================================================================================


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 1, 2001


                              CENTRAL BANCORP, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


MASSACHUSETTS                         0-25251                     04-3447594
----------------------------        ------------             -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission               (I.R.S. employer
of incorporation)                   file number)             identification no.)



        399 HIGHLAND AVENUE, SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS          02144
        ---------------------------------------------------------------
        (Address of principal executive offices)              (Zip code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 628-4000
                                                           --------------





                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


================================================================================




ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS
---------------------

     Attached hereto as Exhibit 99 is a copy of a letter,  dated August 1, 2001,
from the  Registrant's  Senior  Vice  President,  to Richard  Lashley  and other
members of PL Capital - Archimedes Overseas, Ltd. Group (the "Group") responding
to certain statements made by the Group.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The following is a list of exhibits  filed with this Current Report on Form
8-K.

  Exhibit No.              Description
  -----------              -----------

     99                    Letter, dated August 1, 2001, to Richard Lashley and
                           other members of the PL Capital -Archimedes Overseas,
                           Ltd. Group







                                   SIGNATURES



     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

                                          CENTRAL BANCORP, INC.



Date:  August 6, 2001                     By: /s/ John D. Doherty
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              John D. Doherty
                                              President