BARRY GOLDSTEIN TROPHY GROUP
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B 4 JEWDINESE 4
Hendon maintained their unbeaten run in 2015 after a topsy turvy eight-goal thriller against Jewdinese ended with a share of the spoils.
Hendon came out of the blocks firing, and were 3-0 up inside 25 minutes thanks to two excellent finishes by Benni Sluckis and an Avi Mocton strike from the edge of the box which deflected in.
However, Jewdinese gradually began to work their way back into the game and took advantage of Hendon sitting deeper and deeper, as they also scored three in quick succession to leave the game at 3-3 at the interval.
Hendon continued their plan to hit Jewdinese on the break in the second half, but were regularly thwarted by some dubious offsides before a mix up in the Jewdinese defence saw Sluckis take full advantage and complete a well deserved hat-trick.
Jewdinese were awarded a penalty midway through the half, but stand-in goalkeeper Gideon Caller produced a magnificent save to keep Hendon ahead. However, their hopes of getting their cup run off to a perfect start were hit when Jewdinese equalised 10 minutes from the end.
Hendon captain James Neidle was sent off shortly before the end, but his centre back partner Ezekiel Jacob, who had been superb all game, marshalled the home defence to a well deserved point.
Hendon manager Adam Glekin said: "I would normally be disappointed with only taking a point after leading 3-0 and 4-3, but I cannot fault the effort the lads showed.
"We were a bit short of numbers but everyone stepped up to the plate. Overall, it was a decent result and leaves us in with a good chance to make it into the knockout stages.
"We did well not to rise to their level - I'm not quite sure how we've ended up with a couple of yellow cards and a red, and they've not had a single card considering the petulance on display from them."
Jewdinese chairman Jake Erlich told JC Sport: "This can only be described as a massive point for Hendon, to put it simply we are quite disappointed.
"The positive is that we came back from 3-0 down in a game where four goals flatters Hendon. Playing on a pitch which can only be described as a mudbath, we knew this game wasn't going to be about football. The dirty play of Hendon started from the off and we knew it was only a matter of time before they got a red.
"A two-footed tackle let off with a yellow was only the beginning but with five minutes to go the red came as expected, but a shame it did not come earlier.
"It's clear Hendon are upset, but really they should be proud of getting a point against such superior opponents.
