MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
HARMEN 3 HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A 0
Oliver Leslie saluted James Gershfield after the striker lifted Harmen above Hendon United Sports Club A with a first-half hat-trick settling the Hadley FC derby.
Harmen fans welcomed debutante Alex Levack but it was Gershfield who took the game by the scruff of the neck in a game where Max Hassell and Elliott Stern also impressed.
The game was effectly over after 30 minutes courtesy of three superb finishes from the league's leading goal-scorer- Gershfield.
HArmen continued to control the game and in truth, should have scored at least another two goals with chances from Adam Arnold and Gershfield again coming close.
Leslie told JC Sport: "We have come a long way since losing our two opening fixtures to Redbridge and Raiders.
"We conceded a total of 11 goals in those games and I think everyone wrote us off after the Raiders game. Since the Raiders game we have gone on a six-game unbeaten run in the league, conceding seven goals.
"We have adjusted our style of play and today was most definitley the most impressive Harmen performance to date. The management team our extremely proud of our boys and have no doubt that this win can give the team that confidence to go on and win some silverware this season.
"Hendon are still a top side and I am sure will be fighting for the title come the end of the season. I do not remember the last time a team completely dominated this Hendon side and at the same time managed to stop them scoring."
Hendon boss David Garbacz told JC Sport: "This is the first mini-crisis that I and a number of the Hendon players have ever had to endure, and we don’t like it.
"We need to turn it round, show far more professionalism and remind everyone what a serious talented team we are.
"The league is now totally out of the equation but for me the remaining league matches are vital to prove to ourselves more than anything that we will not crumble and that we still have what I takes.
"We will go all out in the two domestic cups and we will still believe we have the class to win one of those this year.
"Today we made three basic defensive errors in gifting them all three goals the first one after about 30 seconds. It isn’t acceptable and cannot keep happening.
"Incidentally Russell Corin was probably our man-of-the-match in keeping the scoreline down in the second half as we pushed forward in search of some consolation. He made at least three world-class saves.
"Harmen were good but didn’t have to be great when we were so poor defensively in the first half. I thought Alex Levack was outstanding at the back for them and hardly gave us a chance. He’s a great signing for them. Mind you he played for Lions against us last week, Harmen this week. I presume he’ll be signing for Oakwood in time for next week’s match!"
