Southall 2 St. Albans City 2

Saturday 1st November

Western Road

The Citizens made a good recovery after being two goals down in their return Herts and Middlesex League match at Southall, on Saturday, and effected a division of the spoils. They made desperate efforts to get a winning goal, pressing very hard for long spells during the last thirty minutes, but were thwarted by the determined resistance of the Southall defenders, who took the chief honours of the game, with G. H. Green, the custodian, the star performer.

Play was exceptionally keen and at times excessively robust. Some feeling was evident, but the referee, although in a difficult position when lacking the aid of neutral linesmen, kept a firm hand on the game and free-kicks were plentiful. Each side made one change in the team which did duty the previous week. L. Hall. of St. Albans, who sustained concussion in the match at Clarence Park , was still unfit, and A. Middleton, the Southall inside-right, who was injured in that encounter, was also unable to play. He was replaced by A. Snazel, the former Enfield and Leyton inside-forward, while R. W. Wells re-appeared at centre-half for the Citizens.

SOUTHALL'S GOOD COMBINATION.

A strong wind which blew almost straight down the pitch had a considerable influence on the run of the game. Southall had the advantage of the conditions in the first half, and although they never dominated play to the extent which the Citizens did after the change of ends, they certainly gave a capital display of forceful football, in which forwards indulged in some excellent combination that caused St. Albans' defenders much trouble, chiefly because they did not keep close enough watch on the opposing wingers.

The Citizens were, however, always the more menacing side and Green, the Southall custodian, was the busier goalkeeper throughout. He positioned himself with clever anticipation, gathered the ball cleanly and despatched it to safety with alacrity. Early in the game he made one masterly save from Saunders, catching a rasping cross-shot under the crossbar.

Southall opened the scoring aften ten minutes' play. Wells failed in an effort to intercept a long low pass from the right and PINE, who had closed in, had a clear field to shoot past Powell as the goalkeeper ran out. After that, Southall made some dangerous onslaughts in the course of which Powell effected several clever saves.

A MUCH-DISPUTED GOAL.

Southall increased their lead after thirty-two minutes' play with a much-disputed goal. CLARE was standing in what appeared to be an offside position when he received the ball with only Powell to beat. The goalkeeper made a valiant effort to save while his colleagues stood still to make a vain appeal for offside. The goalkeeper got to the ball but could not hold it. The Southall centre-forward, following up, regained possession and netted, after a tussle on the ground with Powell. Had St. Albans' defenders gone to their custodian's assistance instead of continuing to appeal, that goal might have been averted.

The Citizens reduced the deficit before the interval. Saunders made a strong run on the wing and, cutting in, passed to BURKE, who had a straight sprint for goal. Green advanced to meet him, but the centre-forward placed the ball well out of the goalkeeper's reach. There was no lack of thrills in a hard-fought first half. Richfield hit the Citizens' crossbar with a smashing drive and Powell did well to clear from the rebound, while at the other end Green made a superb save from Allen.

CITIZENS' HEAVY PRESSURE.

In the second half. St. Albans monopolised play and it was seldom that Southall appeared dangerous. But the Citizens met a stern defence. Southall's marking was close and their covering good. Green, frequently in action, repeatedly foiled the St. Albans forwards. He was only beaten once in this period. That was sixteen minutes after the resumption, when Earle, who again played cleverly, started a movement which was carried on by Saunders. He centred to BURKE, who, although harassed by Brown, netted with a well-placed cross-shot.

After that, the Citizens crowded on the pressure, but could not break down Southall's stolid resistance, chiefly because they were inclined to rely too much on close passing. Once, Burke. after eluding the attentions of Brown, who played a masterly game, had the goal at his mercy, only to be foiled by the smartness of Green. Earle. taking a corner-kick. beat the custodian with a curling shot, but the ball hit the underside of the crossbar and rebounded into play. In the last minute, Green had great difficulty in dealing with a high cross-shot from Earle. It seemed that the ball had eluded his grasp, but he managed to gather it beneath the crossbar at the second attempt.

Southall:G. H, Green; C. Wellstead, H. Marshall; G. Clark, R. Brown, A. Chudley: N. Richfield, A. Snazel, K. Clare, F. Morrad, D. Pine.

St. Albans City:H. F. Powell; E. Cook, L. Goldsack; T. Short, R. Wells, S. Kirkham; W. Saunders, S. Earle, R. Burke, J. Richardson, W. Allen.

Referee:Mr. D. R. Goodchild (Slough).

9 Southall 2 2 SAC 1 Nov 1941