CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP ROUND TWO
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A 2 REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A 1
David Garbacz admitted his 10-men Hendon 10 were forced to win ugly after being given an almighty scare by Division One promotion hopefuls Redbridge B.
This was not quite as comfortable a morning as Hendon had expected. They were dealt a double blow in the pre-match warm up when keeper Russ Corin decided he was not fit enough to play and midfielder Simon Peterman also pulled out with an ankle injury.
RJC boss Jon Jacobs was shocked by the state of the pitch, saying: "The reigning league champions are a class act on the pitch but deserve better from a cow patch of a pitch and changing rooms which wouldn’t look out of place in the 1960’s. The game was played on a surface that makes West Hendon look like Wembley.
Redbridge arrived off the back of a defeat against Brady and needed to come out firing. Although Hendon seemed to be controlling matters early on - with Greg Corin pulling the strings but not creating too much - they couldn't make the breakthrough and they were then dealt their third blow of the morning when stand-in keeper Avidan Last was sent off after hesitating and producing a professional foul after a long through-ball found former Hendon B star Daniel Garfinkle and his blistering pace resulted in a clear goal-scoring opportunity. This was Hendon's first red card in five years and clearly they were not used to playing with 10 men.
Russ Corin now had no option but to come on and his teammates were extremely thankful he did as he went on to produce some fine saves as the game finally settled down - it was an even half with chances coming and going for Redbridge.
Hendon regrouped after the break and took the lead when Greg Corin finished off a fine move down the right and a great assist from Dovi Fehler.
That was the cue for Redbridge to realise they not only deserved to be on the same pitch as Hendon, they actually had a chance and started battering Hendon and dominated the game. Sam Sollosi, the game’s "outstanding performer," according to Jacobs, was "running the show" and Hendon were being outrun and outplayed. The equaliser came from a melee in the box and Sollosi smashed it home with 15 minutes remaining. Garfinkle then had a chance to win it but fluffed his lines when through on goal, with Hendon genuinely under the cosh.
Hendon managed to find some extra legs and scrambled in a winner from super-sub Avishai Kestenbaum.
Redbridge still had a few minutes to take the tie into extra-time and it needed some good saves from Russell Corin to keep Redbridge out.
The Hendon supporters were imploring the ref to blow the whistle, the panic evident. The final whistle went and Hendon knew they had been taken to the limit and the players were very gracious and complimentary in victory.
Hendon boss David Garbacz told JC Sport: "There were times today when our hands were slipping off our trophy and Redbridge caused us all sorts of problems with their pacy forwards. We had to stand firm and fight for each other and we knew that we would have to win ugly.
"We were relieved to move into the hat for the next round and we look forward to locking horns again with Redbridge in two weeks time in the Morrison when I will make sure I call their manager by his name, Jon, and not mate which he seemed to take enormous offence at as he made it perfectly clear he was not my mate."
RJC boss Jon Jacobs told JC Sport: "Hendon are a class act on the pitch and behave like the champions they are, but off the pitch they are classless, led by David Garbacz with his stupid pre-match comments that it should be comfortable and his lack of manners pre and post-match.
"We can’t wait for the return fixture in the Peter Morrison , we will even allow them a dressing room with a door!"
