MGBSFL DIVISION ONE
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B 0 SCRABBLE FC 5
With Chase Lodge once again falling victim to the weather, the match was hastily moved to Nicholas Breakspear 3G, home of Oakwood FC.
Scrabble had to work hard for the victory as a number of chances were squandered by a Hendon side who were well-drilled in defence. It looked as though the first half would end goalless until a looping cross from Zak McLeod was met with a brilliant header from Scrabble captain Brandon Sassoon at the far post after 44 minutes.
The early moments of the second half pretty much mirrored the opening 45 minutes and while the score was still 1-0, Hendon still were in with a chance of causing an upset for the first time this season.
With 20 minutes remaining and Scrabble manager Ray Abrahams becoming increasingly frustrated with the situation, he made two inspired substitutions and changed things around which proved to be a major turning point in the game.
Josh Tiano was brought on at left-back, replacing Josh Bharier, and allowing Adam Waters who had been in the back four to add extra strength to the Scrabble midfield. Waters was rewarded almost immediately when he latched on to Rob Blackman’s pass to make it 2-0.
Dan Green then battled through a host of Hendon players fired the ball out to McLeod on 83 minutes and McLeod’s cross and second goal-scoring assist of the day was met by new signing Tom Prevezer, sent on by Abrahams to replace Rob Blackman up front, and he fired home on his debut to make it 3-0.
Abrahams now switched the team to an attacking 3-5-2 formation sending Sam Stead the right-back into midfield with a free role.
With three minutes remaining, Scrabble’s young star winger Zac Summerfield cut in on the left and fired an unstoppable shot past the Hendon keeper from 15 yards out to make it 4-0.
The rout was completed a minute from time when Sam Stead battling through the midfield drew out the Hendon keeper then fired past him from 10 yards to make it 5-0.
A delighted Ray Abrahams told JC Sport: “We made hard work of this one and it was a case of turning to Plan B for the last 25 minutes.
“We’ve won three successive games now, scoring 11 and conceding one since we went out of the Cup and we seem to be hitting form at the right time.
“Again two of our rivals have dropped points today and suddenly we are joint second on points and just two points off of top spot.
“With seven games left now we don’t want any slip ups which could cost us promotion and the big prize of a place in the Premier Division.
“Credit to the Hendon boys today who battled for 90 minutes against us. but I feel that in the end that little bit of extra quality we possess shone through.”
Abrahams insists his players have hit top form at a critical stage. “Whilst we stuttered a bit at times today, we also had some outstanding performances from some of the players and scored some superb goals,” he said.
“That’s nine points from our last three games now and a good level of consistency is now really important in our last seven fixtures if we are to have any chance of reaching the top flight in May.
“I’m privileged to be working with a great squad who are all winners and want more success for this club and whoever is selected is giving more than 100 per cent for the shirt.”
