Zacki Doumou won the battle of the hot-shots as he upstaged MGBSFL top-scorer Jono Gaon by scoring five times as North West London Bears secured a big win over Hampstead Ducks.
January 20, 2020 12:59
MGBSFL DIVISION TWO
NORTH WEST LONDON BEARS 6 HAMPSTEAD DUCKS 2
Doumou was at his deadly best as the Bears led 4-0 up at half-time. The Ducks responded with two quickfire goals in the second half, but Doumou ended their hopes with two stunning finishes to clinch the points.
Bears' joint-player-manager James Harpin told JC Sport: "We were very good in the first half, pressing really high up the pitch and creating opportunities constantly.
"Zacki is obviously a class above and it's been great having him the last couple of weeks. We knew if we created chances for him he would put them away. His second half goals were individual quality that no-one else in the league has. His fourth and fifth goals could both win our goal of the season."
Harpin added: "I do still feel that even without Zacki today we would have won the game. We worked extremely hard and created many opportunities for our attacking players.
"Our midfield looked a class above in the first half and I am proud of the work rate we put into the game. Our performances over the past five games have been incredible and we now look like a proper football team."
Having risen to seventh in the division, Harpin said: "It will be a different game when we face them again next week but we feel we should have enough to get another win to our name."
Harpin believes the Bears' improvement has been clear for all to see. "If you look at the league table, we are two points off fourth, which we would have had if we completed the 90 minutes against Chigwell in which we were winning, and if we hadn't drawn the four games we expected to win we could be pushing for promotion.
"However, we have not got these results, and we now have five games left where we would expect at least four wins from them. If we get these results we will be satisfied with the season considering how it began."