Finchley 4 St. Albans City 2
Saturday 29th November
Summers Lane
Because of the rapidity with which they seized upon their chances to take aim - which were fewer and not so easy as those which fell the way of the Citizens - Finchley were good value for their win over St. Albans in a return Herts and Middlesex League match at Finchley on Saturday, when both teams and the spectators enjoyed a hard, fast and interesting game, contested in excellent spirit and ably controlled.
Finchley were at full strength. St. Albans had difficulties in raising an eleven S. Kirkham moved to centre-forward, E. Cunnington, previously tried at half-back, re-appeared at inside-right, and three newcomers were introduced to the side. One was L. Abrahams, a left-winger from Reslilia a Letchworth club playing in the East, North and Mid Herts Combination, and the others were two soldiers— E. Wright and J. Reid, who figured at right-half and left back, respectively. Finchley were the better together in a game which - except for the opening and closing stages - was evenly contested.
Because of the constructive ability of their wing half-backs, of whom C. Milne was always prominent, Finchley's forwards, quick on the ball and slick in their passing, invariably appeared to be the more incisive line. They were well held until a few minutes before the interval. Then they scored twice in quick succession. St Albans drew level in the second half, but Finchley recovered their grip on the game to obtain two more goals.
DEFENDERS DISCONCERTED.
Finchley owed much to their wingers, a very dangerous pair who swung the ball across the field with understanding and closed in to meet each other's centres in a manner that disconcerted St. Albans' defenders. A Disdale, the outside-right, who got two of his side's goals, is a particularly deadly shot. In his five games in Finchley's first eleven he has obtained ten goals, and F Boston, the former Golders Green outside-left, who netted once on Saturday and made the opening for his side's other goal, is also very forceful. While St. Albans, with L. Hall again playing well, had the measure of Finchley's inside-forwards, they made the mistake of not keeping a sufficiently close watch upon Disdale and F. Boston.
Enjoying the advantage of the slope in the first half, Finchley had the better of the exchanges for ten minutes, without appearing likely to score. When St. Albans settled down, they created the better openings and S. Kirkham was unfortunate not to be credited with a goal. Fastening on to Cunnington's pass, he delivered a powerful shot which Mortimer could not hold. The ball twisted out of the custodian's arms and went behind him, apparently well over the line but turning quickly, he recovered possession and cleared. St. Albans' appeals were half-hearted and the referee, who was well down the field, received no signal from his linesmen: but a Finchley player on the spot subsequently told the Citizens that the ball was at least a foot over the line before Mortimer recovered.
A FAMILY EFFORT.
Kirkham, who made some enterprising dashes through the middle. had another chance with only Mortimer to beat, but shot straight at the custodian, while Abrahams. meeting a long cross pass from Wright, who made a pleasant debut, had a simple opportunity at close range, only to fail to gather the ball.
Finchley's first goal, which came from a corner-kick gained in a breakaway five minutes before the interval, was a family affair, for F. Boston placed the corner-kick beautifully for his brother, W. BOSTON, who seemed to know exactly where the ball would drop, to neatly head through. Finchley increased their lead in another breakaway, thirty seconds before the interval. F. Boston swung the ball across the field and DISDALE, who was unmarked, cut in to beat Powell with a fast, low cross shot delivered from ten yards' range.
St. Albans were masters for a period in the second half. Kirkham hit the post with a hard shot and headed against the crossbar. Finally, in a hot melee, a Finchley back handled to save with his goalkeeper beaten and COOK made no mistake with the resultant penalty-kick. From one of Disdale's centres, F. Boston had the Citizens' goal at his mercy but Powell, who kept goal in good style, dived at his feet to effect a spectacular save.
LEAD LOST AND REGAINED.
The Citizens drew level twenty-one minutes alter the change of ends. A free-kick awarded against W. Boston for hands about thirty-five yards from goal was taken by COOK, who delivered a powerful shot, which was far too hot for Mortimer to hold. The ball was already over the line when Saunders dashed in to drive it into the back of the net.
Within three minutes, however. Finchley had regained the lead. In an attack on the left, a quick, long centre from F. Boston caught the Citizens' defenders on the wrong foot and DISDALE, racing into the middle, scored with a glorious header which hit the underside of the crossbar on its way into the net. Prior to this. Cook and Reid had changed places, and so had Cunnington and Saunders. In another strong attack by Finchley, Powell dived at Fitzsimmons' toes to effect another timely clearance and Cook headed a quick return from George, which beat Powell, out from beneath the crossbar.
When Mortimer failed to hold a shot from Richardson, Abrahams. who was quick to follow up. had the opportunity to equalise but lifted the ball over the crossbar from close range.
POSITION MADE SECURE.
Four minutes from the end. Finchley made their position secure with a fourth goal scored by F. BOSTON, who met a centre from Disdale to leave Powell helpless to reach a fast, rising cross shot which went into the top far corner of the net.
St. Albans, who made further changes - Crossley moving to left back, Richardson to left half and Cook to inside-left - had opportunities to reduce the deficit. Abrahams. who showed skill in getting into good shooting positions, got through, but with only Mortimer to beat, drove the ball straight at the goalkeeper, who subsequently made a fine save from Kirkham. In the last minute, the Citizens' centre forward, who had an unlucky day in front of goal. had a simple opening from a centre by Cunnington, but his shot went inches wide.
Finchley:R, Mortimer; J. Young, C. Withers; W. Boston, W. A. Masters, C. Milne: A. Disdale, A. George, R. Fitzsimmons, D. Hughes, F. Boston.
St. Albans City:H. F. Powell; E. Cook, J. Reid: E Wright, L. Hall, H. Crossley: W. Saunders, E. Cunnington, S. Kirkham, J. Richardson, L. Abrahams.
Referee:Mr. W. D. Smith.
