MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
OAKWOOD A 1 NORTH WEST NEASDEN 2
Steve Murad dedicated Neasden's win to boss Stirling Kay after boosting their hopes of avoiding the drop as they edged past Oakwood 2-1.
The game started at a fast pace, with both teams looking to get the ball down and play. With 10 minutes gone Oakwood had the first real chance of the match, Dan Selwyn blazing over the bar from close range after a well-worked move down the wing. Jonny Quinn also missed a great chance soon after.
Neasden grew in confidence as the game progressed and scored two goals in quick succession. The first, scored by Orgel, was created by a good ball into Orgel's feet. He ran at the opposition centre-back before firing into the top left-hand corner of the net.
Just minutes later, with Oakwood still smarting from the opener, Neasden doubled their lead. A ball crossed into the far post was kept in play brilliantly by Zak Mcleod who hooked it across goal leaving Kay with a simple header to make it 2-0, although Oakwood felt "the ball had gone out of play by a good metre".
NWN went into the break in the ascendency, with Oakwood "scratching their heads as to how and why".
The second half started just as quickly as the first. Within a few minutes of the restart, Oakwood won a free-kick on the edge of the Neasden box. This was converted brilliantly by Jonny Quinn, curling the ball over the wall and into the bottom corner.
At 2-1, Oakwood had a lot of the ball but Neasden were catching them on the break and created several good chances forcing Oakwood 'keeper Oren Hury into several fine saves.
Selwyn and Bobby Cousins had two great chances to equalise and Quinn forced a good save from another free kick. But they "didn't create as many chances as we should have given our possession".
Neasden almost scored a third on the break after their forward made our back-line look foolish with some nice footwork - but Oren Hury made an unbelievable save one on one to spare our blushes
Neasden were reduced to 10 men with 15 minutes to go, but defended well and held out for their fourth league win of the season.
NWN's Steve Murad told JC Sport: "Firstly, everyone at Neasden would like to dedicate this win to our manager Stirling Kay. He was unable to be at the game today due to illness, but we all wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to him being back on the touchline very soon.
"Going into the game needing a minimum of eight points from our remaining four games to ensure survival, our whole squad was focused on getting nothing less than three points today.
"We came up against a very good Oakwood side who were themselves determined to finish their season with a win.
"We scored two very good goals and had three great chances to increase our lead. Their keeper had a great game, making some crucial saves with the game at 2-1.
"I thought that we fully deserved our win today, playing some great football and limiting Oakwood to very few chances.
"Credit to Oakwood though who gave everything and fought for every ball right up until the full time whistle.
"We know that on our day we are capable of beating anyone and we now have to go and prove it. We all believe we can do it and if we can perform like we did today in our next three games then I am confident we will avoid relegation. Lions will be watching nervously.
"The great escape is on!"
Oakwood joint-manager Ric Blank told JC Sport: "It was a bit of a damp squib of a game. We didn't play badly and dominated possession as you'd expect.
"Ultimately, in the last 10-15 minutes, we lacked composure and class to get the equaliser. In the end we suffered for a fairly average first-half display.
"NWN's forward could have been booked as early as the first minute and only lenient refereeing saw his dismissal delayed until late on.
"This season hasn't gone to plan at all and now we need to regroup and assess how - and who - is going to take the club forwards."
