Match Report

Bromley
2
Hendon
9
Date:
Saturday 24 February 1934
Competition:
Athenian League
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Bromley

Match Report

Golders Green visited Bromley on Saturday, determined to show that their earlier League defeat was not a true representation of their form. For the third week in succession opponents have scored before Golders Green have settled down and then fallen completely away. It was so at Bromley, where the home side lost by 9-2. Butler, in the Bromley goal, played a good game, and it could not be said that he was in any way responsible for the big score against him. In the second half he was pelted with shots by Drinkwater, which he cleared with good understanding. This, no doubt, was very disheartening to "Drinky," who was the only forward on the Golders Green side not to score, although the others tried hard to let him. The weakness in the Bromley team was in the half-back line and at left-back.

Golders Green pressed strongly at the start and a fast drive by Broadis was cleared for a corner. This was taken by Drinkwater and headed over by Knott. The Bromley forwards were a fast set and for some few minutes early on had the Golders Green defence on the run. From one of these advances Smith, at right-half, put in a fast low drive which deserved a better fate than to be brilliantly saved by Smith, his namesake. The resultant corner was cleared, but Bromley, taking up the offensive again, nearly scored, Thomsitt, well placed, shooting by. Bromley, however, opened up the score after 17 minutes from a centre by Thomsitt on the left, Tuthill heading through.

This reverse inspired Golders Green to put on pressure and with some clever interpassing they equalised two minutes later, Knott scoring with a low ground shot from a pass by Evans.

It might be mentioned that it was doubtful whether Knott would be able to play, his injury he received against Southall the previous Saturday giving some trouble, but his inclusion kept that dash in the forward line that has been notable for the last few weeks. Bucci was giving his knee a rest, so Joyce filled his place at left-half and played quite an inspiring game.

Golders Green were now combining better and Rowe, picking up a hefty kick by Ellis, sent out to Breagan, who passed to Spalton. He in turn transferred to Evans who, finding he was going to be tackled by Prince, side-slipped the ball to Knott, who, standing unmarked, scored with one of his hard drives. This took the sting out of the Bromley defence and in less than ten minutes Golders Green increased their lead, Knott heading through from a centre by Drinkwater. This gave him his hat trick.

The Bromley forwards, especially Coulson and Tuthill on the right, then tried hard to reduce the lead, but Richardson and Ellis were stumbling blocks to pass, while Fowle was given very little room by Broadis, who was acting as policeman very well. Once Coulson put in a fine drive, but Smith cleared for a corner.

Broadis then put Drinkwater away, and running down the wing he passed in to Knott, who, with a terrific drive, hit the upright. The ball fell at the feet of Spalton, who had no difficulty in scoring. Golders Green increased their lead to five goals to one when Evans scored from a pass by Breagan. The interval arrived with Bromley attacking on the right.

The second half opened up similarly to the first, Bromley forwards with great thrust making for the Golders Green goal, and after a time were rewarded, a centre by Coulson giving Tuthill a chance to head through.

From the kick-off Golders Green retaliated, Evans giving Breagan the chance to score the sixth goal. Butler then did well to save three successive drives by Drinkwater, who was now doing just as he liked with Jeffery, the Bromley back.

Bromley fought back and for some minutes the Golders Green defence were hard pressed to keep the fast moving Bromley forwards at bay, but both Rowe and Ellis were playing well together, while Richardson was kicking strongly despite a kick he received early in the second half. The seventh goal was scored by Breagan from a pass by Spalton, who was playing decidedly better than he had been the last few games, some of his passes to Knott and Breagan being superb. Holbroook, at left-half, was defending well and was supplying Thomsitt and Adnett with some well-timed passes, but they made little use of them.

Evans now held on to the ball from a free kick taken by Broadis, and passing to Knott saw the latter send Drinkwater away. From his centre Breagan, beating Baird for possession, scored the eighth goal and incidentally his third in succession with a good shot.

Golders Green kept up the pressure and when Butler fumbled the ball Spalton passed in to Evans, who scored No. 9. The forwards now tried hard to get double figures, but Butler twice saved well from Drinkwater, and the final whistle came with Bromley making a vain effort to reduce the score.

For Bromley Butler, in goal, did well, despite the big score, while Baird was decidedly the better of the backs. Prince, at centre-half was inclined to wander and so leave the centre of the field too open, while Holbrook was too much occupied in covering up Jeffery's blunders to be of any help to the forwards. Tuthill and Coulson were the best of the forwards.

On the Golders Green side Smith had little chance with the two goals that were scored and several times during the second half he saved brilliantly. Ellis and Richardson rarely placed a foot wrong. Broadis once or twice was a little bit harassed by Fowle, but played a big part in the victory, while Rowe was again superb both in defence and attack. All the forwards played well, Knott being most consistent. It was good to see the improvement shown by Breagan, for besides scoring three of the goals he was responsible for at least two of the others in the first half.

Report by Hendon Times & Borough Guardian, 02/03/1934, p.16

Golders Green

1
Sid Smith
2
Bob Ellis
3
Jack Richardson
4
Ronnie Rowe
5
Bert Broadis
6
W Joyce
7
A J "Billy" Breagan
8
Jimmy Spalton
9
Freddie Evans
10
Herbert Knott
11
Charlie Drinkwater

Match Events

J R Tuthill
18''
20''
Herbert Knott
25''
Herbert Knott
34''
Herbert Knott
38''
Jimmy Spalton
43''
Freddie Evans
J R Tuthill
54''
56''
A J "Billy" Breagan
65''
A J "Billy" Breagan
75''
A J "Billy" Breagan
82''
Freddie Evans

Bromley

1
W Butler
2
W T Baird
3
E Jeffery
4
T Smith
5
G E Prince
6
W T Holbrook
7
F Coulson
8
J R Tuthill
9
G A Fowle
10
G Adnett
11
G W Thomsitt