Friday 20 January - Beaten but not disgraced

FRIERN BARNET 2, GOLDERS GREEN "A" 0. Golders Green Strollers [aka "A" team] were beaten 2-0, but they more than held their own until Peverell had the misfortune to receive an ankle injury just before the interval. He retired and took no further part in the game, and it was while the Green were playing with ten men that both the goals were scored. (Hendon Times, 20/01/1939, p. 4)

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Friday 13 January - "A" team out of A.F.A. Minor Cup

CARSHALTON 6, GOLDERS GREEN "A" 1. Golders Green "A" were beaten 6-1 by Carshalton in the A.F.A. Minor Cup. It was a very rough game, Watkinson, in goal, being twice laid out, while Brocklehurst was badly injured and taken to hospital, the Green playing with ten men for most of the game. McMahon and Sheppard were the outstanding players. (Hendon Times, 13/01/1939, p. 4)

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Friday 09 December - "A" team cup win

GOLDERS GREEN "A" 4, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE 1. The "A" team of Golders Green, by beating Customs and Excise, established a record, as never before have they entered the 5th round of the A.F.A. Minor Cup. The Green were on top for most of the game, asnd MARCANTONIO scored in the first five minutes from a cross-pass by Duenas. Just before the interval, which came with the score 2-0, MARCANTONIO again netted, following good work by Brocklehurst. In the second half EYNON, playing his first game at centre-forward, scored two good goals, the first being an exceptionally fine effort - a first-time shot after an interchange of passes with Winslow. Besides the newcomers to the side, Brocklehurst and Eynon, the game was interesting, as it provided the first appearance in action since his injury of A.S. Peverell. It is pleasing to note that he came through the game satisfactorily, but naturally, it must take some time before he is able to play himself into form. The "A" team are very hopeful of lifting the A.F.A. Minor Cup this year, provided, of course, there are not too many calls upon the side by the other elevens. Golders Green "A" : W.E. Barnes; R. Shepherd, F. Coish; R.B. McMahon, A.S. Peverell, E. Sandrock; N. Duenas, F. Brocklehurst, S. Eynon, E. Winslow, L.J. Marcantonio. (Hendon Times, 09/12/1938, p. 4)

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Friday 02 December - New captures in "A" team friendly

GOLDERS GREEN "A" 1, DULWICH HAMLET "A" 4. With the object of trying out several new players, the Golders Green F.C. officials arranged a friendly match at Claremont Road on Saturday afternoon between the "A" team and Dulwich Hamlet Strollers ("A" team). Golders Green's premier Athenian League team have struck a bad patch and have not been playing up to expectations in recent weeks. Weakness, both in defence and attack, have caused the club officials a lot of worry, and it was with this problem in view that Lovell (Southall), Pomphrey (St. Albans), Ellison (Barnet) and Hitchins (Kingsbury Sports) were on trial in Saturday's match. M. Ellis, a centre-forward from Torquay United Reserves was down to lead the forwards, but was an absentee. This was rather a pity, for Golders Green have been badly in need of a capable leader of the attack. A.S. Peverell, who, it will be recollected, met with a nasty accident last season, was also down to re-appear at centre-half, but was unable to turn out, as he had broken down in training. The score of 4-1 in favour of the visitors by no means represented the run of the play, for the home team had as much of the game territorially as their opponents. The visitors had an excellent defence, with a fast-moving and dangerous set of forwards. The strength of the visitors may be realised when it is mentioned that first-team players in W.G. Godliffe (ex-International), at centre-forward, F. Murray (outside-left), and R.G. Jones (right-half), a trio of experienced and " brainy " players, were mainly responsible for bringing about the ultimate result. Considering that the ground was in a deplorable state owing to the overnight rain, with an elusive, " skidding " ball, it would be unfair to criticise unduly the home team's new players on view. L. Ellison, who led the forwards, gave brief glimpses of clever footwork, combined with a judicious distribution of the ball. The inside forwards, Lovell and Pomphrey, did not do so badly, considering that they are really half-backs. Hitchins, the Kingsbury player, caught the eye with some very effective work at left-half, his stopping tactics and placing the ball to his forwards being models of accuracy. With more experience he would be an asset to any club. It was certainly a big ordeal for these new players on view, taking into account the treacherous nature of the ground, and that they were all playing together with strange colleagues for the first time. Under the prevailing conditions, and against experienced and resourceful opponents, they did not give a bad show. Little, who played in goal in place of Mildenhall, got through a busy afternoon's work with considerable credit by making some clever clearances. Shepherd and Coish played steadily at full-back. The latter was a bit erratic in his clearances in the first half, but in the second he stood up well to his work when danger was threatened by the opposition attack. In the middle line, Wharton and Webb put up a stout resistance, the latter especially proving a stumbling block to Godliffe, the " live wire " of the Hamlet forward line. The extreme wing men, Owen and Rose, played extremely well in their respective positions, the former repeatedly sending across accurate centres, which, owing to a weakness in front of goal, were not fully taken advantage of. Godliffe, Murray, jones and Brown were the outstanding Hamlet players, the two former being particularly dangerous raiders. As showing the all-round strength of the visitors, it can be stated that this team on the day's play, would have given the local premier team a good run. The play during the opening period was of a give-and-take nature, with the visitors' attack the more dangerous. Little, in the home goal, was repeatedly called upon, and safely parried shots from Murray and Godliffe. At the other end, Hitchins drove in a rasping shot which Skegg did well to save at the cost of a fruitless corner. Owen was next responsible when he finished off a brilliant movement by firing in a hard ground shot, which was only saved with difficulty by Skegg. The only goal of the first half fell to the Hamlet, when GODLIFFE turned to account a fine centre from Gager. Close on the interval Godliffe broke clean through, but Little ran out and dispossessed him of the ball. It was in the second half that we saw the best of the visitors. In a hot attack on the home goal, Murray was brought down unfairly, well inside the penalty area. It was grim justice that MURRAY should be entrusted with the spot kick, and he made no mistake, for he placed the ball in the net well out of the reach of Little. Rattled by this further reverse, the home forwards raided the Hamlet goal, and in an exciting scrimmage, a free-kick was awarded to the home team just outside the penalty area. WHARTON took the kick, and there was jubilation amonst the spectators when the ball entered the right-hand top corner of the net. The Hamlet forwards came again, however, and the local team's hopes were quelched when the visitors added two further goals to their tally, the first being netted by MURRAY from a pass by Godliffe and the second by a brilliant effort on the part of JAMES. The home players made strenuous efforts to reduce the leeway, but all their well-meant efforts were frustrated by the powerful opposing defence, and the result was a win for the Hamlet by four goals to one. Golders Green : C.E. Little; R. Shepherd, C. Coish; W.H. Wharton, S. Webb, J.T. Hitchins; R. Rose, A. Lovell, L. Ellison, E.Ponphrey, E. Owen. Dulwich Hamlet : W. Skegg; W. Gager, F.T. Brown; R.G. Jones, K.C. Tandaloft, G. Clarke; F.D. Gager, A. Aitkens, W.G. Godliffe, H. James, F. Murray. (Hendon Times, 02/12/1938, p. 4)

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Saturday 12 November - Extra time cup win for "A" eam

CRUSADERS 3, GOLDERS GREEN "A" 4 (after extra time). Golders Green "A" won their 3rd Round A.F.A. Minor Cup-tie by the odd goal of seven, after a hard fight. The Green must be considered fortunate to still be in the competition, as on two occasaions they were a goal to the bad. With four minutes to go Crusaders were leading 3-2, but after the equaliser Whiting notched the winner during extra time, and the Green defence held for the closing few minutes. The tackling of the winners left much to be desired, and their passing was poor, while the forwards and halves required too much room for working the ball. Goldeds Green "A" ; W.E. Barnes; S. Sheppard, C. Coish; W. Wharton, A. Webb, E. Sandrock; R.B. McMahon, J.W. Whiting, A. Pinkham, A. Parker, H. Burrows. (Hendon times, 18/11/1938, p. 4)

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Friday 04 November - A.F.A. Minor Cup win

OLD WESTMINSTER CITIZENS "A" 1, GOLDERS GREEN "A" 6. [No report was available in the Hendon Times of 04/11/1938, but the scoreline was given in a brief paragraph on page 4 of the edition, under the heading of "SPORTING NOTES, by Onlooker", at the top of the second column.]

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Friday 21 October - Goalless "A" match

WOKING "A" 0, GOLDERS GREEN "A" 0. Golders Green "A" visited Woking, and did well to play the Isthmian side's juniors to a goalless draw. The defence held out well against a good set of forwards, who set a very fast pace, which soon began to tell on some of the Golders Green men who had not done regular training. It is inevitable that a number of changes shall be made continually in the "A" side in order to try out the large number of applicants for games with the club. These applications are dealt with as expeditiously as possible, and all who have applied for trials are assured of a game as soon as possible. Golders Green "A": S. Mildenhall; R. Sheppard, C. Coish; A. Wharton, E. Sandrock, L. Bustard; K. Stevens, E. Winslow, J. Whiting, A. Marshaal, R. McMahon. (Hendon Times, 21/10/1938, p. 4)

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Friday 14 October - "A" team defeated

SPRINGFIELD MENTAL HOSPITAL 2, GOLDERS GREEN "A" 0. Golders Green Strollers paid a return visit to Springfield M. H. and were beaten 2-0, giving Springfield their first win in the series between the two sides, spread over several seasons. Golders Green had a number of new players, and were never really together as a team. There was far too much fancy work and dribbling in circles, which never pays at best, but is particularly disastrous when the opposing halves are big and heavy. Sheppard, Bustard and Sandrock were excellent in defence and, had it not been for them, the adverse score would have been heavier. Golders Green "A" : P. Snow; R. Sheppard, J. Offord; P. Thompson, E. Sandrock, L. Bustard; F.Evans, P. Hardingham, R. Marshall, R. McMahon, W. Whiting. (Hendon Times, 14/10/1938, p. 4)

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Friday 07 October - "A" team were one short

BEXLEY MENTAL HOSPITAL 2, GOLDERS GREEN "A" 0. A poor game at Bexley ended in the home side beating Golders Green Strollers, who turned out one short, Weaver being absent. The stalwarts of the side were Martinson and Sheppard, the backs, who were outstanding, and E. Sandrock, who played a very good game at centre-half. But for these three, the adverse score wopuld have been much higher. Golders Green "A" : A. Lines; P. Martinson, R. Sheppard; G. Offord, E. Sandrock, P. Dearey; K. Stevens, E. Winslow, J. Whiting, C. Watkins. (Hendon Times, 07/10/1938, p. 4)

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Friday 30 September - Win for "A" team

SPRINGFIELD MENTAL HOSPITAL 2, GOLDERS GREEN "A" 3. Golders Green "A" side visited Earlsfield and beat the strong Springfield Mental Hospital side 3-2 - no mean performance. The Green included Bert Weaver, who played his first game since his operation, and showed that his injury had left no ill-effects, though, naturally, it will take a game or two before he is fit again. Two new players were on view - S. Mildenhall, the goalkeeper, who gave a fine account of himself, and K. Stevens, a promising outside-right. The game opened at a fast pace, and the Greens soon went ahead, WINSLOW netting beautifully in the top left hand corner of the goal. DUENAS scored the second, taking up a through pass with a nod and beating the goalkeeper with a fine left foot drive. With the score at two-all just near the final whistle, DUENAS chased a loose ball, and though the back tried to cover to let it run behind, the centre-forward hooked it into the net. Golders Green "A" : S. Mildenhall; P. Martinson, G. Offord; A. Wharton, B. Weaver, A. Dearey; K. Stevens, E. Winslow, N. Duenas, W.E. Barnes, W. Swinhoe. (Hendon Times, 30/09/1938, p. 4)

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Friday 16 September - "A" team lose in Dartford

DARENTH 3, GOLDERS GREEN "A" 0. Golders Green "A" were up against a stiff proposition when they journeyed to Dartford to tackle the Darenth full Kent League side, and their 3-0 defeat is a really magnificent effort. As a matter of fact the score might have been lower, as Barnes, in goal, though playing an excellent game, made two blunders, each of which meant a goal. The two backs, Sheppard and Coish, defended well, while the half-back line, Wharton, Robson and Whiting, worked hard and efficiently, Robson being outstanding at centre-half. The forward line was chiefly noticeable for the success of the two inside-forwards, Winslow, a youngster with some amazing footwork, and McMahon, who has the makings of a class player. (Hendon Times, 16/09/1938, p. 4)

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Friday 09 September - New "A" team beaten

MANOR F. C., EPSOM 4, GOLDERS GREEN "A" 0. Against strong opposition and with a side containg practically all new players, Golders Green juniors found themselves fighting a losing battle in their opening game on Saturday. An extraordinary feature of the result was that three of the goals were scored by the Green's defence putting into their own net, while the fourth was from a long pass down the middle, a movement that caused the defence trouble on several occasions. All the goals were scored in the first half, and it is to the visitors' credit that they kept a clean sheet in the second forty-five minutes. Several outstanding new players were on view: P. Martinson, a back who has seen service with London Welsh and Enfield, made a very favourable impression, while his partner, R. Sheppard, at right-back, was equally sound. R. B. McMahon, who played in the public trial at Claremont Road, made a fine inside-left, and E.W. Bibb showed great promise on the left wing. (Hendon Times, 09/09/1938, p. 4)

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