In the opening Athenian League match at Claremont Road on Saturday, Tooting and Mitcham played an entirely different class of football to that presented by Golders Green, and the visitors gained a well-merited victory by 3-1. Their trapping and control of the ball were a joy to watch, and a feature of the game was the excellent work of their wing halves, Lloyd and Warne.

Golders Green, never promising in their work, went all to pieces before the brilliant combination of Tooting, and would have lost by a heavier margin but for the sound goalkeeping of Barlow and the extraordinary activity of Graves. Lewin, the new centre-forward, played well enough, but was without any real support. Hill, who had been displaced by Bucci at inside-right and moved to inside-left, was busy all the time, and was about the only man who really went for the ball, but he achieved little when he got it. Bucci showed himself once more a better half than a forward, while the wing halves, Donovan and Davis, were too slow. W. Boston gave a good display at back, but Caswell was not his usual sure self.

Tooting and Mitcham were without H. Wood at inside-left - he was crocked - and Allchorne was moved across from the right wing, W. Rae taking his place.

Tooting and Mitcham, won the toss, not that this carried any particular value, but from the kick-off they showed the better style, and after Price had broken up a movement between Lewin and Hill the visitors were led to the attack by Griffiths, who served Allchorne with a well-timed pass. Davis stopped him in time, but immediately afterwards Golders Green were in danger from a free-kick. The ball went behind the line, but Warne secured it from the goal-kick and sent Rae away. Caswell intercepted a centre to Griffiths, but miskicked and gave the ball away to Stygal, who was robbed in the nick of time by Boston, who also cleared a long shot from Allchorne. Griffiths was well placed to deal with a centre from Rae, but sliced the ball and it passed well outside the posts.

Hill and Marcantonio then figured in a couple of raids, but presented no real danger to the Tooting defence, and on the other wing Breagan, with all his tricks, made no headway.

Marcantonio centred well for Lewin to let drive once, but Jackson cleared the ball. Golders Green failed to profit from a free-kick, and Tooting were soon all round the home goal. Barlow saved from Griffiths, and eventually Graves relieved the pressure with a long pass to Marcantonio, who failed to penetrate the Tooting defence.

Back came the visitors, and Barlow did well to clear from Stygal, but midway through the first half ALLCHORNE broke through and finished well to put Tooting ahead.

Golders Green were not going after the men or the ball, and seemed quite unable to trap the ball, while their passing was generally wild.

Mansfield was called upon once or twice, but the Golders Green forwards never looked like scoring, and the nearest to an equaliser came from Davis, only to see the ball held by Mansfield at the foot of the post.

Shortly before half-time Breagan headed wide after Marcantonio had engineered an opening.

At the other end Barlow pushed the ball over the bar in saving from Griffiths and held a stiff shot from Rae.

Half-time arrived with Tooting still leading by the only goal.

Golders Green made a spirited start after the change of ends, but did not keep it up, and the Tooting forwards were soon raiding again. Rae deserved to score with a first-timer that passed close across the goalmouth.

Then Graves started a more promising movement, which ended with Bucci tapping back a short pass to Donovan, who shot low down, Mansfield falling in pushing the ball round the post, for a corner.

For a time Golders Green stirred themselves again, and Marcantonio and Lewin got in a few shots, but without doing any damage.

LLOYD netted Tooting's second goal following a corner, and two minutes later ALLCHORNE added the third, making the issue safe for the visitors.

Golders Green nearly replied through Hill, but he struck the crossbar.

There wasa lively end to the game. Davis initiated a movement which promised well, but Mansfield punched out with three home forwards in the goalmouth. Lewin shot straight into Mansfield's arms, Marcantonio drove the ball wide, Hill and Bucci tried to scramble the ball in, and in the last minute BUCCI found success, turning a pass from Marcantonio well into the net.

More of this finishing burst of energy might have changed the course of the game but it came too late.