MGBSFL DIVISION TWO
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B 0 SCRABBLE FC 3
Ray Abrahams insists there is plenty more to come from his team after a deadly double from striker Danny Sherman steered Scrabble FC to their 10th consecutive victory.
Midfield maestro Elliott Espinoza wrapped up a 3-0 win in a game where Scrabble mastered a terribly boggy pitch to claim their fifth away success and beat their nearest rivals.
Hendon's hopes of being the first team to take points off Scrabble this season got off to the worst possible start as from the away side's first real attack, a weak header squirmed past the Hendon keeper.
Despite the early blow, Hendon recovered well and went on to dominate much of the first half. However, the 4 or 5 good chances they did create were squandered due to a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing and Scrabble maintained their 1-0 advantage at the break.
Scrabble doubled their lead early in the second half when a long goal kick caused havoc in the Hendon defence and despite the initial effort being saved, the Scrabble striker couldn't miss the follow up from close range.
endon continued to press and create opportunities, hitting the post through Benni Sluckis and the bar through Avi Mocton but it wasn't to be their day, and their misery was complete when Scrabble added a late third.
Ray Abrahams told JC Sport: "Winning the first ten games on the spin and reaching 30 points before the turn of the year is a fantastic achievement and I'm so proud of the players and pleased and delighted for everyone connected with this club.
"To have done it today against a form side who are second in the league was a great credit to the lads and all 13 players that appeared for us gave everything they had in their locker and more.
"These 10 wins have had to be earned and it's not been easy against some of the sides in this division who have the quality and just like today we had to work hard against a very good Hendon side who included one of their A team players at the heart of their midfield who was pulling all the strings for them.
"Also the pitch was a mudbath and very heavy so we had to battle rather than play pretty football and we wanted this game today as Hendon did so it was a real battling display from both sides.
"We are taking one game at a time and are not setting any targets but we are very keen to keep our unbeaten record for as long as possible.
"We still have one or two long-term injuries and those players are keen to return to our side so there is more to come from my team yet this season in terms of quality but we have great ability in this squad and strength in depth.
"Our aim at the start of the season was to put a squad together that would gain promotion from this division and that must now be within our grasp.
"We will look to achieve that as quickly as possible and then see where we go in terms of the title but we have to keep focused and have our feet on the ground as every game from now on will be like a cup final, with teams looking to end our terrific run.
"We are in for some tough games in the new year against some useful sides but you can be sure that we will not be complacent and will continue to target the three points in all those matches on a game by game basis and we certainly have the players capable of winning those games."
Hendon manager Adam Glekin told JC Sport: "How that game has ended 3-0 is beyond me. I thought we more than matched Scrabble and were probably the better team.
"My only frustration is that we've gifted them two unbelievably soft goals at the beginning of each half and when we're not scoring as freely as we'd like, You can't afford to that against the best team in the division.
"Scrabble probably have the title wrapped up now, but we'll keep on battling and try and finish as high as we possibly can."
