PETER MORRISON TROPHY ROUND ONE
CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI 5 NORTH LONDON RAIDERS C 5 (AFTER EXTRA-TIME, RAIDERS WON 5-3 ON PENALTIES)
Sam Rose saluted his team's never-say-die attitude as North London Raiders C edged past Catford on penalties after a contest of epic proportions.
The MGBSFL second division rivals played out a classic cup tie on Sunday, with heroes on both sides as Raiders produced one of the great cup comebacks in the Morrison.
A mix-up in defence left new permanent Raiders goalkeeper Jake Ailion stranded as a beautiful lob landed with aplomb in the back of his net and Catford were 1-0 up inside the first few minutes.
The second followed soon after, Raiders undone by some slick passing from Catford and left with a mountain to climb.
The mountain was of Himalayan proportions before half-time as Raiders found themselves 3-0 down - another good move from Catford beating Ailion all ends up to leave the Raiders game plan in tatters and a big half-time team-talk on the way.
David Domb and Rose rallied their troops, and with new found vigour and fervour they started the second half. Within the first 10 minutes of the second half a lovely curling effort from Alex Sherr found the back of the Catford net to make it 3-1.
The wind was in Raiders sails and with a tighter second half defence neutralising the Catford attack, accompanied by the introduction of player-manager Domb, Raiders were allowed to get into their rhythm and play their natural game.
Ashley Davidson got on the end of a lovely ball into the box to prod home for Raiders second to make it 3-2. Like the Miracle of Istanbul, Raiders started to believe something special was happening, and the magic of the cup was truly alive when a diving header from Elf brought the score back to 3-3.
Raiders continued to press for the jugular and they were rewarded with Davidson grabbing his second to take the score to 4-3.
As they continued to push and probe whilst holding firm in defence time began to tick away from the tie. However Catford's hard work in the first half was not to be undone in the second, as a last-minute lapse in concentration by the Raiders defence resulted in an equalising goal (4-4) to send the game into extra-time.
With heroes on both sides and tired legs the order of the day, both managers looked to galvanise their teams with Raiders looking to put their last minute setback to the back of their minds.
Raiders manager David Domb echoing the sentiments of one of Istanbul’s heroes ‘We Go Again’ was the message. And it was that steel and metal that led to Liam Stein picking the ball up just beyond the halfway line and planting a delightful ball into the top right-hand corner to send the score to 5-4.
With the half-time whistle came more substitutions as Raiders looked to continue attacking with pace and put the game beyond all doubt.
But Catford aren't top of Division Two for nothing though and with sustained pressure came reward in the last-minute of extra-time when a handball from Josh Daniels gifted C&B a penalty. In a ‘now or never’ moment Catford’s penalty was saved by Ailion but in another hark back to that 2005 final Catford bundled in the rebound resulting in a penalty shootout.
Jeff Gotch, Richard Winton (2), Jamie Sinai and Jason Shoffman registered for the Cats.
In the penalty shoot-out the first three penalties were dispatched with ease by either side, but the fourth Catford effort was blasted over the bar by Jeff Gotch. With Rob Samuelson, Scott Waissel, Stein and Elf having already converted, it was left to Josh Daniels to step up, looking for redemption at the last to win it. Pandemonium ensued in the centre circle as Daniels planted his penalty firmly in the back of the net - his redemption complete as well as the most unlikeliest and extraordinary of comeback’s from a Raiders side who just didn’t know when they were beaten.
NLR joint-manager Sam Rose told JC Sport: "The magic of the cup! This was an unbelievable game for both teams to be part of.
"NLRC showed fantastic character after going 3-0 down to come back. Even after conceding the fourth late on at the end of full time and the fifth late on in extra-time, NLR heads never dropped. We believed in ourselves and our ability to win the game, scoring some fantastic goals along the way, and we were vindicated against a team that fancy themselves to win our league this season.
"We proved we could go toe-to-toe with them and come out on top. We look forward to the draw for the next round."
Cats player-manager Jeff Gotch told JC Sport: "3-0 after 60 minutes and in complete control – I made three or four changes and we fell apart letting in four soft goals.
"We came back to level late on and then gave another goal away in extra time – we came back again and took it took penalties.
"I stepped up and skied it and that’s the end of the unwanted cup run! It was an epic encounter but were looking forward to getting back to league action next week with a good game in store against an old club of mine, Temple Fortune."
