Having no League or Cup match on Saturday, Golders Green arranged a very attractive friendly with the Army Wanderers, and after an exceedingly fine game ran out easy winners by five goals to one.

When the teams came out Golders Green appeared in green shirts, which gave the impression that they were going to lose, as on every occasion when the Green have worn shirts of this colour they have been defeated. But on Saturday it was not so.

In appearance the Green looked as midgets on the field against the tall well-built Army players, but before the end of the game they showed that in spite of the small side they were a well-combined eleven. Some of the Army players after the game admitted that Golders Green were a smart little lot and that they were unable to get down to them. It was amusing to see Drinkwater run round the Army right-back, who was at least six feet high. Knott was again brilliant in the forward line, his passes out to Drinkwater being sometimes in a class of their own, while he was always ready to come back and help the backs if they were heavily pressed.

Golders Green were the first to attack. Knott, picking up a pass from Broadis, sent Drinkwater away on the left to centre, only to see Spalton shoot over. Evans, on one or two occasions, only had the goalkeeper to beat, but shot either into his hands or just outside.

Golders Green opened the score after 17 minutes, when Knott converted a fine centre by Drinkwater, the ball entering the net just inside the post. The goalkeeper was playing a superb game for the Army: he saved several shots which would have scored against a less experienced player. The Army then attacked on the right and had a fine opportunity to equalise when a centre from Pte. Everson dropped in the goalmouth. With only Smith to beat, Fusilier Brand, the Army centre-forward, hesitated, and his shot went outside. Their chance, however, came from a corner taken by Pte. Everson, which Sgt. Mudford converted, Smith having no chance to save.

This inspired the Army and for some minutes Golders Green were kept on the defensive. The Army played a peculiar formation in their back division. The two backs were level marking the wingers, while Evans, in the centre, was well covered by Pte. Pearce, the Army centre-half. They also had another player playing in the centre of the field as an extra centre-half. This somewhat left the inside forwards open, and Spalton and Knott had plenty of chances to position themselves for good passes.

Evans shot hard from a centre by Drinkwater, but Bandsman Sowerbutts, in goal, cleared well. Knott then picked up a pass by Ellis and beating the right-back put Evans through on his own. The goalkeeper advanced and Evans side-glanced him and with the goal at his mercy should have scored. Instead his shot hit the post and came out of play. Golders Green eventually scored when Breagan centred into the empty goalmouth and Knott converted easily. There was no more scoring before half-time, though Golders Green put in one or two good shots.

The second half opened with Golders Green attacking down the slope. It was soon apparent that there would be more goals for the Green. The mud prevented the halves holding the nippy Golders Green wingers, their height and weight telling on them when they tried to turn.

Golders Green increased their lead when Breagan centred and Evans headed into the goalmouth. The goalkeeper saved by punching the ball out. Drinkwater, following up, scored with a good shot. Straight from the kick-off Knott further increased the lead when from a through pass down the centre of the field he outran Pte. Pearce at centre-half and swerved to the right of the goalmouth, where he deflected the ball past the advancing goalkeeper. This goal was indeed a brilliant solo effort and earned Knott the applause of the crowd.

The Wanderers tried hard to reduce the gap in the score, but they found they were up against a strong defence in Broadis, Ellis and Richardson. Smith had one or two nasty shots to save and once saved brilliantly on the goal-line a hot shot by Sgt. Mudford.

Breagan added to the score when from a pass by Broadis he ran in from the wing and scored with a good ground shot in the corner of the net. This completed the scoring, but Golders Green missed many chances through over-eagerness to walk the ball into the goalmouth instead of passing to a fellow forward standing unmarked.

Sowerbutts, in goal, gave a superb display for the Army, and but for him Golders Green would have scored double figures, although Evans and Knott in the first half missed two or three open goals. Cpl. Law was the best of the backs, though at times he found Drinkwater was too good for him, while Pte. Pearce, the centre-half, was a tower of strength. Sgt. Mudford and Pte. Everson were the best of the Army forwards.

The whole of the Golders Green team played well. Joyce, playing instead of Bucci who was resting his knee, gave a good exhibition. Rowe was again outstanding at half, whilke Richardson was the better of the backs. Knott was the star player in the forward line, although Breagan and Drinkwater, on the extreme wings, were good with their centres. We have seen Evans play better. He made several mistakes, but could see the funny side of them.