An inspired performance from goalkeeper James Harpin, including a penalty save, helped North West London Bears claim their best-ever result as they stunned table-toppers FC Team in the London Academy derby.
January 12, 2020 16:52
ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
MGBSFL DIVISION TWO
NORTH WEST LONDON BEARS 3 FC TEAM 1
Zacki Doumou put the Bears ahead when he cut inside from the left and hit a low driven shot in the left corner.
Doumou then had a chance to make it 2-0 but his one-on-one effort was saved by the keeper.
FC Team equalised from a deep free-kick which fell to returning top-scorer Connor Perl who slotted into the corner.
The first half fizzled out and it was anyone’s game. FC Team started the second half on top, forcing several saves out of James Harpin.
But the Bears took the lead when Rose played a corner to Harry Russell who struck a sweet strike, aided by a deflection, high into the net.
The Bears then took control of the game, keeping the ball well and creating several opportunities. They were then denied a stonewall penalty when Doumou was chopped down in the area, but this didn’t stop the Bears as five minutes they were awarded a penalty which Doumou slotted away.
FC Team then had a penalty saved by the inspired Harpin with 15 minutes to go but kept piling on the pressure. Good defending and goalkeeping from Harpin restricted Team from reducing the deficit as the Bears secured their third win in four and remain unbeaten in four games.
Joint-player-manager Harpin told JC Sport: “We fully deserved the three points today. We worked harder than FC Team, kept the ball better than them, and were more clinical when we had chances.
"There were some extremely good performances from the boys today and I’m proud of every single one of them. Sam Fresco made a big call at half-time to switch up the midfield and it duly worked out as we managed to gain full control of the second half."
Harpin went on to say: "FC Team have several quality players, they were unbeaten all season before today but our performance today was a class above.
"We’re now unbeaten in four and have a double header to look forward to with Hampstead Ducks. If we can take another six points from those two games I’ll be extremely satisfied with our form."
Co-boss Sam Fresco told JC Sport: “I am very happy with how the last four games have gone and that tops it off. Not only was the quality there today to beat a side who were unbeaten and top of the league, but the passion and desire from everyone was great to see and that’s all you can ask for as a manger.
"Hopefully we continue this run of form and go from strength to strength and see where it takes us.”
BEARS: James Harpin, Nathan Anders, Oscar Cohen, Louis Martin, Sam Martin, Jack Miller, Sam Morris, Alex Rose, Harry Russell, Sam Shackleton, Zacki Doumou. Subs: Oli Gotkine, Simon Lousky, Noah Meranda
SCORERS: Doumou 2, Russell
TEAM: David Gordon, Adam Shafron, David Cohen, Gideon Moss, David Grossman, Adam Klein, Josh Morris, Connor Perl, Adam Rones, Richard Salmon, Mitchell Young. Subs: Eitan Ben-Zion, Dan Gordon, Steve Summers
SCORER: Perl