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Platt powers Jewdinese through in extra-time
A 30-yard screamer from Josh Platt took Jewdinese through in extra-time as they held off Division One rivals Bayern Mincha to progress.
March 11, 2019 12:54
A 30-yard screamer from Josh Platt took Jewdinese through in extra-time as they held off Division One rivals Bayern Mincha to progress.
March 11, 2019 12:54BARRY GOLDSTEIN TROPHY ROUND ONE
JEWDINESE 2 BAYERN MINCHA 1
This was a very close and well contested game by both sides, but ultimately 'Nese just had enough to get over the line.
They opened the scoring in the 13th minute after a headed clearance by Adam Gold found its way through to Barney Rhodes who kept calm and slotted the ball between the keeper’s legs to put us 1-0 up.
Mincha then forced a good save out of 'Nese stopper Ben Halmer, after their striker had raced clear.
The first half didn’t offer much more in terms of chances and the message at half-time from 'Nese boss Darren Lawrence was for "the midfield three to get a foothold in the game and take control of the ball".
Mincha's makeshift 'keeper Adam Biton was kept busy in the second half. After a great header from Arron Goldberg looked destined for the far corner, he clawed the ball away from goal. Scott Oldstein then had a deflected effort palmed away and Zack Collins curled one towards the top corner but the keeper was there again.
Ultimately, these missed chances proved costly, as Mincha equalised. Their winger did well to get to the byline, cut the ball back and Gold could do nothing about the ball cannoning off his shin and into the net.
The game headed to extra-time. The only real chance of the first half came from a free-kick, as Sim Cohen saw his effort strike the crossbar.
In the second half, 'Nese had thought they’d got the winner, when Sam Stern’s back post volley was fumbled by the keeper, Cohen was there to turn it in but the goal was ruled out after a rather delayed flag.
Mincha almost had a chance to win it, when a 'Nese defender was robbed on the halfway line. The Mincha striker was clean through but Halmer stood tall and made a big save.
Then, in the 115th minute, Josh Platt, who had only come on in the second half of extra-time, found himself out on the wing in an excellent crossing position. He lifted the ball into the box, only for it to fly over the keeper’s head and nestle into the top corner, sparking jubilant scenes on the pitch and the sideline.
'Nese boss Darren Lawrence told JC Sport: “I’m absolutely delighted for the boys today. Mincha are a good side and make themselves difficult to beat and for the third time today we have found a way to beat them.
"The boys battled well, got through a lot of running and at times played some really nice football. It is clear we have the Barry Goldstein in our sights and the boys knew they really had to work hard to get the win.”
Bayern boss Daniel Holder told JC Sport: "It was devastating to lose at the death in extra-time, especially with the immense team effort.
"It was the story of our season - long-term injuries have meant we miss about six first-teamers every week, which has simply ruined our season. However, we matched a strong Jewdinese team for 120 minutes, but credit to them for coming out on top.
"This was a competition we believed that we would go on to win had we won the match but best of luck to Jewdinese, with them being the favourites to go on and win it."