PETER MORRISON TROPHY QUARTER-FINAL
NORTH LONDON RAIDERS C 4 HEATON PARK ROVERS 2 (After extra-time)
A deadly double from Charles Braunstein in extra-time ensured North London Raiders C booked their place in the semi-finals of the Morrison with a hard-fought victory against a spirited Heaton Park Rovers.
With the sun shining, the pre-match hype ended and it was orange against luminous green at Hatfield University. Both sides looked up for the game from the off and traded plenty of tackle and possession in the early stages, but it was Raiders who took the lead on 15 minutes.
The ball came into the HPR box and after clever pass the ball sat up nicely for Marc Woolfe to volley low past Jordan Warrents and into the corner of the net.
Raiders started to play good, flowing football. However HPR's "aggressive game-plan" was starting to reap rewards and they slowly began to find their feet. Indeed the MJSL outfit equalised on the half hour through a super strike from Jonny Franks - a fantastic flick up, turn and volley in from 25 yards to make it 1-1 at the break.
HPR forged ahead early in the second half when the ball was correctly ruled to have crossed the line after a Alex Swift got his head on to a a corner.
Raiders then pushed for an equaliser and made the most of a double substitution. The goal came with 10 to go, a shot from the edge of the box was parried by Warrents and the ever-alert Alex Goodman was on hand to fired home the rebound.
The hosts pushed on in an attempt to get a winner before the dreaded extra-time but HPR held on valiantly.
Raiders knew that they had the superior legs and by this time were totally dominating possession yet wary of HPR's physical threat and weapons in attack.
The home side took the initiative eight minutes in after pushing Braunstein into midfield. He raced on to a loose ball to dink beautifully over the keeper.
Raiders threw caution to the wind at the break taking off two of their more creative players and shoring things up at the back. They soaked up plenty of pressure and sealed the tie with five minutes to go. A set-piece fell to Braunstein who smashed the ball in from inside the box to set up a last four showdown against holders Hendon or Redbridge.
Jubilant NLR boss Zack Gothelf told JC Sport: "This was a game that the Morrison, or any cup for that matter, needed. Both sides desperate to win, good football, aggression when needed and some spectacular goals.
"Fair play to HPR - they only had 11 and could quite easily have stayed at home. That they came down and fought to the bitter end despite missing key players was a testament to the club and to the management team. Their appearance has kept the magic of the Morrison going strong.
"We're looking forward to the semi-final - we know we not expected to do anything but why can't we get to the final? It's one of those seasons - look across the football world, the tides are playing up and here's to hoping for the only north London derby I care about this season."
HPR boss David Seligman told JC Sport: "One massive decision has cost us. Their goalkeeper should've gone for handling the ball outside his area in a one-on-one with Franks. That was the turning point. We were 2-1 up and I cannot understand how he stayed on the pitch.
"We travelled 400 miles with 11 men to play the game and we should've been playing the last 25 minutes against 10 men if you follow the laws of the game. It was a cast-iron red card and he could've had no complaints.
"Once it went to extra-time we knew we had little chance as the players were exhausted."
