MGBSFL DIVISION ONE
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B 4 SOUTHGATE HARMEN 5
Sam Castle, Jordan Grant, Ben Weinberg, James Sandler and Ben Henry were Harmen's goal-scoring heroes as the Southgate boys opened a three-point lead at the top of the table following a nine-goal thriller at lowly Hendon B.
Perhaps it was the fact that Harmen haven’t played a game for six weeks, maybe they thought that they had an easy fixture against a team that we had already beaten comfortably this season or maybe a few of our players had one to many bevvies the night before, a lacklustre performance coupled with blustery conditions did not make for easy viewing on the sidelines.
Hendon started well, with the wind behind their backs, and took an early 1-0 lead. Harmen quickly equalised with Castle receiving the ball from Jordan Grant, rounding the keeper and slotting home.
Hendon capitalised on poor defending to regain a 2-1 advantage, but Harmen equalised before half time, this time with Castle setting up Grant who took one touch to control the ball before powering home into the top left corner.
Five minutes into the second half and with wind now assisting, Harmen scored their third to take the lead for the first time in the game. After a bit of ping pong in the box following a corner, Ben Henry claimed the goal albeit with the help of a large deflection. But Hendon soon hit back with an equaliser of their own.
The fourth for Harmen was either good judgement from Sandler or a massive fluke, either way the big centre-back played a long ball over the top from inside his own half, the ball taking one bounce over the keeper's head who could only watch as it sailed into the top corner.
The fifth is being claimed by some as the best goal seen in Jewish football. Ben Weinberg received the ball on the half way line and the mini magician beat five players down the right before putting the ball past the keeper and receiving the congratulations from all in blue.
Harmen had plenty of chances to increase their lead, Lee Greenfield blazing over from no more than two yards out, Castle rounding the keeper again only to fire wide and Henry aiming for the top branch of the biggest tree in Hendon rather than the top corner with the goal gaping.
Hendon did hit back to bring the score to 5-4 but that was how it finished, and the side skippered by Brad Fox for the first time, Harmen took all three points.
Harmen joint-manager Joel Alterman told JC Sport: "After a scrappy game on a bobbly pitch, all eyes are on next week’s big clash against Brady at Rowley Lane and there is no time to sit back as we look to continue our push in the league."
