ATHENIAN LEAGUE.
Kingstonians' Good Performance at Hampstead.

Playing really excellent football the Kingstonian team accomplished a very creditable performance on Saturday by drawing with Hampstead on the latter club's ground, the score being 2-2. It was recognised that in this match the Kingstonians were up against a stiff proposition, and in forcing a division of the points they did better than really was expected of them- and pleased their supporters accordingly. The point was thoroughly deserved, and in fact the Kingstonians went very near to winning.

During the first half, at the and of which the home team led by 2-1, Kingstonians were kicking up-hill, and also had not a small handicap, especially when on the defensive, in facing the sun, which was particularly bright during this period. Play favoured the Kingstonians during the opening stages of the game, but the home defence held well and did not allow the opposing forwards to get really dangerous. Play being transferred to the other end, the first real incident. of note was a nice cross-shot by Crook which Winyard saved neatly.

A very fine movement, by the Kingstonian forwards, led by Harry in his best style, should have resulted in a goal, for the movement led to Crick receiving the ball when right in the goalmouth, with ample time and opportunity to shoot. A goal appeared to be certain, but Crick disappointed by shooting over the bar. Crick tried hard to make amends for this mistake, and nearly succeeded in so doing, a little later, finishing a smart movement with a brilliant well-placed centre, which, however, was cleverly saved by Dunstone, the right back. Wood received the ball for the clearance and returned it to the goal area where a Kingstonian forward was about to try for goal when, to the general surprise, the whistle blew for offside. Apart from this incident referred to Crick did excellently throughout, playing fine football.

This escape for the Hampstead goal was, so to speak, balanced by an escape under similar circumstances for the Kingstonian goal a little later, Hall, when splendidly placed for scoring, shooting over. About twenty minutes had elapsed When Kingstonians opened the scoring, Crick securing the goal as the result of a splendid effort. Receiving from Wood, Crick went down the wing with great speed, tricked the back, and completely beat the goalie with a magnificent cross shot.

Following this the home forwards made several vigorous onslaughts on the Kingstonian goal, the right wing being the more dangerous largely from the fact that both Wood and Rollo were somewhat weak in defence. Eventually, following a period of play in the Kingstonian goal area, Croal equalised with a swift shot and almost immediately afterwards Hampstead took the lead, a free-kick close in enabling Yates to score.

The Hampstead goal was again endangered by a fine run and centre by Crick, and it was unfortunate for the Kingstonians that Harry, when making for goal in most promising style, was brought down just outside the penalty area. Yates failed to improve on the free-kick. Another good opportunity to score came from a neat pass by Nield, but Stentiford, who received the ball in the goalmouth, put it over the bar. The interval came with Hampstead leading by 2-1.

The second half was keenly contested on both sides, and interesting football was seen. Playing with excellent understanding of each other's moves the Kingstonian forwards gave the home defence a trying time. Henson - who was out in spite of a throat trouble - and Harry were particularly conspicuous in goal efforts and Dale also had difficulty in dealing with a smart header by Millis. At the other end Vivyen-Davies cleverly saved the Kingstonian goal. Winyard had left his charge to clear from a dangerous movement on the Hampstead left, and before he could get back to the goal end a shot had been sent forward, and Vivyen-Davies, running across the goalmouth, headed the ball over in fine style. A little later play was transferred to the other end and Stentiford, beating a back in a race, shot suddenly and completely beat the goalkeeper. It was a fine goal. After this Hampstead pressed for a time, and Winyard made some excellent saves. Harry and Nield made some good efforts at the other end, and Harry had hard luck with a fine shot at the end of a good run. However there was no further scoring and the game ended:

Hampstead……….2
Kingstonians….....2

The teams were--
Kingstonians: W.F. Winyard; B.J. Rollo and F. Vivyen-Davies; W. Millis, A.J. Yates and J. Wood; A.J. Henson, G.R. Stentiford, A.E. Harry, R.J.S. Nield and H.E. Crick.
Hampstead: H.J. Dale; S. Dunstone and H.H. Allwright; J.H. Parker, E.J.E. Wright and H.F. Woodward; A.E. Mallett, F.A. Yates, G.F. Blackburn, J. Hale and J.P. Croal.
Referee: Mr F.W. Barton.

Report from Surrey Comet dated 18 Feb 1920- see report in original format.

Additional report from Surrey Advertiser dated 18 Feb 1920.