JC CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP ROUND TWO
CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI 1 NORSTAR C 0
Jamie Sinai was the matchwinner for Catford & Bromley as they booked their place in the hat for the next round with a hard-fought win over Division Three strugglers Norstar C.
The goal - a scrappy effort - came in the second half when a Lewis Mahler corner squirmed past the front post and Sinai was on hand to prod home on the line.
Catford & Bromley captain Adam Luria told JC Sport: "We had to really fight to get a result from this game as Norstar pushed us all the way. With a scratch team and no subs due to a host of absences of key players, we made hard work of the game.
"We had a good start pushing them back for the first 10 minutes and having a succession of corners and Jamie Sinai bringing one top save from their keeper. The they started to push back and we went through a very sloppy period where they were on top, passing it around nicely. We made a change, with me going into the middle to sure things up and it was more even to half time.
"Second half we looked the more likely to score and when the goal came it was a scrappy one. We had a few more decent chances with their keeper pulling off a stunning save to deny Mahler, pushing the ball onto the bar as it looked to be heading in. Norstar still came back at us and we had to defend very strongly but thankfully restricted them to shooting from distance.
"Overall, we possibly just edged the game, but we could have had any complaints had they taken us to extra-time or further. We wish them luck for the rest of the season as they certainly should pick up more wins in their division."
David Domb, who took charge for Norstar in the absence of Zack Gothelf, told JC Sport: "The first half was easily one of our best displays this season. We kept the ball well, created chances, and made it really hard for Catford. We probably should have been leading at half time but we just didn't make the most of the opportunities that fell our way.
"Second half we just didn't have the creativity that we had in the first, and they scored their goal from a lucky deflection. I thought we deserved to at least take them to extra time.
"We can take a lot from our performance today, and hopefully we can take the positives into our next league game."
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