Fifteen minutes before the kick-off, in their friendly match with Southampton, West Ham were without a goalkeeper, and an S.O.S. On a notice board was sent round the ground. A Mr. Haley one of the spectators, modestly offered his services, he was only an amateur, he said, but would be glad to assist the club out of a difficulty. It transpired that he had played for Harwich and Parkeston. He kept goal, and at the end was undefeated. The shooting of the Southampton forwards generally was not of high quality, but there were two occasions whenMr. Haley deftly turned likely looking shots round the post.
West Ham, with several other guest players in their side, were too good for Southampton, and it was Jones, in in their goal, who kept the Hammers' score down to the half-dozen - three goals being scored in each half. The home forwards were more thrustful set of players than those of Southampton, and they knew how to shoot, especially Fenton, who claimed four goals. He scored hos first in the opening minute, when he burst through single handed, and although the goalkeeper parred his first shot, he secured the rebound and netted. Cochrane, from Mahon's pass, scored the second mid-way through the half and before the interval Fenton headed the third form Mahon's corner kick.
Within three minutes of the opening of the second period Fenton again netted, and five minutes later gave the pass that enabled Foreman to score the fifth goal. Fenton rounded off the scoring with an excellent cross shot. As the score indicates, West Ham were superior all round, and particaly in attack and in the wing-half positions. The close support of Gladwin and Small had much to do with the effectiveness of the Hammmers' forwards, who displayed better understanding than the visiting forwards, were quicker on the ball, and shot without hesitation. Whittingham, the Saints' centre forward, was a consistently hard trier, but he lacked support from the other forwards, who tried too much close dribbling to be effective, and seemed shy of the shooting.