MGBSFL DIVISION TWO
NORSTAR LONDON RAIDERS C 4 FC TEAM B 3
Norstar completed a fantastic double against high-flying FC Team C at the Ark, and in doing so handed the Division Two title to FC Team B.
The last time these sides met, Norstar looked dead buried with just two points from five games. The 5-3 victory that day turned around their season, but this result was arguably all the more remarkable.
Going into Sunday's game, Norstar had just 10 players available, including two players who hadn't played 90 all season. They managed to draft in Adam Joselyn from the A-team, as he continues his road to recovery from injury (for 60 minutes before being replaced by Jonathan Green) and had (player) manager Zack Gothelf on the bench to fill in if necessary. Added to that was having just three recognised defenders in the squad and Marc Woolfe filling in between the sticks for the first time in years.
With the pressure off, and expecting to face a strong Team side, Norstar started the brighter of the two sides and whilst Woolfe was tested by Team, he dealt with everything comfortably.
Norstar's football, at times, was exceptional and they deservedly took the lead midway through the first half. A superb through ball from Joselyn found Oli Nathan bearing down on goal on the right hand side of the box and he lobbed the onrushing keeper to give the Oranges a deserved 1-0 lead.
The Oranges continued to outplay Team, but failed to add to their advantage lead. Team equalised against the run of play in first half stoppage-time when they were awarded a penalty for a push in the back on one of their players, a call NLR boss Zack Gothelf described as "an extremely soft decision". Woolfe had no chance as Adam Stolerman' penalty found the corner.
Norstar felt hard done by at half-time and their disappointment carried over when less than five minutes into the second half, Stolerman scored their second.
There was a moment of controversy 15 minutes later when Jake Yudelowitz was on the receiving end of a bad tackle which forced him off with an injury that could spell the end of his season. Inital reports show a slight crack at the bottom of the tibia and NLR will have to wait to see when Jake is likely to be back in action. Despite the lack of intent, it wasn't the greatest tackle in the world and Team were lucky to keep 11 men on the field. Gothelf replaced Yudelowitz.
Team then scored a third, a one-on-one as Norstar pushed on to grab an equaliser, with Stolerman completing his hat-trick.
Trailing 3-1 with five minutes remaining, Team looked odds-on to secure the points, but Oranges had other ideas. After a string of corners, Alex Goodman eventually rose highest to head into the top corner from the penalty spot, a fine fine header to give Norstar hope.
Into stoppage time and a fantastic ball from Green, who had replaced Joselyn, saw Nathan loop a header over the onrushing Team keeper to give Norstar an equaliser.
Remarkably the goal-scoring wasn't over, with just one minute of injury-time left, Will Ufland received the ball in the middle of the park, advanced on goal and drilled a left-footed effort past the Team keeper and into the net to cap a remarkable remarkable comeback.
Jubilant NLR boss Zack Gothelf told JC Sport: "This was a great three points for the Oranges and we wish Jake a speedy recovery.
"I could easily nominate all of my players for the gutsy effort they put in today, a serious credit to the Orange shirt."
