Leyton 0 St. Albans City 5
Saturday 18th October
Osborne Road
The Citizens distinguished themselves in the return Herts and Middlesex League match at Leyton, on Saturday, when they gave a convincing display, and amply avenged the defeat which Leyton inflicted upon them at Clarence Park earlier in the season.
The game. which was witnessed by a distinguished company, including the Mayor of Leyton and prominent officials of the London and Essex Football Associations, was by no means the one-sided affair that the score suggests. Leyton, as in the previous encounter at St. Albans. played good football and did their share of attacking, but in the matter of team-work and snapping up chances, St. Albans showed a marked superiority. R. Burke was to the fore in the matter of marksmanship and performed his first "hat-trick" for the Citizens, bringing his total of goals scored for the club so far this season to eight. That the Citizens have for the last few weeks been able to field an almost unchanged side is having its effect in producing improved combination and understanding. This was particularly noticeable in defence on Saturday, when the covering was greatly improved, especially on the right flank.
DEFENDERS FULLY TESTED.
St. Albans' defence was fully tested. The Leyton forwards indulged in some neat combination but, inclined to hold the ball too long, were repeatedly thwarted. Goldsack. Cook and Hall, who gave another capital display, proved more than a match for the opposing attack. Goldsack's positional play and well-judged interventions and Cook's powerful kicking being of great value. Powell again kept goal splendidly and it was fitting evidence of the increased stability of the Citizens' rearguard that this was the first game of the season in which they have kept a clean slate.
Richardson. who played very cleverly, and Earle, who was extremely accurate with his passes, were the schemers in the St. Albans attack. Saunders and Allen, on the wings, were speedy and centred to advantage, while Burke. the spearhead of the vanguard. was a constant menace to the opposing defenders. The Citizens, who faced the strong wind in the first half, were quick to get into their stride and were a goal ahead after five minutes' play.
HOW THE GOALS CAME.
That early success was the outcome of a delightful bout of combination which BURKE rounded off with a well-placed shot. St. Albans had to fight hard to avert an equaliser, but when they attacked they always appeared to be the more dangerous aide. They obtained a second goal before the interval, EARLE converting a penalty-kick awarded for a foul upon himself.
With the wind at their backs, St. Albans made a dashing start on resuming and quickly increased their lead with a good goal from ALLEN, his sixth for the club this season. Leyton kept play even, but St. Albans added to their lead when Richardson lobbed the ball into the goalmouth and BURKE, beating the Leyton custodian in a jump for possession, headed through. The last goal was the result of a lightning dash by BURKE after a loose ball on the right wing, where he gained possession, beat an opponent and netted with a grand drive from an acute angle.
St. Albans City:H. F. Powell; E. Cook, L. Goldsack: T. A. Short. L. Hall, S. Kirkham; W. Saunders, S. Earle. R. Burke. J. Richardson. W. Allen.