Match Report

Hendon
0
Barnet
0
Date:
Saturday 09 February 1924
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Hampstead Town

Match Report

Hampstead Town had another most attractive fixture on Saturday, Barnet, who have done exceptionally well this season, being the visitors in the Athenian League. Goalless draws are often most uninteresting games, but this was an exception, indeed, it was one of the finest played at Cricklewood-lane this season.

As in the previous game with Bromley, an exceptional display by the visiting goalkeeper prevented Hampstead from taking two points instead of one. C. Standish, who, by the way, is a Child's Hill lad, saved Barnet time after time when the downfall of the goal seemed certain, and capped all his efforts by tipping a penalty kick over the bar.

While the Hampstead orwards disappointed by not taking advantage of many chances that were offered, they played exceptionally well, and there is no reason to advance for making changes. Both Travers Day and G.F. Howell on the extreme wings put across some well-directed centres, C. Wise played with judgment with both feet and head, and even more energy than usual was exhibited by F.G. Young and K.G. Seabrooke. More by luck than lack of skill on their part were many shots saved. The game was by no means one-sided, and perhaps the easiest chance of all in the first twenty minutes fell to G. Deeks, the Barnet outside-right, who should have availed himself of a good opening instead of trusting to a colleague. It was a wonderful escape. The visitors' right wing, Deeks and Packham (the latter an old Hampstead Town player) were often dangerous but they met with sturdy opponents in R. Wardlaw and W.G. Harry, the latter being even more fearless than is his wont. Some of his clearances were wonderfully good. He revels in hard work.

The first half was well advanced before Standish was beaten, and it was a piece of extremely bad luck for Hampstead that a goal was not counted. Fed as with a spoon by Wise, Howell had made many brilliant runs, without tangible result, sometimes through good tackling by the opposing back, but often through ineffectiveness on his own side, but at length, getting possession of the ball near the half-way line, he speeded along the side of the pitch and was making a straight course for goal when he was fouled. Recovering himself, he completed the movement by sending the ball into the net at an angle that quite beat Standish, but as the whistle had previously blown for a free kick just outside the penalty area for the infringement, the goal did not count. The free kick was fruitless.

Play in the second half was almost as much in favour of Hampstead as the first had been, but the result was the same : no goals. During this period a penalty was awarded to Hampstead for a foul on Seabrooke when it seemed almost certain that he would score, but Hampstead's luck is out when taking penalty kicks, Seabrooke being no more successful than his predecessors have been this season. Wise might be allowed to try his luck next time. The place kick was finely saved by Standish, who won the admiration of the crowd although he was keeping victory from the home side. But for him the result would not have been in doubt.

Taking the game throughout, it was pleasantly contested, much more so than many of the matches between the teams, rivalry being very strong. Last season Barnet won the League game at Cricklewood-lane, and therefore Hampstead are one point to the good by effecting a draw, but on the run of the play Barnet may account themselves fortunate in not losing both points.

Apart from Standish, W. Allen (centre-half) and C. Sparrow (centre-forward) were prominent for Barnet,; on the well-balanced home side pperhaps the pick were Field and Harry (backs), Lewis Smith (centre-half), and Travers Day and C. Wise (forwards).

Report by Hendon & Finchley Times

Hampstead Town

1
E T McCracken
2
W T Field
3
W G Harry
4
Bill Little
5
Lewis Smith
6
Bob Wardlaw
7
Travers Day
8
Freddy Young
9
Kenneth Seabrooke
10
Cecil Wise
11
George Howell

Match Events

Barnet

1
C E Standish
5
W Allen
7
G P Deeks
8
F W Packham
9
C Sparrow