JC MSFL Division Four
East London Knights 1 Woodford Wanderers 3
A brace from birthday boy Andy Levy, plus one from Mitch Hahn helped Alex Aviram's 10-man Woodford Wanderers maintain their 100 per cent start to the season as they outclassed Essex rivals East London Knights at Wanstead Flats.
The game had everything including six bookings and a sending off, plus most of the rain in England in merely the first 40 minutes of the contest.
Wanderers played the whole of the second half with 10 men after Harrison Midda was given two yellow cards by referee Michael Cohen.
Grant Stone pulled one back for the Knights with 12 minutes left, but James Ryan men showed little fight to force an equaliser.
It was a different story though at the start to the eagerly anticipated Essex derby as the Knights looked the more threatening in the opening 10 minutes. Wanderers were frustrated and as a result had skipper Jamie Shafron cautioned. Midda soon followed for a challenge on Zach Forrest.
However, the visitors composed themselves and after 23 minutes Hahn broke the deadlock. The former Southend striker beat two defenders before drilling home into the bottom corner.
Buoyed by the goal, it took another six minutes for number two to arrive. A superb free-kick from player-manager Aviram fell for Andy Levy, who rose highest to head into the roof of the goal.
The half was marred though with only four minutes remaining, when Midda was given his second yellow card after he was of adjudged to have raised his boot too high on the Knight's keeper John Labi.
The Wanderers didn't let the incident affect them, and continued to completely dominate the proceedings. Jamie Shafron hit the bar after another good corner from Aviram. Moments later, Hahn could have had a second but he shot agonisingly wide.
At other end, the Knights made things interesting, when Grant Stone headed home a Michael Konzon corner. The great fight back didn't come though as an already depleted Knights were left soaked in the rain.
The moment did arrive though for the visitors, as Darren Ezekiel set-up Levy who coolly volleyed home from close range to seal the points and their fourth win in a row.
Delighted Wanderers player-manager Alex Aviram told JC Sport: "I'm delighted with the boys. We came here, we knew what we had to do and there wasn't one person out there who didn't do their job, a fantastic display from everyone and although there is still a long way to go. We have the bragging rights of East London for now and more importantly, three points!"
Disappointed Knights player-manager James Ryan said: "I wasn't disappointed with the defeat, I was more disappointed with the fact my players didn't perform to there ability and make life hard for Woodford. Unfortunately Woodford were more up for the game then we were and they deserved all three points. You can't expect to win a game by having just two attempts on goal. There third goal definitely killed the game off, although it was a clear handball and how the referee did not see it I really don't. know but I am not using that as an excuse as my team were absolutely shocking and the hairdryer treatment has come out!
"I would also like to add that this has to be the first game of adult football I have played where the opposition were very immature bar two players and I can now see why North London teams hate Essex teams. Woodford clearly give Essex teams a bad name. They were moaning about the referee and under the circumstances apart from the odd decision I thought the referee handled the game pretty well. They are moaning about the sending off, they should count themselves lucky that he didn't get sent off five minutes earlier for a two- footed stud showing challenge. My last point is that I am thinking of taking action against one of there players for an alleged racist comment that was made which I found very offensive. I will be speaking to a couple of people and take the next day or two to decide weather to make a formal complaint to the league"
"I now have a week to get my team back into shape and looking forward to another derby against Glenthorne B and hopefully this time it's an excellent game between two teams who just want to play football."
East London Knights: Labi, .Bell, Franklin, Sidloff, Clements, .Marks (Sub: Sanders) West, Danan (Sub: Stone) Forest (Sub: Winehouse) Konzon, Ryan
Woodford Wanderers: Kay 7, Shafron, 7, Poole 7, Gold 7, Levy 8, Marks 7, Shone 7 (sub: Winner 6), Aviram 8, Hahn 8, Midda 6, Ezkiel 7
JC Star Man: Andy Levy (Woodford Wanderers)