In West Ham's first practice match at Upton Park, the potential first team, playing in the club's colours, received a shock at the hands of the "Reserves," who scored twice in the first seven minutes, and eventually won an interesting game by four goals to three. The teams included a number of the players who have just returned from a month's training with the 64th Search¬light: Regiment and, looking very bronzed they, with the other players, all seemed very fit.
The match, although not played at top speed, contained plenty of good football, and although perhaps the best passing movements were accomplished by the losers, the Reserves put plenty of deter¬mination into their finishing efforts. A feature was a series of splendid saves by Gregory, the former West Ham Schools and Leytonstone goalkeeper, in the Reserves' goal.
The winners started off in top form, and twice in the early stages had the first team defence beaten. Foxall put them ahead in three minutes with a grand left-foot shot, and four minutes later Wood, although challenged by two defenders, forced his way through and netted with a fine drive. The first team forwards responded with some good movements, but their shooting was not as good as that of the Reserves, and several good chances were missed. Hubbard, the centre forward, was twice at fault with good openings, and it was Medhurst who had most to do in repelling shots at the other end. He once saved cleverly from Small, who was a much bigger danger to the defenders than Hubbard. Later, Gregory distinguished himself when he saved at full length from Macaulay. It was the Scot who reduced the lead five minutes before the interval with a grand goal. Receiving the ball outside the penalty area, he beat all opposition, and scored with a cross shot for which Gregory dived in vain. A minute later, however, Corbett restored the balance, when the first team defence failed to clear a centre from the left, and the half-back drove the ball home at top speed.
Changing over with a two goals lead, the Reserves continued to play well, but It was the first team who secured the initial goal in this half. It came from Goulden's foot at the end of six minutes, when he took a neat pass from Hubbard and ran through to plant the ball well out of Gregory's reach. For a long time after this the exchanges were fairly even, but in half an hour the first team had drawn level Hubbard taking advantage of a clear opening, provided by Macaulay, to dribble the ball round the advancing goalkeeper and shoot into the empty net. Having got on equal terms, it appeared likely that the first team would continue their recovery, but the defenders were again beaten a minute later, when Small collected the ball in a wide open space and dribbled through practically unchallenged to easily beat Medhurst, and score what proved to be the winning goal. The Reserves had to thank Gregory, however, that their goal did not fail again after this, when the first team forwards put on pressure, he made splendid saves from Hubbard, Macaulay, Burton and Fenton, but was fortunate when a great shot from Macaulay struck an upright after beating him,
Altogether It was quite an enjoyable game, watched by 8,200 spectators. On a pitch that presented a pleasing appear¬ance in Its fresh greenness, the players did exceptionally well in their first game. Big Jim Barrett, in his 17th season for the club, still showed that he is capable of breaking up inside formations by fine positional play, and Chalkley and Banner both defended well at back. Corbett was an energetic wing half; and Proudlock, Small, and the newcomer Bruce, worked well together in the three Inside positions in the Reserves' forward line. Macaulay and Goulden, by clever footwork, opened up most of the attacks for the first team; and Gore displayed good form at outside left., Fenton, fit and fresh from his South African tour with the F.A. team, showed that he is still the same tireless worker at half-back, Forde took C. Walker place at left back in the first team in the second half.