Match Report

Hendon
6
Southall
2
Date:
Saturday 13 March 1926
Competition:
Middlesex Charity Cup
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Hampstead Town

Match Report

From the Hendon & Finchley Times, 19 March 1926 :

By the unexpectedly large score of six goals to two, Hampstead Town earned the right to take part in the semi-final round of the Middlesex Charity Cup at the expense of Southall, who have now been dismissed from both County competitions. A delightful afternoon attracted a large crowd to Cricklewood-lane, and the result, of course, gave a large measure of satisfaction, but there were one or two little incidents which marred the game, the feelings of some of the visiting players, notably Holding in goal, being somewhat ruffled.

Southall had the unusual experience of being five goals down at half-time, and although in the second half, when the sun did not trouble them so much, they had a good share of the game, the result was never in doubt. Southall had never done so poorly at Cricklewood-lane. True, they were without one or two regular members of the side, but, on the other hand, Hampstead lacked the services of Pease at centre-half, both he and Howell being in the Middlesex team that faced Dorset at Poole. H.J. Dimmock took the place of Pease, and it may be said at once that his performance was most creditable.

By winning the toss Wardlaw compelled Southall to play with the sun in their eyes, no small disadvantage, but the visitors made the first offensive movement, Goodwin effecting one good save. For some reason or other, players on both sides were not sure in their kicking, Wise, among the number, being unable to do the right thing, but at the end of four minutes, from the first run down, Reinke headed a goal, the ball coming in to him from the head of a Southall defender. This was good business for Hampstead, but better was to come, as after Reinke had sent the ball over the top, and a fruitless corner had followed a beautiful shot from Bucci, Reinke was fouled in the penalty area, and Cousins, taking the place kick, put Hampstead two up.

Hampstead continued the attack, Goodwin having a very easy time. The combination of the home forwards excited much admiration and they had the backing of a very efficient trio of halves, Wardlaw giving one of his best displays, while the work of Dimmock was commendable. He played energetically but not without caution, and while he fed the forwards he did not neglect an opportunity of shooting at goal. After some good attempts from all the forwards, Bucci giving a much improved display, Reinke had the credit of getting Hampstead's third goal, but it was one of the softest we have ever seen scored, the ball passing through Holding's hands and just crossing the line. Holding seemed to have lost sight of the ball in watching the movements of Reinke and an opponent. The next goal, which quickly followed, was also credited to Reinke, who thus in a comparatively short time completed the hat trick, but Bucci is entitled to a share of the praise, because a beautiful centre from his foot gave the dashing Reinke his opportunity. Then Wise, following some beautiful combined work in which Ashby and Reinke were prominent, added to Southall's discomfiture by scoring the fifth goal. All this time Southall had had to act mainly on the defensive. Whenever their forwards got clear they finished badly, one shot going clean over the dressing rooms. Shortly before half-time Reinke got his leg injured (no opponent could be blamed), but after a little attention he was able to resume. From a corner the Hampstead goal had a narrow escape and then at the other end, Wise found the net, but the referee decided that the ball had previously crossed the touch-line. Ashby, who had been doing good work, then tried hard to improve on Bucci's centre, but his header went the wrong side of the post.

Re-starting with five goals in hand, Hampstead Town might have been inclined to take matters easy, but no love is lost between these teams, and they again started in determined fashion. A re-shuffle of the forward line was necessary because Reinke was feeling the effect of an injury, Ashby going in the centre, and Cousins being inside to Reinke. This, coupled with the fact that Hampstead had the disadvantage of facing the sun, caused the game to run on more even lines. The prominent man in attack was Clark, who found a good partner in Payne, and had not Wardlaw been in exceptionally good form much damage might have been caused. Margetts, in the rear, did very well, and R.S. Clarke rushed in at times to thwart the efforts of his namesake. Southall at length opened their scoring through a penalty kick, taken by Clark, the ball going well out of reach of Goodwin after striking the post. The game continued very fast, both goals being visited in turn, but the next goal also fell to Southall, Clark scoring a point with what seemed to us the best shot of the match. Reinke, feeling a trifle better, then resumed his old position, and from that time onwards Hampstead quite more than held their own. Ashby, securing from the left wing, scored Hampstead's sixth goal, and the end came with the home side pressing. Once there was a loud demand for a penalty kick, and we do not think the referee would have erred in making Southall suffer for what appeared to be unfair play, but the controlling official took no notice of the appeal. During the last stages, however, one or two of the visitors did not play the game in the spirit we are accustomed to see from Athenian League clubs.

Hampstead thoroughly deserved their victory on the day's play, but there would have been more satisfaction had it been secured against Southall's full strength. Howell was missed on the extreme left, but Clarke, Hampstead's right-back, has improved in his work to such an extent that it is quite probable Howell would not have been so dangerous as we know he can be against a defence that is at all uncertain. Dimmock is to be congratulated on the manner in which he filled the place of Pease, and Bucci did very well at outside-left. He was content to give others opportunities rather than attempting too much with his own feet, and some of his centres were the direct cause of goals. Wardlaw played one of his best games and proved a rare spoiler.
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From the West Middlesex Gazette, 20 March 1926 (including teams) :

Southall were four short of their regular team, Buttery, Wenham, Jackson, and Howell being absent, when they visited Hampstead Town in the first round of the Middlesex Charity Cup on Saturday, and were defeated by 6-2. The home team were the better all round, and well deserved to win, though they were flattered by the margin.

Hampstead Town put on five goals without response in the first half. Southall were placed at a great handicap in having to face a strong sun and the home team exploited their advantage to the full, swinging the ball about freely. The scoring was opened after three minutes, Reinke heading through. Four minutes later Adams made the mistake of retaliating for a dangerous but officially unnoticed foul by Reinke and Hampstead were awarded a penalty, from which Cousins scored. The third goal came after 23 minutes and was a very simple affair, Holding, doubtless troubled by the sun, allowing a stray shot to trickle between his legs. Matters continued to run Hampstead's way and five minutes later they added two more goals in quick succession through Reinke and Wise. In between this scoring Southall had made several promising attacks, but failed to round them off effectively, keeping the ball too close and neglecting to shoot promptly. McDonald, who was often prominent, gave Goodwin trouble with a splendid shot, and Southall were unlucky when Kelso hit the underpart of the crossbar with a header, the ball rebounding into play.

The sun was not so powerful an aid when Southall opened the second half with a series of attacks that ended after eight minutes with McDonald being brought down in the penalty area, Clark scoring with the kick. Immediately afterwards, from a corner, Southall made a confident but unsuccessful appeal for a penalty for hands. Johnson changed positions with Thomas on resuming and played a capital game at centre half for Southall, with the result that the Hampstead forwards were kept more in check, and the visitors had the better of play that remained mostly in midfield. Fifteen minutes from the end McDonald made a clever opening for Clark, who scored with a beautiful cross shot, but in the next minute Hampstead again got through, Ashby shooting through at close range
Result : Hampstead Town, 6 ; Southall, 2.

Hampstead Town

1
Ernie Goodwin
2
R S Clarke
3
G A Margetts
4
A Thorlby
5
H J Dimmock
6
Bob Wardlaw
7
Sid Cousins
8
J H Ashby
9
Oscar Reinke
10
Cecil Wise
11
George Bucci

Match Events

4''
Oscar Reinke
8''
Sid Cousins
24''
Oscar Reinke
29''
Oscar Reinke
31''
Cecil Wise
D Clark
54''
D Clark
75''
76''
J H Ashby

Southall

1
T Holding
2
F Goodwin
3
S Adams
4
C Kelso
5
E Thomas
6
F R Johnson
7
J Payne
8
D Clark
9
A E Corben
10
F O'Connell
11
D McDonald