Match Report

Hendon
6
Southall
1
Date:
Saturday 17 February 1934
Competition:
Middlesex Senior Cup
Attendance:
Unknown
Venue:
Golders Green

Match Report

Golders Green, following up in good style their victory over Barnet, proved too good for Southall at Claremont Road on Saturday, the second visit of the Southall club. Golders Green have now beaten Southall twice and lost to them once, and the result of Saturday's match puts the winners into the semi-final of the Middlesex [Senior] Cup.

The visitors set up a rare pace at the outset and led by one goal in the first seven minutes, but they were not stayers and Golders Green took the lead before half-time in spite of a missed penalty. It was another fast game and the Golders Green side, unchanged from the previous Saturday, had quite maintained their form. Even Spalton showed some little improvement, but he was still below the standard of the forward line and therefore handicapped Breagan, who needed a stronger partner in his many useful efforts. Knott, though shaken by a nasty head injury, was always brilliant, and one of the heroes of the day was Rowe, who played havoc with the Southall left wing and was ever at hand to support his forwards.

The visitors had one late change, E. Gorman deputising for S. Milburn at inside-left. They were a speedy and stylish team, but found themselves more than matched, and but for the brilliant work of Lewis, their goal would have suffered more severely.

For a considerable time they were deprived of Page (left-half) owing to an injury.

Golders Green were quickly on the attack and after Breagan had been waylaid by Page, Rowe sent the ball scross to Drinkwater, but he could not turn it in. From the goal-kick Southall's left wing went away, only to be upset by Rowe, and the visitors' second advance ended with Gibbons shooting behind. Knott and Drinkwater promised an early goal, but Knott cented and Evans was not quick enough to take the pass, and Marshall intercepted to start the movement which gave Southall the lead.

He passed forward to Gibbons, who tapped out to Parker, the latter making good headway before returning the ball for Gibbons to net at close range with a neat shot which Smith could not hope to stop.

This - apart from a brief period at the start of the second half - was about the only time the visitors were really predominant.

Golders Green definitely turned the tables after Smith had been called on by Gibbons again. Rowe came near to success with a swift shot along the ground, Evans took a nice ball from Knott but shot over the bar, Bucci came up for a shot but missed the posts, and Evans barely failed to convert a pass from Breagan. From a corner Knott shot through, but Lewis pushed the ball round the post, and Lewis was again tried by Knott as the result of a beautiful pass by Breagan.

Then came Golders Green's penalty kick, awarded for a foul on Breagan, who was brought down just over the fatal line, but Broadis, for about the first time in memory, lifted the ball high over the bar.

Golders Green continued to give the defence a hot time and it was no surprise when the equaliser came, Rowe heading in off Breagan. Lewis brought off a fine save from Drinkwater after Rowe had failed with the first chance, but good work by Knott enabled Evans to score after two attempts. Knott received his head injury in this attack and had to retire for treatment, but he soon resumed. Golders Green kept up the pace until the interval and just on time they were awarded a free kick for a foul on Evans, who looked a likely scorer from close on the penalty line.

Southall recovered their forcefulness after the change of ends and sparkling work was seen on the left wing, while Parker sent in several timely centres, but Eagles was not showing his habitual polish.

Golders Green's third goal came fifteen minutes after the restart from Knott, who made good use of one of Spalton's few workmanlike passes. Prior to this Bucci had shot over the top and Evans had driven the ball into Lewis's arms.

Evans netted again within a few minutes, but the whistle had already gone for offside. Southall staged another revival and Gibbons got through, but Smith dealt with him safely and a first-time shot by Spink was well cleared. Parker was given an opening by Gibbons, but he overran the ball and Gorman also lost control after a commendable effort by Eagles.

From now on the game was practically a runaway by Golders Green, with clever displays by Drinkwater and Knott, shots by Evans, Spalton and Breagan, and a well-judged header by Rowe, who failed to beat Lewis. Evans misjudged a kick in front of an open goal, Knott drove over the bar and when Evans finally found the net he was offside.

Another spurt by Southall came to a weak end, Gibbons shooting behind the goal, and the visitors fell back to concede a corner, Rowe netting after Lewis had fisted out from Breagan. The Southall goal had several lucky escapes before Evans took a pass from Drinkwater to add Golders Green's fifth, and with less than five minutes to play Evans netted once more as a result of a corner taken by Breagan, who dropped the ball well in front of goal.

Though the visitors did not have a full share of the play, Smith had quite a fair amount to do and he was always sound and steady. Broadis and the backs showed a complete understanding, and the wing halves were always good to watch, though Bucci was a trifle slower than in the Barnet match. The halves were the pick of the Southall side, excepting for Lewis, who fully deserved all the applause that came his way.

Report by Hendon Times & Borough Guardian, 23/02/1934, p.14

Golders Green

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

Match Events

H Gibbons
7''
25''
Ronnie Rowe
33''
Freddie Evans
60''
Herbert Knott
78''
Ronnie Rowe
83''
Freddie Evans
86''
Freddie Evans

Southall

1
W F Lewis
2
H Marshall
3
T Dymott
4
J Gooderman
5
J R Black
6
E W Page
7
A F Parker
8
H Gibbons
9
A R Eagles
10
E Gorman
11
F Spink