Match Report

Redhill
4
Hendon
2
Date:
Saturday 04 September 1926
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Redhill

Match Report

From the Hendon & Finchley Times, 10 September 1926 :

For their Athenian League match against Redhill on Saturday Hampstead were again short of full strength, as Wise and Sear had not recovered from slight injuries sustained in the match against Botwell Mission on the previous Wednesday, and newcomers in Watkins and Hartman were drafted into the team at the last moment. The former (who deputised for Wise) has a good name in the Luton district, from whence he hails, but scarcely justified his inclusion. Hartman did not get many chances at outside-right and scarcely received a decent pass from his inside forward and supporting half-back.

The Redhill intermediate line dominated the game chiefly owing to the weaknesses in the Hampstead forward line, and Hampstead's defence had a busy afternoon. Allen could not be blamed for his side's defeat, but some of his work did not exactly please. Clarke played a brilliant game, but made one bad blunder in the first half, which was the immediate cause of a goal against the visitors, and his partner, Turner, shortly afterwards presented Redhill with another scoring chance, which they accepted. Turner improved as the game progressed and gave quite a creditable display in the second half, which ran on more even lines than the first.

Redhill led by 3-1 at half-time, but immediately on resuming Hampstead reduced their lead to 3-2 and for the next thirty minutes appeared to have a chance of drawing level. A fourth goal for Redhill by Wilkins settled the issue. Clarke, Wardlaw, Pease and Evans were the pick of the Hampstead side.
_________________________________________________________________________________
From the Surrey Mirror, 10 September 1926 :
[N.B. This report gives the teams, but it does not include the several changes to Hampstead's line-up given in the H&FT report above, nor does it recognise the dropping of "Town" from Hampstead's club name. The SM report has been amended where necessary to reflect those changes.]

In weather more suited to summer sports than the more robust winter games, Redhill played their first home Athenian League game on Saturday, when they entertained Hampstead and captured a brace of points after a game which produced periods of good football, sandwiched between spasms of play of a more or less indifferent character. The score of 4-2 fairly reflected the merits of the respective sides, and must be considered highly satisfactory from the home partisans' viewpoint, especially in view of the fact that the committee had resorted to further experiments in the composition of the team. Long gave place to J. Shaw in the intermediate line, and only two players (Riley and Simpson) in the forward line who did duty the previous week were included, W. Gatland, A.C. Wilkins, and F. Gathercole displacing Dale, Lucas, and Goldsmith. On the whole the side was a good one, and in the condition of things they gave a promising display. Though not quite yet in his last season's stride, Rose did quite a number of good things in goal, but had an easy job compared with the visitors' custodian. Webb and Jeffrey defended with a fair amount of steadiness, and were generally present when called upon. The alertness and quick acting of Church contributed largely to the home team's success, and Kemp was always a force to be reckoned with. What has been said of these two halves, does not, however, detract from the useful game played by Shaw. The only weakness in the forward line was at inside-left, but not sufficient to seriously affect that balance which is so essential in a forward line to win games. Riley led the quintette with considerable skill, and repeated his performance of the previous Saturday at Enfield by scoring two goals. Wilkins played his usual good game, and Gatland, who was outside to him, was noticeable for speed, his centres being an outstanding feature. On the other wing, Simpson put in some clever work, especially in the first half, but after the interval there was a tendency to neglect that wing too much. Given a little more of the play when a victory for the Reds was practically assured, would perhaps led to a better understanding between him and Gathercole. Although Hampstead lost, it must not be thought that they are incapable of better football than that which they played on Saturday, and Redhill will have to look to their laurels when they play the return. Their goalkeeper ran risks at times, but this was due to the backs' inability to stay the attacks of the home forwards. Pease was the pick of their halves, but while there was some good individual play forward, cohesion was a missing quantity.

Redhill started and early called upon Allen to handle. A succession of hefty kicks by Church kept play in the visitors' half, but centres by Simpson and Gatland went begging. A corner was abortive, and after a short-lived invasion by Hampstead, Redhill returned to the attack. Riley had an open goal, but sent over the net. A few minutes later he shot right across the mouth of the goal, the ball going just outside the post. Continuing the pressure, Gatland sent down a beautiful centre from close on the goal-line. Riley just missed, but Simpson secured possession and scored at close range - a well-deserved culmination of a combined effort. Wilkins was well in the picture in the play which immediately followed, and broke away time and again, mainly through the instrumentality of Church and Kemp. Riley was ever qui-vive and snapped at a splendid opportunity when Pease failed to clear from Church. Favourably placed, he made no mistake with a first-timer, which went into the net well out of the reach of the goalie, with terrific speed. Webb and Jeffrey had up to now been playing a fine game, but with a two-goal clear lead there was a pardonable lull in the pace, and during this Hampstead made their first dangerous-looking visit to the home goal. Evans and Watkins tried conclusions at goal, but their shots went astray. Their efforts were at length rewarded, Rose being caught napping by an easy shot from Evans after he had cleared one from the left wing. A short period of give and take play in midfield was followed by a return by Redhill to their earlier form. Kemp was a tower of strength, and Shaw put in some good play. Once, however, when he looked a sure scorer, he took a chance shot at a spinning ball when he had plenty of time to steady himself. The goalie saved more by luck than good management. Redhill's third goal came from Riley, who gave a capital finish to a passing bout in which all the forwards took part. Later, a free kick by him resulted in a corner, which was cleared nicely by Allen. Hampstead essayed to reduce the lead, but half-time saw the score 3-1.

The second half opened auspiciously for Hampstead, Evans scoring from a scrimmage in front of goal within a minute of the re-start. Redhill replied in force, Riley, Wilkins, and Gatland showing good form. Now and again, when Hampstead broke away Jeffrey was found a stumbling block. The pace and heat was evidently telling on both sides, and play deteriorated appreciably. A series of kicks by the respective backs, however, always brought an element of danger, and once or twice Rose had to look to his laurels. During another such occasion at the other end Riley had a fine opening, but the chance went awry for lack of support. Church was ever in the forefront where work was to be done. Riley missed an open goal with a spinning ball, and Hampstead raced away from the goal-kick and caused Rose to handle twice in quick succession. Play of a ding-dong character reigned for five minutes until danger came from the home right wing, and Wilkins scored an easy goal. Redhill continued to press to the end, but there was no more scoring.

Hampstead

1
R S Allen
2
R S Clarke
3
C E Turner
4
A Thorlby
5
Harold Pease
6
Bob Wardlaw
7
? Hartman
8
Vic Rowe
9
Freddie Evans
10
Frank Watkins
11
A E Brandom

Match Events

G Simpson
15''
E Riley
20''
35''
Freddie Evans
E Riley
40''
46''
Freddie Evans
A C Wilkins
80''

Redhill

1
F Rose
2
G W Webb
3
G L Jeffrey
4
J Kemp
5
S Church
6
J Shaw
7
W Gatland
8
A C Wilkins
9
E Riley
10
F Gathercole
11
G Simpson