Simon Linden paid tribute to his players after they finished the weekend in second place in MGBSFL Division Two after beating Catford & Bromley Maccabi 3-0 at Silver Jubilee Park.
March 5, 2017 21:32
MGBSFL DIVISION TWO
TEMPLE FORTUNE 3 CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI 0
Fortune stormed into a 2-0 lead inside the opening six minutes, and never looked back. Gab Stone and Michael Goldberg added the gloss as Simon Linden's men secured their eighth league triumph.
Under rainy clouds Fortune team started very brightly and took the lead after just three minutes with Stone heading home an excellent cross from the left.
Just a few minutes later, Sharifian was hauled down inside the penalty area and he stepped up to fire the second to the goalkeeper's right.
After that, Fortune seemed to go off the boil and allowed the visitors to enjoy a lot of possession. With the sun finally breaking through, Sharafian headed narrowly wide and the 'keeper made a good save low down from Brett Stead.
The second half saw Fortune step up a bit more and after 51 minutes Goldberg broke through to neatly convert just inside the penalty area.
There were a couple of chances at either end – Catford's closest came when Jeff Gotch hit the post with a low drive – but Fortune stuttered through the remainder of the game to hold on for a second consecutive clean sheet.
Delighted Fortune boss Simon Linden told JC Sport: "I'm pleased with the three points, although it wasn't easy at times.
"Credit to Catford who never stopped and maybe deserved a bit more from the game.
"We have come along way, teams like Faithfold and Catford caused us problems earlier on in the season but we have improved.
"Tthe two clean sheets are to be mentioned, my back five was excellent today.
"Job done, onto the next in our push for automatic promotion."
Paying tribute to newly-crowned champions, Linden went on to say: "I would like to say a massive congratulations to the boys at L'equipe on their title win. Outstanding achievement, well done to Nick and his team. I hope we join them in Division One next season."
Catford player-manager Jeff Gotch told JC Sport: "Firstly, big mazels to my Nick and all the lads at L'Equipe - their championship success was well deserved and wish them luck in Division One.
"Bar the first 10 minutes today, when we found ourselves still in bed dreaming of what might of been going two down, we were very much in the game after and with two disallowed goals and the woodwork preventing us from registering.
"I'm proud of how my XI performed and with four players carrying major injuries we showed true Catford fight.
"Good luck to Simom and Nigel in their quest for promotion."