MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
FC TEAM A 2 NORSTAR LONDON RAIDERS A 1
Ben Gilbey believes FC Team's victory over newly-crowned MGBSFL champions NLR has shown how far his side have come.
A double from Shim Bensoor earned Team an impressive victory over a NLR, just a week after a 10-0 mauling at the hands of Redbridge.
Proud FC Team head coach Ben Gilbey told JC Sport: "I am really pleased with the result as it show what a good team we are and can be.
"After the embarrassment of last week, everyone in the team wanted to work hard, get a result and show everybody that last week was a one off, freak occasion. I believe we went out and proved that by getting a cracking, well deserved win against the champions!
"We went out with a game-plan from the start to press high, frustrate them and then hit them on the break. It worked very well and how well the FC Team boys defended and kept a rock solid shape showed how we have grown as a team this year."
Raiders finished the game with 10 men after makeshift centre-back Jonny Kay, who was deputising for captain David Rhodes, committed a professional foul, which allowed Bensoor to convert the winner from the penalty spot after David Dinkin had hauled Raiders level.
Gilbey went on to praise a number of players. He said: "Yoav Lebens had a great game in the centre of the park, constantly breaking up play. David James Cohen at right-back and Alon Hirshkorn at left-back had particularly good games and were solid throughout. The final mention goes to Mike Myers, who had to bounce back after last week and boy did he do that! In the second half Mike made four of five great saves which kept us in the game.
"Well done to Norstar A on winning the league and we wish them the best of luck in their cup final next week.
"Going forward now, fifth spot is in our sights and we have three games left to get the points to achieve that finish. I have been really pleased with the boys this year and Sunday certainly showed how far we've come.
"There's still three games to go though and we want to finish on as many points as possible."
Despite the loss, Raiders finished all smiles after being presented with the league trophy by MGBSFL chairman David Wolff.
Raiders boss Rob Richman told JC Sport: "A disappointing result to end the league campaign, we gave away two penalties and unfortunately came up against a goalkeeper in inspired form.
"FC Team needed the points more than us today and I think that shows in the final result, we played okay but not well enough to win the match.
"Our attention was very much on next week’s cup final and first and foremost we wanted to make sure no one picked up any knocks or injuries, and fortunately that was the case.
"The result, though, did not dampen our mood as straight after the final whistle we were presented with the league trophy.
"It was a special day for the club and the hope is that next week the season will become even better and we will have another trophy to go in Mr Adelman’s ever expanding trophy cabinet."
