MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A 1 OAKWOOD A 2
Having beaten Hendon 3-1 at the same ground last week, Oakwood arrived in confident mood at a Hadley FC pitch surrounded by thick fog.
Hendon welcomed back Moses Seitler and Yoav Kestenbaum, but they were still missing goalkeeper Russ Corin, Avi Korman and Simon Peterman. Corin’s understudy Arthur Caplin took his place between the sticks. Oakwood also had key men missing, notably Hendon old boy Ben Lauffer and Guy Helman.
The hosts, who have played two games fewer than Oakwood who started with a four-point advantage, lined up with a front three of Josh Harris, Rocky Spitzer and Seitler. But they were given an early let-off when Brad Wine latched on to a dangerous far post cross but placed his header wide.
Hendon responded well and Zac Lewis found space on the edge of the Oakwood penalty area but he fired straight into the midrift of Dean Caplin.
Like last week, it was Oakwood’s Kyle Bentwood who opened the scoring. Caplin had produced a brilliant reflex save after 15 minutes but Bentwood was in the right place to slot home from 10 yards.
Hendon came straight back and Greg Corin tried his luck from 30 yards but Caplin moved across his goal well to tip the ball around the post for a corner.
The game was locked into a midfield battle for a period, with Oakwood introducing Sam Cantor in place of Wine. Sidle, who didn’t stop running all morning, then fired a snapshot goalwards. The ball was deflected away from Caplin but the young stopper did well to push the ball to safety.
As referee Richard Jaye blew his whistle for half-time, Oakwood went in the happier team, but Hendon were determined not to lose at a ground they had turned into a fortress two weeks on the spin.
However, it was Hendon who drew first blood in the second half, with the industrious Seitler, who had been well-marshalled, equalising from close range.
With Kestenbaum and Fehler on the pitch, Oakwood knew the importance of denying them service and full-backs Harvey Kaye and Lee Warner were in dominant form, snuffing out any danger.
In front of them, Thomas Prais stopped Hendon captain Ari Last from playing while Dave Woolman, showed another side to his game. His tireless running, brilliant delivery and incredible work-rate made life tough for the Hendon defence.
There were chances for both teams in the last 20 minutes. Sidle pulled his shot wide of the far post but just when it looked like both teams would have to settle for the draw, he produced a piece of magic that turned the tide in Oakwood’s favour.
Alex Rosenthal looked favourite to deal with a through ball, with Sidle for company. He was looking for help, but his goalkeeper opted to stay on his line and after being shrugged off Sidle showed brilliant predatory instincts to get in front of him and lash his shot into the net, sparking a mini-pitch invasion from the Oakwood dugout.
This had been another great advert for the MGBSFL, between two honest and well-matched teams who had put everything into the 90 minutes. But it was Oakwood who came away the happier, with Kristall reflecting on their 11th win in 14 matches which took them seven points clear.
“This win was a huge sign of character and determination,” Kristall told JC Sport. “Our boys were knackered by the end but never gave in.
“We defended superbly and created all of the meaningful chances in the match. Last minute goals aren't lucky, they are a sign of a team’s character and team spirit.”
Kristall was convinced the best team had prevailed on the day. “One hundred per cent we deserved the win,” he said. “We were the better side in the first half. In the second half, Hendon came at us but we were comfortable and looked dangerous throughout on the break.
“Hendon scored with their only real chance. What was most pleasing is that after the equaliser we stepped it up and had all the best chances to win.
“We would have taken a draw - as we know David would because that’s what he was telling his players - but we are delighted with the win. We've suffered ourselves at the death in big games, so it feels great to be on the right side this time.”
It is clear Oakwood have put down a psychological marker following back-to-back victories over their illustrious rivals.
Kristall went on to say: “We will enjoy these two wins but the games are coming thick and fast. We want to make sure it contributes to something in May.
“The boys are determined to keep going and keep winning. Seven straight wins in this league is a fabulous achievement and we are building up momentum for a very tough run in.
“We still have to play Lions, Team and Raiders in addition so we are fully aware of how difficult it will be to win the title from this position.
“The other teams also have tough run-ins as well with Redbridge and Hendon still yet to face each other. It all makes for an exciting end to the league season.
“We know full well we've won nothing yet but we've put ourselves right in the mix. The celebrations at the end reflected an incredible achievement.
“To beat a previously unbeaten Hendon team twice in a week is not easy. They had a full squad and a bench to call on this week and they play football in the right way.
“We had to be organised, defend well and take our chances when they came. We achieved all three of those.
“There is loads of football still to play and all three teams are still in with a very good chance of winning the league. We just have to focus on winning our games. The rest will take care of itself.”
Hendon boss David Garbacz cut a dejected figure at the final whistle, admitting defeat was “tough to take”.
He told JC Sport: “This was the cruellest, bitterest way to lose such an important game in which I’m sure Ric and Dan would agree that a draw would have been a fair result.
“I left the pitch with the feeling that someone had broken into our home and had stolen a sentimental family heirloom in broad daylight. However the truth is – the winning goal was all our own fault. We deal with that situation 99 times out of 100 but for some inexplicable reason Alex and Arthur were each waiting for the other one to come and in nipped their forward to take advantage of the hesitancy.
“I felt so bad for the whole team – we had fought back well in the second half and had looked the likely winners but even once it didn’t look like we would win the game we still knew a draw would be fine.
“I thought Yehuda Korman, Josh Harris and Zac Garbacz all put in excellent body on the line shifts for us as did a number of other players and overall I was proud of the effort but ultimately it was all about the final result.
“For the neutral it was probably a great game – we felt we had a number of chances to go on and win the game but unfortunately we have lost the belief and confidence to win for the moment and it is the worst run I have known as manager.”
Garbacz concedes Oakwood are now favourites to clinch the title and said: “Congratulations to Oakwood – to win both these matches takes some doing and clearly they had the better mental strength than us. The title is now totally theirs for the taking – they deserve a big trophy after all these years and I’d be amazed if they didn’t now go on to win it.
“For us we won’t be throwing in the towel and will take each game as they now come and see where that puts us at the end of the season, but it will take a miraculous effort to pick ourselves up from this defeat.”
OAKWOOD: Dean Caplin, Kyle Bentwood, Dale Bradman, Harvey Kaye, Alex Lee, Thomas Prais, Leor Sidle, Rafi Stone, Lee Warner, Brad Wine, David Woolman
SCORERS: Bentwood 15, Sidle 90
HENDON: Arthur Caplin, Greg Corin, Zac Garbacz, Alex Rosenthal, Yehuda Korman, Ari Last (capt), Ari Nevies, Moses Seitler, Roie Spitzer, Zac Lewis, Josh Harris. Subs: Dovi Fehler, Yoav Kestenbaum
SCORER: Seitler 58
