PREAMBLE TO REPORT:
Mud and excessive need for the whistle spoilt Golders Green's Athenian League match with Walthamstow Avenue on Saturday. There can have been few games with more free-kicks than were awarded at Claremont Road - most of them in favour of Golders Green.

Walthamstow did not deserve a two-goal lead at half-time and, though they earned their victory, the final score of 5-0 flattered the visitors on the run of the play. Golders Green should have scored twice in the first half, and could have netted by a penalty if the spot-kick had been given to one of the Bostons instead of Graves, who landed the ball into the goalkeeper's arms.

MATCH REPORT:
Golders Green had one change on Saturday, A. Wilson taking the place of E.M. Owen (inside-left), who was absent through a family bereavement ; while Walthamstow Avenue made three last-minute changes, Wright going to the right wing in place of Collins, Seagar taking Wright's position at left-half, and Johnson coming in at right back in place of Hicks.

But the heavy going through mud and water knocked out any comparison of individual form or a true impression of the effects of these changes, though it was clear that Wilson had not the " class " of Owen.

The highlights of the game were the enormous number of free-kicks, Golders Green's penalty that went wrong, and the bouncing of the ball in the Golders Green goalmouth after the referee had awarded Walthamstow a goal and then reversed his decision.

Walthamstow were without Magner and Vincent, besides the late changes, but they maintained their unbeaten League record with comparative ease, though Golders Green put up a good show in the first half and should have scored a goal or two before the interval.

Walthamstow pressed from the kick-off and short passing on the left wing took them well into home territory. Davis tried a shot, which was cleared by W. Boston, and Graves got the ball out to Breagan, who went away well but centred too far forward for Thomas.

Saphin's clearance found Fielding, who joined with Foreman in scrambling the ball through in the centre, but Barlow had no difficulty in saving Foreman's shot.

Bucci, who was putting in some nice touches, was tripped and W. Boston placed the ball well from the free-kick. Thomas took it up and when tackled swung it out to F. Boston, who evaded Johnson and shot from an acute angle, but Saphin held the ball. Ellison secured the ball from the goalie's kick and put in a ground shot which forced Saphin to put it round for a corner.

Wilson was making some good moves, but could not make up for the absence of Owen.

Walthamstow were chiefly dangerous on the left wing, but Graves and W. Boston worked well to bfreak up the most threatening movements, and Lovell was putting up a good show in defence and in supplying the forwards. Barlow was tested by Davis after a pretty piece of team work between Davis, Fielding and Foreman, but he met with nothing very difficult in these early stages.

At the other end a goal was promised when Bucci took the ball downfield in the centre and winged it smartly for F. Boston to reply with a first-timer, which struck the side of the net. Golders Green were concentrating too much on the left wing, but when Breagan was given a chance he worked brilliantly, apparently enjoying the appalling conditions, and his efforts deserved success, though it never came.

Barlow was called upon again by Davis, and soon afterwards a sharp attack by the right wing led to a corner, but Golders Green survived this and they were now enjoying rather more of the play. They met with a severe blow when Graves was injured and had to leave the field, but good defence work kept the visitors from securing the advantage for which they pressed while Golders Green were short. In fact, the home side nearly took the lead through a sparkling effort by Thomas and Wilson, but the outside-left was needed to finish off, and Boston had dropped back to cover the absence of Graves.

Foreman broke clean away once and might almost have walked the ball into the home goal, but shot yards wide.

Graves had now returned, and with the front line complete again the prospect looked good for Golders Green, but after Saphin had saved from F. Boston and Thomas, DAVIS got through the home defence to open the score for Walthamstow 10 minutes before half-time. Soon after GROVES converted a centre from Davis to give them a two-goal lead.

Golders Green made great efforts in the early stages of the second half to reduce the lead, and Breagan figured in some dashing attacks, but the old fault of wasting time instead of quick passing began to appear again and Walthamstow were more and more on top of the game.

Breagan was unlucky to be brought down heavily when going well with a fair chance for goal, and Thomas also looked a scorer but was sandwiched on the point of shooting.

Golders Green's penalty was awarded for a foul on Breagan by the left back. Graves took the kick but made a poor show of it, making a gift of the ball to Saphin.

Golders Green gained a corner, well placed by Breagan, and Thomas got his head to the ball, but Saphin cleared, and he also held a low shot from Ellison.

Then Walthamstow broke through in the centre and Foreman shot. Barlow partially cleared, the ball fell apparently on the line and the referee pointed to the centre. The goal was strongly disputed, and after consulting with the linesman the referee altered his decision and gave a throw-down in the goalmouth. The ball was scrambled away, but WRIGHT secured it and shot past the defenders to give Walthamstow their third goal.

The visitors' goal escaped from three corners, in which the honours were shared between Ellison and Breagan. Then FOREMAN put Walthamstow four up, and in the last five minutes added the fifth. W. Boston had kicked the ball back to Barlow, but in the mud it did not go the distance and FOREMAN followed it up to net with ease.