KINGSTONIANS BEAT METROGAS.
Athenian League Fixture: a Splendid Game.
Favoured with fine weather the Athenian League match between Kingstonians and Metrogas, played on the Richmond-road ground on Saturday last attracted a large crowd. This was the first time the home team had played on their own ground since January 3, and their magnificent performance was a delight to the onlookers. It was one of the finest displays of good football which have ever been seen on this ground, and the result was a well-deserved win for the Kingstonians of 5-3.

The game commenced with the homesters working somewhat slow, and a few chances were lost through slack play. Metrogas began very confidently and were soon pressing near the homesters' goal, but they were unable to beat Wilson. Kingstonians got possession of
the ball in mid-field, and with a splendid passing movement made it possible for Harry to take a steady shot near the goalmouth from which the ball sailed nicely into a corner of the net.

Metrogas then began a series of tactics which had the effect of inducing the Kingstonians to quicken their pace. Calvert, the visiting centre-forward, gave the home defence a lot of trouble and nearly scored with several good shots, but Wilson was ever on the alert and succeeded in saving each time. Bryson also made attempts to pierce the defence, but he was tackled by Rollo who managed to transfer the Play to a less dangerous part of the field, There followed a good deal of play on the Kingston left wing, but all efforts to increase the score proved futile. From some trick movements in which the Kingstonians had considerable trouble even to "get a look at the ball," Calvert brought the ball up the field and shot in the goal-mouth, giving Wilson no chance to save.

At this point of the game both teams appeared to be playing in their best form, and some fine football, such has rarely been witnessed on this ground, was to be seen. The homesters played an exceptionally good game. It was an exciting moment when the Kingstonians made a swift run up the field on their left wing in an effort to score. Being tackled about 25 yards from the goal line the wingman swung the ball over to the right wing with a well-directed shot. Henson, ever on the alert for a chance such as this shot offered, was in the correct position to receive the ball, and he centred to Nield and Stentiford who were both near the goal-mouth. Here the ball was intercepted by a Metrogas player, but he was unable to clear. The ball rose and, bounding off Nield, rolled in front of Stentiford who pushed it over the line. This excellent effort by the home team was loudly applauded.

The second goal for Metrogas was scored by Bryson about three minutes later after a lightning dash up the field. This was one point in particular by which the visiting team were much superior to their opponents. They often secured the ball and, with good feignting, dribbled it along the field at a pace that the Kingstonians could seldom equal.

Harry scored another goal for the homesters from a centre kick from Crick, the shot being delivered in such a style as to give the goalie little chance to save. A few breathless minutes followed this increase while the ball was kept dodging about in front of the Metrogas goal. The Kingstonians attacked with such persistency that it was a difficult matter for the defending backs to clear. After a few Minutes, however, the game was transferred elsewhere. Just before the interval Harry made another attempt to add a further goal, and the splendid save by the Metrogas goalkeeper was one the finest individual performances of the match. The score at half-time stood.

Kingstonians …………………………………… 3
Metrogas ………………………………………… 2

On the resumption of play Metrogas pressed very hard, but their efforts to score were fruitless. After the first few minutes a great deal of the remainder of the game took place in the region of the Metrogas goal, the Kingstonians setting a much faster pace than in the first half. Henson scored the Kingstonians' fourth goal by heading the ball into the net after Harry had done his best to outwit the defending team.

The splendid form which Metrogas showed in their combination play at the commencement of the game seemed to leave them now for in their concerted play they appeared to be quite out of harmony. On the other hand the Kingstonians improved their form, and from a good passing movement Millis put in a shot to Harry which enabled that player to secure a fifth goal for Kingston. Kingstonians nearly scored again immediately after this from a corner kick, and this was followed by an effort by Harry who put the ball into the Metrogas goal, but the referee ruled the shot off-side.

At this stage of the game several off-side rulings by the referee were greeted with shouts of disagreement from the spectators and until the close of play he was the subject of much quipping.

Metrogas managed to add their third goal, Calvert scoring from a centre-kick by Walker. The shot travelled too quickly to enable Davies (who happened to be close in goal), or Wilson to save. It looked as if they were going to score just before the whistle sounded time, for the visitors were attacking in full force near their opponents' goal. No further scoring took place, however, and the game resulted:

KINGSTONIANS.......... 5
METROGAS.................. 3

The teams were:-
Kingstonians: T. Wilson; F. Vivyen-Davies, B. J. Rollo; W. Millis, A. J. Yates, J. Wood; A. J. Henson, G. R. Stentiford, A. E. Harry, R. J. S. Nield, H. E. Crick.
Motrogas: Iliffe; Morgan, Lawford; Keene, Kingston, Twilley; Walker, Bryson, Calvert, Muirhead, Harding.
Referee: H. A. Lewis.

Report from Surrey Comet dated 11 Feb 1920- see report in original format.

Additional report from Surrey Advertiser dated 11 Feb 1920.