MGBSFL DIVISION TWO
REAL HENDON 2 ATHLETIC BILBAUM 5
Nick Shinder saluted his Athletic Bilbaum players after they secured their biggest and arguably best win of the season as they destroyed high-flying Real Hendon 5-2.
Chaim Gothold and RA Noe registered for Real who opened the scoring with a deflected strike.
Bilbaum rallied superbly on a day of top-class goals. They drew level when the impressive Ben Bell played the ball over the top for Jacob Brunner to battle through the Hendon defense and was brought down inside the area. Brunner converted the penalty with aplomb.
The visitors forged ahead soon after. Bilbaum were awarded a free-kick about 25 yards from goal, on the angle to the right. Josh Pugh claimed it instantly, eyeing the goal. He hit it perfectly with his left foot, bending it round the wall and just inside the far post, perfectly into the top corner.
Bilbaum made it 3-1 when Seb Silverman latched on to a long ball from Rob Rodney on to his right boot which was despatched with style into the top right hand corner of the net.
Pugh had pushed forward into the no. 10 role, looking to control the tempo of the game further up the pitch. Silverman found Pugh just outside the box, and Pugh set the ball for the onrushing Rob Rodney, who swept the ball into the far corner past the helpless keeper.
Bell ensured there was no way back for Real with a fifth, latching on to a clearance on the left-hand edge of the box, where Bell brought it down with one touch on his right before sending an absolutely unstoppable belter into the far top corner of the net with his other foot. A true worldly.
Hendon then claimed a consolation but it was Shinder and co who were smiling at the final whistle.
He told JC Sport: "It was a great reaction from the team after the blip at Lions.
"We controlled the game and look forward to continuing our strong 2016."
