Respect is a key word in football, whether it's grass-roots or the Premier League. And it was great to see plenty of that in matches involving Raiders and Oakwood and the derby between Woodford and Redbridge.
Oakwood A had victory snatched away from them in the cruelest of fashions against a resolute Raiders team who showed them exactly why they are the champions. But they did become the first team to stop them from winning this season, and they deserved more ...
RIC BLANK told JC Sport: "Our challenge is to hit those heights every single game. That's what Raiders have done now for a couple of years and Hendon before them. We'll do it I'm sure. Despite the late goal this felt like a turning point"
---------------------
- DAVID GARBACZ (Hendon A) - "This is just what we need to get going in 2016 - we have set targets for the rest of the season and those include silverware - I wouldn't be writing us off just yet"
- ROB RICHMAN (NL Raiders A) - "Full credit to Oakwood they are as good a side as we have faced this season and I have no doubt they’ll be challenging all the way in all competitions this season"
- RIC BLANK (Oakwood A) - QUOTE 1 - "I thought it was a tremendous game, played in great spirit. No nonsense between the players - just respect. We play hard but fair and Raiders are the same. I'd love every game in this league to be like that"
- RIC BLANK (Oakwood A) - QUOTE 2 - "Martin Lavender enjoys the games and you can tell. I did think five minutes of injury time in the second half was too much but such is life"
- DAN SHAFRON (Real Sosobad) - "The pitch was the worst we've played on for a long time. I'm heading back to the pitch later today, apparently our centre half Elliott Coulton is still standing on the goal line defending a free kick"
To get more from Life, click here to sign up for our free Life newsletter.