MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
NORTH LONDON RAIDERS A 1 HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A 0
Rob Richman saluted his North London Raiders team after the defending champions edged past arch rivals Hendon to extend their 100 per cent thanks to a strike from super-sub Oscar Wagner.
A tight contest, in which Hendon goalkeeper Russell Corin produced a string of fabulous save to keep his team in it, was settled by Wagner in the second half as Raiders registered their eighth consecutive league victory and ensured they finished the year unbeaten in domestic football.
Jubilant Raiders boss Rob Richman told JC Sport: "Today was a really top result against a very strong Hendon side. As is always the case when we play Hendon the game was competitive but played in exactly the right spirit and a credit to the league we play in. It was also excellently refereed.
"Both sides went all out for the win but in truth both defences dominated with some excellent performances from both sides. I felt we probably shaded possession and created more opportunities but there wasn't too much between the sides.
"We got some huge luck when at 0-0 Yoav Kestenbaum missed a really gilt-edged chance. But in these sort of games you do need a little bit of luck.
"The further the second half went the more confident I was we would get a goal. Ben Ellis and Nick Lewis both went close, the latter forcing another in a long line of excellent saves from Corin. And then super-sub Oscar Wagner grabbed what was to be the winner with a goal that was befitting the quality on show as he effortlessly half volleyed over Corin who had previously looked unbeatable.
"Even losing skipper David Rhodes for the last 15 minutes didn't phase us as we held out to secure a really important ninth win out of nine. Rhodes will have an operation to reset a broken arm tomorrow and we all wish him well and a speedy recovery.
"There's a long way to go and we know everyone will push us hard in the second half of the season but we can be really pleased with our first half of the season and it caps off a brilliant 2015."
Hendon boss David Garbacz missed the match but JC Sport managed to catch up with him. "I received a full report on the game from assistant-manager Greg Corin having been unable to attend this week. By all accounts we were exceptionally unlucky to lose – we played well and kept it tight at the back with excellent performances from Russell, Chaim Korman and Alex Rosenthal in particular. And further forward we missed a couple of glorious chances to take the lead, one when Moses Seitler broke through early on and another when Yoav Kestenbaum missed a one-on-one.
"This was always going to be a game of small margins and if we were to win we really needed to put one of those away.
"In the second half once Raiders took the lead we fought well to try to equalise but it was not to be. Although it hurt us I was pleased for Oscar Wagner – he is a great young player who I have known since he was a baby and perhaps we should have snapped him up this season.
"The difference is confidence and belief – Raiders are full of it and are superbly professional at closing a game out once they go ahead – although we played really well, because our results have been so unlike us this year we are not seeing games through or taking our chances.
"Believe me there is still not a lot between the two teams and hopefully we will be on the right end of these results in the second half of the season.
"With the disappointing and worrying Faithfold pull-out we now find ourselves in a Chelsea-like position at totally the wrong end of the table. I’m expecting the dreaded vote of confidence from the board any day now!"
