PETER MORRISON TROPHY ROUND THREE

MACCABI LONDON LIONS MASTERS 1 HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A 0 (After extra-time) 

As they build up their preparations for Israel next summer, the Masters were looking forward to a competitive game, but drawing the champions at this early stage was not what they had in mind.

As expected Hendon were at them from the off, pressing all over the pitch as they sought to stamp their authority on the game. But against hot-shots Zac Lewis and Dovi Fehler were a defensive line that stood firm, Russell Corin, playing in goal against his club side in this competition, having little to concern him. Guy Morris, Rob Glass, Adam Myeroff and Adam Harvey simply excelled throughout.

And from this rock solid base, supremely screened by the livewire Alex Levack, the Masters were able to play and it was they who, 15 minutes in, began to threaten. A fine Josh Bentley pass found skipper Sam Sloma’s defence=splitting run, but a heavy touch allowed Arthur Caplin to get out to smother. 

The deputising Hendon keeper was in the action soon after to parry a stinging Adam Stolerman strike before Craig Pearl was next to test his agility, the keeper this time grabbing at the second attempt.  But he was a relived man when Levack’s swinging corner went over his head and into the far corner, Masters celebrations cut short by a whistle for a "pretty soft foul" six yards away.

The Masters were then frustrated by the lack of a whistle when Sloma’s heels were clipped by Simon Peterman when away and again just before the break when Paul Hakim burst clear but his strike struck the outside of the post and cannoned away to safety.

Hendon remained a threat on the break, Ari Last impressing in the heart of their midfield, but the strength and know how of the Masters continued to keep them at bay.  Substitutes Danny Daggers, Lee Cash and Saul Conway were by now on with Sloma having to leave and Pearl pulling up with a hamstring injury. But the changes didn’t hamper the side; Daggers continuing to keep things ticking over while the willing running of the two new forwards pushed Hendon back.

Levack, now joined by former Charlton Athletic player Paul Linger, bossed things in midfield, full-backs Harvey and Myeroff taking every opportunity to get forward.  One such break saw Hakim upended on the edge of the area, the free-kick curled by him superbly into the top corner, but again the goal was chalked off, this time for an offside call that left everyone bemused. Hendon were fortunate to be let off the hook for a second time.

The game continued in the same vain – Masters with the ball looking good but Hendon always a danger, and when Greg Corin freed Lewis the livewire cut back in and shot goalwards, but straight at Corin who made a comfortable save. At the other end Linger and then Myeroff both struck efforts from inside the box over the bar and, with the stalemate intact the game went into extra-time.

The Masters midfield, with Bentley, Levack and Daggers, were strong both with and without the ball. Cash and Conway continued to be a real threat, but the goal wouldn’t come. That was until a minute into the second period when Stolerman controlled and drove into the box. He shot powerfully across the keeper, Caplin doing well to keep out the strike initially, but this time Conway was first to react, bundling the ball home from close range to give the Masters the lead.

Hendon tried to react, but in truth the Masters on the break should have put the game to bed. Conway blazed over from close range following great work from Cash, who then frustrated by an excellent save from Caplin and a great block by Corin. But as the game entered the final minutes the one clean sight of goal Hendon had been craving came along as a deep cross found Fehler at the far post, but from inside the six-yard box he looped his header over the bar and with it the chance to extend their incredible run in this competition.

Few would deny however that the Masters were, on the day, good value for the win, and they will use the next tie in this competition to continue their preparations for Israel next summer. 

Masters boss Dan Jacobs was delighted with the work out and pleased his charges got the reward their endeavours deserved. "We've a long way to go to ready ourselves for Israel, but playing together in competitions like this can only help us," he told JC Sport.

"We’ve a squad with plenty of ability and a hunger to improve as a Masters team. The group looked fit and strong today with all impressing - we look forward to the exciting challenges ahead."

So defeat ended Hendon's three-year monopoly of the Jewish FA Cup, and it was the first time they have failed to score this season.

Manager David Garbacz told JC Sport: "The whole squad including myself cannot remember ever coming off a pitch so incredibly disappointed to lose a game.

"We put our bodies on the line for 120 minutes against a very good Masters team and to come away with a defeat was devastating.

"They were supposed to be the ones with the fitness problems but we finished the game like the walking wounded as Simon Peterman Alex Rosenthal Zac Lewis and Yoav Lebens all picked up bad injuries and it is a good thing the Chanukah break is around the corner to patch up the wounds."

Garbacz heaped praise on the Masters team who excelled on the big stage at Rowley Lane. He added: "Our injuries are no excuse for the defeat – when all is said and done they deserved the victory – tactically they closed down our danger men very quickly and were able to dictate the pace of the match."

He went on to bemoan missed opoortunities. "They were very well organised but the most upsetting thing today was our finishing. Zac Lewis has been scoring goals in his sleep in recent weeks but today missed maybe four golden chances – our game-plan was to soak up the inevitable pressure and catch them on the break with our pace and to an extent it worked – we just couldn’t put the ball in the net.

"Dovi Fehler missed a chance in the last minute of extra-time to take the game to penalties that made Ronnie Rosenthal look good. It was genuinely easier to score – he is a great player but he left today distraught at that miss.

"We have won this cup for the last three years running so feel a huge sense of loss this morning – even the Redbridge defeat on the adjoining pitch failed to muster a smile.

"We need to feel sorry for ourselves for a few days and then pick ourselves up again for the weekend and keep our title challenge going. This season can still bring with it great success and joy so we can’t be down for too long.

"As for the Masters – I’m pleased for the likes of Josh Bentley and Russell and congratulations to Alex Levack who I thought was brilliant today and ran the game. I hope they go far in this competition and obviously we wish them all the best for the big prize next summer. If they continue to play like they did yesterday they will have a great chance of gold."