MGBSFL DIVISION ONE

FINCHLEY CITY 2 NORTH LONDON RAIDERS B 2

An action-packed contest at Capital City in Willesden had everything – top-quality goals and a red card.

Raiders – who started the match a point ahead of City, having played a game more - marched into a 2-0 lead inside 10 minutes.

Will Ufland opened the scoring with a superb left-footed strike from outside the penalty areas.

Josh Green doubled NLR’s advantage after an excellent move. Great work from Jake Gilbert saw him release Ufland who played in Lewis Blitz. He cut back the ball back for Green to score.

City reduced the arrers soon after when Jono Gaon scored with a good low shot from outside the box before NLR were reduced to 10 men as Elad Hertschen was sent off for two bookable offences within 90 seconds of each other. NLR boss Jonny Adelman described the first caution as “very soft indeed” and said: “It’s a shame that decision altered the course of what was shaping up to be a really good contest.”

NLR had to play approximately 70 minutes a man down, and had to change goalkeeper at half time. Marc Woolfe, who had excelled in centre midfield in the first half pulled off a couple of great saves including pushing away a penalty.

Finchley then equalised but NLR soaked up the pressure and played with real discipline to see out the game for a draw - and but for a clearance off the line from Alex Goodman’s header and a super diving save in the final moments from Josh Green they might have taken maximum points.

Finchley boss Joel Holder told JC Sport: “We started the game very slowly today and fully deserved to be 2-0 down.

“We switched the tactics before half-time to try and get Oliver Sade and Jono Gaon more in the game and deservedly got a goal back before half-time.

“The pendulum swung in our favour after the red card and once we equalised it looked like we were the most likely to win.

“Unfortunately, we missed a penalty and a combination of some fine saves and poor finishing ultimately cost us today.

“I can’t fault the boys though because it was great show of character to come back from two goals down and we finished the game very strongly. 

“It’s going to take a massive effort to win the league this year, but we are going to do everything possible to make it happen.

“We have 10 cup finals to go starting with Redbridge next Sunday.”