JC MSFL DIVISION ONE
REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B 1 TEMPLE FORTUNE A 1
Temple Fortune were indebted to goalkeeper Steve Murad for a superb performance as Lee Fegan’s men came away from Redbridge with a good point, ending the home side’s 100 per cent record in the process.
Paul Walker had given Fortune the lead during the first half when he took advantage of a defensive slip to volley home, but Dan Orgel levelled things in the second period after a succession of chances had come his way.
Stirling Kay, the Redbridge boss, was disappointed at the number of missed chances his team had. “We should have won the game the amount of chances we had," he told JC Sport. "I had to make a lot of changes and had a lot of players missing.
“We’ve got to make good decisions in the far end of the pitch. We need to be sharper. We were not good enough in the final third and they will learn from it. We should be winning these games and put our chances away.”
An open and lively game almost swung Fortune’s way with the first real attack of the match, as a cross from John Fisher bounced around in the area before Josh Marks struck the bar with his drive.
Redbridge were passing the ball around well and Josh Orgel had a good effort palmed away before having another shot gathered soon after.
Moments later Fortune were in front, as a throw in was only half cleared by Redbridge. When the ball came back into the area, and with Walker looking yards offside, Josh Tiani could only head the ball back towards his own goal, and with the last touch coming off a Redbridge player it meant that when the ball came to him and Walker was able to volley home.
Redbridge felt aggrieved, but their frustration soon turned to the woodwork and the display of Murad in goal, as fortune favoured the visitors (no pun intended!).
Scott Kay fired a free kick over, and Dan Orgel was only denied a certain goal by Murad, racing out of his goal to clear impressively under pressure. He then came even close when cutting in from the left and firing at goal, only for Harrison Grant to try to make sure it went in, but he only succeeded in turning it over the bar.
Jay Lawrence, who was superb in midfield until he was forced to come off injured, had a free kick which came back off the post, and Dan Orgel had another shot which narrowly missed the target as the pressure mounted.
Somehow, Redbridge went in at half time behind, and they continued where they left off after the break with Grant’s cross almost looping in, before Dan Orgel just failed to put him through on goal moments later.
Lawrence then put a free kick over, but Fortune tried to attack when in possession and almost doubled their lead when Michael Goldberg went through on goal, but he couldn’t find the space to get his shot away.
Dan Orgel then had two more good chances when put through by Richie Caplin before the most controversial minute of the match. Goldberg was once again through on goal and beat Ollie Brooks to the ball, before appearing to be clipped. As Fortune players appealed for the penalty, Redbridge broke and released Orgel once more, and he made no mistake this time in finally beating Murad.
The same man still had two more chances late on to nick the win, but in the end it wasn’t to be, as Fortune ensured Murad’s hard work didn’t go to waste.
After the game, Fortune boss Lee Fegan was philosophical and admitted the draw was fair. “I thought it was a fair result," he told JC Sport. "We had the edge in the first half and played lovely football. Last 10 minutes of the first half we let them back in, and in the second half they pegged us back.
“I thought we should have had a penalty claim towards the end. He definitely clipped him (Goldberg). But we should have had our men back and we should have played to the whistle. We were punished for it.”
RJC: Olly Brooks, Alex Chernof, Richie Caplin, Sam Taylor, Josh Tiani (James Berkley), Scott Kay, Harrison Grant (Anthony Coates), Jay Lawrence (Joel Soals), David Dobrin, Josh Orgel, Dan Orgel
Scorer: Daniel Orgel 70
Temple Fortune: Steve Murad, Jon Cohen, Dan Woolfe, Matt Gillbury (Lee Fegan), Benji Manheim, Josh Marks (Paul Rubinstein), John Fisher, Brett Stead, Paul Walker, Michael Goldberg, Bobby Benson (Jason Miller)
Scorer: Paul Walker 22