Match Report

Summerstown
4
Hendon
1
Date:
Saturday 28 April 1928
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Summerstown

Match Report

A weakness on the left wing was in a large part responsible for Hampstead's defeat on Summerstown's ground on Saturday. The score was 4-1 against them, Shearcroft getting Hampstead's goal with the last kick of the match. The visitors were soundly beaten, and it was evident that the hard games against Enfield and Barnet during the week had a prejudicial effect upon the team. They were without J. Smy and A. Owens. The former had travelled to Glasgow with the F.A. Amateur eleven to meet the Scottish Amateurs, but unfortunately he had only a watching brief. In the absence of Owens, Bucci played at left-back, the left wing forwards being A. Wilson and W. Dempster.

The game had an end of season flavour. Summerstown were much the sprightlier side and did not hesitate to use their weight when occasion served. Smith was sound in Hampstead's goal, and but for his cleverness there would have been a big score against the visitors. From the outset he was kept busy, despite sound kicking by his backs, but the forward work of Hampstead was not impressive, although now and again there were nice concerted movements between Neil, in the centre, and the right wing pair. The scoring was opened at the end of 25 minutes, following a corner by Summerstown, E. Dominy, at inside-left, finding an opening after the ball had bobbed about in front of goal for some seconds. Hampstead played up better after this reverse, Neil being conspicuous for head work, but unfortunately his shots had a tendency to go the wrong way. Thornett, the home goalkeeper, was not greatly troubled, although he was fortunate in getting down to a low shot by Shearcroft, one of his best. Bucci showed he is better in defence than as a forward, and there was one occasion when he saved a certain goal. Shorland dashed forward to clear many times when others would have hesitated, but generally he was successful, and Hampstead succeeded in staving off further disaster until close on the interval, when Tucker beat Smith after he had saved one goood shot lying on the ground.

In the second half the superiority of the home side was most apparent, the Hampstead players doing little that called for commendation. They were palpably tired out, and when there was a chase for the ball it was ten to one that the Summerstown man would be successful. There was a suspicion of offside about Summerstown's third goal, scored by George following a brilliant run on the left wing: but their fourth, from the foot of E. Dominy, was one of the best. It was obtained when the game was nearing the end, but there was sufficient time left for Shearcroft to get one for Hampstead, thus leaving the score 4-1.

Of an ineffective line of forwards, Shearcroft was perhaps the best, and therefore it was fitting that he should score.

Report by Hendon & Finchley Times

Hampstead

1
Sid Smith
2
Jimmy Shorland
3
George Bucci
4
Freddy Young
5
Percy Moody
6
Bob Wardlaw
7
Oscar Reinke
8
Harry Shearcroft
9
Billy Neil
10
A M Wilson
11
W Dempster

Match Events

E Dominy
26''
F Tucker
43''
A George
70''
E Dominy
85''
90''
Harry Shearcroft

Summerstown

1
C Thornett
2
P Woodcock
3
J Wallace
4
T Freeman
5
A E Winterhalter
6
J Holland
7
A George
8
F Tucker
9
W Nightingale
10
E Dominy
11
J Dominy