Walthamstow Avenue 3 St. Albans City 0

Saturday 25th April

Green Pond Road

The Citizens completed their fixtures in the Herts and Middlesex League on Saturday when they visited Walthamstow Avenue, the undefeated champions. The game proved to be very pleasant and interesting, with the Avenue good winners because of their second-half superiority.

St. Albans were without S. Kirkham, playing for the Army in the inter-Services tournament, and R. Burke, who was unable to obtain the necessary leave. A. Kinnaird, of the South Lancs, re-appeared in the half-back line, and W. Lowe. another member of the Services, was at centre-forward.

With the advantage of the wind in the first half St. Albans did four-fifths of the attacking, Jack Richardson, who found his best form and played delightful football, plied Pipe with many excellent passes, and the left winger, proving too wily for Johnson, put over numerous good centres. Robinson and Saunders also made openings, but, in the absence of Ron Burke, St. Albans lacked finishing power. Despite the excellence of Walthamstow's defence, chances to build up a commanding lead were created, and had Burke been on the scene, Pinner, the Avenue goalkeeper, would, no doubt, have had a busy time.

The Avenue opened the scoring five minutes before the interval. Oliver opened up the game with a long pass to Gilberg, who centred for BRYANT to take the ball in his stride and, from close range, leave Powell helpless to reach a powerful right-footed shot which went into the left-hand corner of the net. Previously the Citizens' custodian had had few shots to deal with.

With the wind behind them in the second half, Walthamstow Avenue did the bulk of the pressing. Five minutes after the interval, H. BISHOP, their right-winger, increased the lead, and five minutes later he rounded Cook to place the ball at the toe of J. W. LEWIS, who netted with an unstoppable drive. Both sides continued to play good football, with St. Albans having more of the play after the change of ends than the Avenue had done in the first half. They were, however, still unable to drive home their attacks, and the Citizens' defence, in which Hall, Reid, Kinnaird and Powell were outstanding, prevented the Avenue, a strong, well-balanced side, from adding to their score.

Walthamstow Avenue: A. Pinner; J. T. Johnson, S. Bracken; W. Harden, H. Oliver, E. Martin: H. Bishop, J. W. Lewis, B. Bryant, F. A. Davis, H. Gilberg.

St. Albans City: H. Powell; J. Reid, E. Cook; A. Kinnaird. L. Hall. H. Crossley: W. Saunders, T. Robinson, W. Lowe, J. Richardson, B. Pipe.

Referee: Mr. A. T. Ford (Ilford).