MGBSFL DIVISION ONE
REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B 4 REAL SOSOBAD 2
Sam Rank saluted his Redbridge B players after a David Fialka and Scott Shear inspired performance earned them derby day delight as they overcame Essex rivals Sosobad.
On a cold and blustery morning at Seven Kings, an in-form RJC B took on Sosobad. Bragging rights were not the only thing up for grabs in a match that also featured an interesting reunion for new RJC B signing Shear against his former club, just a couple of weeks after his big move.
RJC flew out of the blocks and went into a 2-0 lead in the first eight minutes. Dan Andrews nodded them in front with a looping header from a terrific set-piece delivery by Brad Gayer. The second came from good work on left-hand side as Ben Chernoff whipped in a cross that was met brilliantly by Fialka, who finished impeccably - a finish his hero Jermain Defoe would of been proud of.
The game settled down and Sosobad hauled themselves back into the game with a goal on the counter-attack. The pacy James Law was through one-on-one, and it looked as though Shear got to ball first and parried the ball to safety, but ref felt he taken out the Real Sosobad winger, and awarded the penalty to Sosobad. The spot-kick was clinically tucked away by the ex-RJC player Sam McCarthy. It was game on as the momentum was now with the away team.
Sosobad equalised five minutes later. A corner was delivered into the RJC B penalty area and the intelligent Jamie Crawford lost his RJC B marker at the back post and header in and ensured the team went in level at half time.
The visitors came out the stronger side in the second half and if it was not for the impressive Shear they would have forged ahead. He produced a brilliant stop to deny Barry 'Kane' Green in a one-on-one. This proved a big turning point in the game as two minutes later RJC B took the lead.
The ball was played into Sam Moss, who held up the ball brilliantly, laid the pass into the energetic Richie Caplin, who played a delicious ball over the Real Sosobad defence, when the predator Fialka finished empathically to give RJC B a 3-2 lead.
RJC secured the points soon after when a long ball was played by Shear over the Sosbad centre backs and Fialka raced onto the long pass and once again finished superbly to give him his hat-trick.
Sosobad tried to fight back, which involved an amazing double save from Shear (nominated for Save of the week), but RJC B closed the game out with a 4-2 win.
RJC joint-manager Sam Rank told JC Sport: "I could not have asked any more from the boys today. Everyone of the boys came off the pitch knowing that they gave everything they could have, which just shows there commitment they have for the team and club.
"Special mentions to Scott Shear and David Fialka who both gave outstanding performances and also Johan Simberg and Richie Caplin, who managed the team in my abscene, due to A-team duty. We hope to continue the winning run against Oakwood B next week."
Real Sosobad boss Dan Shafron told JC Sport: "Credit to Redbridge, they had a game-plan, a certain tactic and executed it well.
"I can’t fault my team, they worked hard and tried to get the ball down and play good football but like all games against local rivals, it was a bit fiery and it was a matter of who wanted it more.
"I guess on the balance of play, Redbridge deserved the win but yet again silly defensive mistakes cost us.
"It's something we need to address over the coming weeks however I am proud of the effort that all the boys put in and we are already looking forward to our game next Sunday against Raiders."