McCarthy resulting in the former scoring from close range. In the second half, the Reds had much the better of the exchanges, but were peculiarly ineffective in front of goal. Hampstead made brief sallies into home territory, and it was during one of these that they were awarded the penalty mentioned above. Generally, however, the defences of both teams predominated over the attack, and the match ended as stated.

Hampstead

1
Sid Smith
2
Jimmy Shorland
3
Albert Owens
4
A Thorlby
5
Percy Moody
6
Bob Wardlaw
7
Reggie Sear
8
Oscar Reinke
9
Billy Neil
10
Jimmy Smy
11
David Levy

Match Events

15''
Billy Neil
A C Wilkins
26''

Redhill

1
F Rose
2
G W Webb
3
G Barber
4
W T Cable
5
S Church
6
A Edwards
7
G McCarthy
8
A C Wilkins
9
L Smith
10
W Goodson
11
M Goldsmith