CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP SEMI-FINAL
FINCHLEY CITY 0 REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A 5
A semi-final in the sunshine of Willesden greeted former winners Redbridge against the Division One new boys.
The game was even for the first 15 minutes, with a highly-motivated Finchley competing for every ball, though they seemed to be losing boys to injury or going down with cramp at a very early stage.
Then Premier Division clash told as the first goal came from Daniel Garfinkle. Stealing a yard on his marker and from a perfectly delivered cross from Russell Goldstein, he flicked his shot into the goal.
Goldstein then turned scorer, doubling RJC's advantage. Receiving the ball wide on the left his right-footed finish deceived the Finchley keeper and crept over the line.
As half-time approached, Ben Sollosi, Goldstein and Steve Summers all passed up presentable chances to add to the scoreline, but 2-0 it was and still all to play for.
With the reminder that a place against Lions was at stake, Redbridge carried ion where they left off but again, the game was being broken up a constant stopping in the play with injuries and cramp befalling the Finchley players.
A tactical change saw Sollosi moved further forward and with that came the decisive third goal with a tremendous finish low into the right of the net. The same player then finished with another excellent finish a few minutes later to kill the tie completely.
We shall gloss over the linesman and referee misunderstanding that should have seen a goal awarded to Redbridge but incorrectly ruled out for a foul when infact the two Finchley players had collided with each other, but a fifth duly came when the outstanding Goldstein finished for a smart finish and his second goal.
Jubilant Redbridge boss Jon Jacobs told JC Sport; "The boys badly want to avenge the 2013 Anekstein final when they lost to Lions .
"We look forward to meeting London Lions A in the final, I have a detailed dossier on their 200 players that they have available but it is currently bigger than Encyclopaedia Britannica so unable to use it fully.
"We look forward to seeing Josh Kennet, Austin Lipman and all their Saturday boys for the Maccabi League Cup final which they have richly contributed to."
