JC MSFL DIVISION TWO
NORTH WEST NEASDEN B 2 BRADY MACCABI B 3
Brady B asserted their title credentials in gritty fashion this morning on a boggy pitch at Copthall, coming from two goals behind to beat NW Neasden B 3-2 in the dying seconds of the game through Sam Frolich.
A scrappy opening to the game saw little in the way of real quality, but it was to Neasden who the first real chance of the day fell, drawing a superb save out of Brady's Sam Singer, palming a shot that seemed destined for the top corner out of danger.
Moments later, Brady had a chance to take the lead. Daniel Hildebrand was played through, only to be taken as he looked set to shoot. From the resulting free kick, James Joseph's shot was deflected wide.
Brady squandered another chance to go ahead, this time from the spot. Joseph was scythed down when clear through on goal, but having dusted himself off to take the kick, he hit a tame kick along the ground, into the keeper's hands.
Spurred on, it did not take long for Neasden to make Brady rue the penalty miss, as they pulled ahead. Brady were undone by a ball over the top, and, cutting in from the left flank, Tony Chadwick latched on to a sliderule through ball from Starski to loft a sumptuous chip over the onrushing Singer.
Neasden's lead was doubled in similar fashion before half time. Brady failed to clear their lines, and they were punished, slightly against the run of play as Oli Joseph did the rest.
Brady had a right to feel aggrieved at going in at half time two down - it was somewhat against the flow of the game - but no sooner had the second half begun than tempers began flare, with an innocuous incident causing something of a fracas. This seemed to be the catalyst that Brady needed to up the level of their game, and they were on the front foot from this point forward, without necessarily creating a great deal.
The men in red piled on the pressure, and with 20 minutes left on the clock it finally told. Substitute Dan Goldstone found player-manager Josh Dagul, who turned and played in Reiss Mogilner, who struck superbly across the keeper into the far corner.
The impetus now with them, Brady pushed on, and it was not long before they were level. Dagul flicked in Mogilner, who produced an almost identical finish.
Brady could now smell blood, and the reward for their persistence came with seconds on the clock. Captain Sam Frohlich was sent up front from centre back to try and force a winner, and it was from this unlikely source that it came. Daniel Harrod's cross evaded everyone, Mogilner was on hand to put it back into the danger zone, where Frohlich rose above his marker and headed accurately home, cueing rapturous celebrations from the travelling fans.
Neasden could have snuck an equaliser straight from kick-off, and Singer had to be alert to nip the ball from the attacker's toes after the Brady defence had switched off.
All things considered, Brady will feel they deserve the victory, having controlled the tempo of the game for large periods. Neasden, on the other hand, will be questioning how they contrived to throw a lead away so late in the day.
Brady manager Josh Dagul commented: "After going out of the cup last week so late in the game, I couldn't have asked for a better response as far as the result was concerned.
"We started off sluggishly, but the comeback showed the determination of the squad. To do that is special, and to do it against a title rival is very special indeed."
Disappointed NWN player-manager Adam Levene told JC Sport: "It was a good game on a poor pitch. A draw would probably have been a fair result.
