MGBSFL DIVISION ONE

SCRABBLE FC 1 NORTH LONDON RAIDERS B 0

Scrabble produced not only the performance of the day but also possibly the result of the day as they beat a North London Raiders side previously tipped for the title.

To add a bit of spice to the game, Raiders selected five former Scrabble players who broke away from the club in the summer necessitating Scrabble having to rebuild their side over the summer.

Scrabble went about their business from the kick-off determined to take the game to Raiders and for 90 minutes their work-rate and commitment was on a different level.

Manager Ray Abrahams later praised his players who "fought for every ball and every tackle" in a contest that goalless at half-time, it was clear that one goal might settle it.

Scrabble hit the bar through Zac McLeod early in the second half after a well-worked move down the left and with the game flowing end to end both sides continued to threaten the winner.

Then on 75 minutes Ben Law in the Raiders goal and his defence failed to clear a Scrabble cross from the left and Edwards stepped into the crowd of players to stab home from close range was was to be the winning goal.

Late in the game Zac Summerfield reacted well to a through ball but Law was quickly off his line to clear and in stoppage time substitute Ben Bowers also went close after a mazy run into the penalty box.

Abrahams told JC Sport: "It's a long time since I've seen us play like that. For 90 minutes every player battled and fought for every ball and clearly we wanted this more than they did, and we've now claimed some bragging rights after the manner in which some of our old boys left us for Raiders over the summer.

"I'm very pleased that we've put that right today and showed that we've replaced those players with better in terms of attitude and commitment to our club.

"This was a top performance and I couldn't have asked anymore from the lads in terms of attitude passion and commitment. Our keeper making his debut had a terrific game and we defended and went forward together as a unit and the work-rate of the midfield and the guys up top was phenomenal.

"There was only ever going to be one goal in this one but we've kept a clean sheet and Craig was there to win the game for us when it mattered.We are delighted."

NLR boss Jonny Adelman told JC Sport: "It was a poor and scrappy game settled by a poor scrappy late goal.

"We missed a bucket load of chances, had an effort punched off the line by a Scrabble defender but it's probable that we wouldn't have scored if we'd played all day."