Match Report

Hendon
1
Bromley
2
Date:
Saturday 14 October 1933
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Golders Green

Match Report

After struggling for close upon the full ninety minutes at Claremont Road on Saturday, Golders Green managed to score a goal. It came from Broadis, the centre-half, from a free kick just outside the penalty line, just as he scored the previous week against Civil Service. This goes to show that he is the man Golders Green have long been searching for to take penalty kicks.

But one goal was poor reward for much excellent work done in midfield. Bromley scored twice in the first half, and then captured the full points. On the run of the play they did not deserve to win, but one can have little sympathy with a club that is wasting chances.

In five League matches Golders Green have scored four goals and conceded six, gaining two points out of a possible 10. These figures at once put the finger on the weak spot. With one exception, and in that case the change has tended to strengthen the front line, Golders Green have the same forwards as last year, when they scored more goals than any other side in League games. Registering 82, the average was over three per match; this season, so far, it is under one per match.

In the hope of improving affairs, the forward line against Bromley was rearranged, Rowe being in the centre, Spalton taking his place at inside-right, and Evans playing at inside-left.

For some time the change seemed to work well, Evans and Drinkwater being a strong left wing. In no previous match had Drinkwater been so well served, and having recovered from his injury the previous week, he played sparkling football. Beating his opposing men time after time, he was continually giving the inside men oppportunities to score. They were playing so well that even after Bromley had opened the scoring through Francis at centre-forward, eight minutes from the start, there seemed no cause for uneasiness. But as play went on, and it was found that though they were attacking for the greater part of the time goals did not come, there were appealling cries from the crowd to the forwards to get to business. But they cried in vain. When shortly before half-time Bromley scored again [through Coulson] it was realised that unless there was an unexpected turn of the tide, Golders Green would again be on the losing side.

But if the home side had had more than an equal share of the game in the first half, the difference was even more apparent after changing ends. To one shot that Smith had to save Burnett must have had a dozen. A goal-keeper with so much to do does not keep a clean sheet without some luck, but nevertheless Burnett is to be complimented upon his display. He well earned his ovation at the end. To Golders Green fell corner after corner - some well placed, some the reverse, but finding the net was impossible. They could strike the uprights and skim the crossbar, but nothing more. Burnett seemed in a hopeless position at times, but Golders Green achieved what seemed impossible when they shot wide. It looked much easier to tap the ball into the net. Had the result not been so tragic, one could have been amused at seeing their efforts thwarted time after time. Ultimately Evans returned to his old position at centre-forward, but there was no improvement.

Not until the game was nearing its end did success come to them, and that was through Broadis, from a free kick. With a powerful shot Burnett was well beaten. This goal, however, came too late to be of great value. In the closing minutes Golders Green played desperately in the hope of sharing points, but the visiting defence held out.

Golders Green lacked the services of Butt at right-half owing to injury, his place being taken by E.S. Sibley. One does not like to speak uncharitably of a newcomer into the side, but the absence of Butt was felt. The defence was not impressive at the outset, but taking the game all through there was little fault to find in this connection. Broadis was conspicuous at centre-half.

Report by Hendon Times & Borough Guardian, 20/10/1933, p.16

Golders Green

1
Sid Smith
2
Bob Ellis
3
Jack Richardson
4
E S Sibley
5
Bert Broadis
6
George Bucci
7
A J "Billy" Breagan
8
Jimmy Spalton
9
Ronnie Rowe
10
Freddie Evans
11
Charlie Drinkwater

Match Events

H Francis
9''
B Coulson
41''
85''
Bert Broadis

Bromley

1
H F Burnett
2
W T Baird
3
H Gander
4
T C Smith
5
Fred Centa
6
W J Anderson
7
B Coulson
8
J R Tuthill
9
H Francis
10
W T Holbrook
11
W A Sargeant