Match Report

Redhill
3
Hendon
3
Date:
Saturday 13 September 1924
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Redhill

Match Report

From the Hendon & Finchley Times, 19 September 1924 :

A last-minute goal deprived Hampstead [Town] of a well-merited victory over Redhill on Saturday and brought about an exciting finish to a splendid game. Hampstead, losing the toss, were set to face the sun and a stiff breeze. The game opened at a hot pace and a little uncertainty on the part of the Town defenders was apparent, and resulted in two corners being conceded, from the second of which Redhill scored the first goal of the match after eight minutes. The game then resolved itself into a ding-dong struggle, a feature of which was some brilliant forward play by both sets of forwards. After thirty minutes play Seabrooke got through and, although hampered by three Redhill defenders, scored a clever equalising goal. With but a minute to half-time a faulty clearance presented Wilkins, of Redhill, with an easy chance to score, which he accepted. Straight from the restart the Hampstead forwards went down the field and Wardlaw, securing possession, scored with a hard drive, bringing the scores again level.

Hampstead had the advantage of weather conditions in the second half, but were considerably handicapped by injuries sustained by Wise and Day, which took a great deal out of the previous accuracy of the forward play. The Town halves were, however, putting up a great game and Redhill were seldom allowed to become dangerous. During the first twenty minutes of the second half, Goodwin, who was making his first appearance in the Hampstead goal, had an idle time, but the Redhill goal was within an ace of falling on several occasions. With only twenty minutes remaining for play Seabrooke got through and with a clever individual effort gave Hampstead the lead. Redhill, naturally, fought desperately for the equaliser. With the referee consulting his watch it looked a good thing for the Town, when a defender, in clearing, cannoned the ball against another player. It deflected to the feet of Wilkins, who completed his hat trick and again brought the scores level, much to the relief of the home supporters.
_________________________________________________________________________________
From the Surrey Mirror, 19 September, 1924 (including teams) :

A large crowd assembled on the Memorial Sports Ground on Saturday to welcome the Reds on the occasion of their first home fixture of the season. Redhill relied on the team that secured the verdict at Windsor on the previous Saturday, and with two wins away from home to their credit the crowd settled down to see the club register the third successive victory. Hampstead Town, however, proved that "Jack was as good as his master," and they had the better of the exchanges in the second half, for they led 3-2 until a minute from time, when a dramatic goal by Wilkins, following upon dogged play by Scarborough, placed the Reds on terms and enabled them to share the points with their clever rivals.

Skipper Long was successful with the spin of the coin, and elected to play with the wind at his back. The Reds started strongly and early forced a couple of corners, from the second of which Wilkins headed into the net after six minutes' play. Interest centred largely in the form shown by Church at centre-half, Daniels at outside-right and Scarborough in the centre, and each was putting in neat work. Church was particularly useful with his head after the visitors had got into their stride, and were putting in forceful team work. The visiting backs, as a pair, were superior to the home twain, though Jeffrey put in his usual tireless, solid work. The Town forwards were a smart, nippy lot, with an excellent centre and inside-left, and their centre-half was a bit extra. The home halves fell away after the interval, and, as at Windsor, their constructive work was poor and the forwards suffered accordingly. The opposing forwards were allowed too much rope, and they made the best of their opportunities, throwing an inordinate amount of work on the backs. Day was occasionally dangerous on the outside-right, and from one of his onslaughts Rose did well to get the ball away. The game was contested at a good speed, and each side pressed in turn. A lovely run by the Town left wing saw Rose save a grand shot at the expense of a corner, while Daniels did capital work at the other end of the field. The Reds pressed, but Goodwin kept a fine goal, and then Seabrooke made a determined effort, and although tackled by three defenders grimly held on to the ball and got in a lovely shot which had Rose beaten after play had been in progress thirty minutes. The Redhill attack was by no means idle, but it was sadly handicapped by the fact that White, who was damaged while playing for Crystal Palace on Wednesday, was early limping, and was only a passenger throughout the game. He would have rendered his side better service had he stood down, as he was obviously not fit to stand the strain of a League encounter. Just before half-time there was a dramatic spell of play. Cleverly fed by Church, Wilkins ran through and smartly steered the ball through the goalie's legs into the net, and a lead at the interval seemed to be assured, but Hampstead straightway pressed so heavily on the right that Jeffrey was compelled to concede a corner, and from a perfect centre the visitors were put on terms, the whistle immedately sounding for half-time.

Hampstead went off strongly on the resumption, and Rose kept out a great shot in his best style. Wilkins and Daniels carried hostilites to the other end, where the ball was driven into the side of the net. Barnes was conspicuous for effective work for the Town, for the halves and backs were putting up a robust game. After another unsuccessful onslaught by the Reds the latter were for some time kept strictly on the defensive and Jeffrey put in hard work. There was a good understanding between Weaver and Wise on the Town left wing, and at times the attack put in spells of good combined play. The home forwards were not idle, and the centre and right wing tried hard to improve the fortunes of their side, but failed to pass Brazier, who was in rare form at left-back for Hampstead. There was a ding-dong fight for supremacy, and had the home halves displayed more cohesion and tackled with more resolution, the Reds might have succeeded despite the incapacity of White. As it was, the game was not to end without its thrills. With five minutes to go, the speedy opposition left wing easily outmanoeuvred Houghton and sent across a lovely centre. Wardlaw fastened on to the ball and shot. Rose might have negotiated this had not Webb unsighted him, and thus the Town gained the lead, and the crowd expected to see the Reds sustain their first defeat of the season. But this was not to be. As at Windsor, the lads put up a dour fight, and in almost the last kick of the match Wilkins placed his side on terms, to the unrestrained joy of the crowd. It was Wilkins' third goal of the match, but the achievement was as much due to Scarborough, who although resolutely tackled held on to the ball with grim determination, and beating his opponent transferred to Wilkins, who scored with a very fine shot. Thus Hampstead were robbed of a victory almost on the stoke of time and the Reds maintained their unbeaten record. With one or two weak spots in the team strengthened the Reds should be capable of putting up a very good record in League and competition games. Webb was injured, and had to retire for treatment, but pluckily resumed. He did a number of good things, but his play was mediocre, while Houghton was frequently beaten bya smart left wing.

Hampstead Town

1
Ernie Goodwin
2
W T Field
3
Ron Brazier
4
Syd Sweetman
5
Bert Barnes
6
Bob Wardlaw
7
Travers Day
8
Freddy Young
9
Kenneth Seabrooke
10
Cecil Wise
11
Jack Weaver

Match Events

A C Wilkins
7''
30''
Kenneth Seabrooke
A C Wilkins
44''
45''
Bob Wardlaw
85''
Kenneth Seabrooke
A C Wilkins
90''

Redhill

1
F Rose
2
G Webb
3
G L Jeffrey
4
W Houghton
5
S Church
6
F R Long
7
W Daniels
8
A C Wilkins
9
T Scarborough
10
H White
11
A Finn