Dan Kristall praised his team for reminding their rivals why they are champions after coming from two goals down to beat MGBSFL table-toppers Brady at Rowley Lane.
October 16, 2017 10:50
MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
BRADY MACCABI 2 OAKWOOD A 3
Ben Kohler and Reiss Mogilner had put Brady into a strong position against the last season's league winners who showed championship qualities in what Kristall described as "a big, big win".
"The game looked over by half-time," Kristall told JC Sport. "It was a truly remarkable comeback and probably one of the best wins in the time I have been involved with Oakwood, not because we turned a 2-0 lead around but because we were out fought and out played in the first half by an excellent Brady side. It was also the first time in over two years that we have been more than two goals down in a league game."
In a game where the pitch probably suited the team playing uphill - all five goals were scored in the same net - due to the ball holding up on the slippy surface, joint-manager Kristall admitted "it was a huge bonus" Oakwood were not trailing 4-0 at the interval.
The visitors made some changes at half time and looked a different side in the second half. Kristall reflected: "I always felt that an early goal in the second half would panic Brady and it did. As the game wore on, they sat deeper and we took more control of the midfield and were very clinical with our chances."
Without Sam Cantor, Tom Cantor and Dale Bradman, Oakwood "knew it would be tough added to the fact it was new signing Jake Bentwood's first game in 18 months and Leor Sidle's first game in six months but the depth of the squad shone through with all three substitutes impacting the game.
The first goal a brilliant finish from Brad Wine from the edge of the box into the top corner. Defender Alex Lee fired home an equaliser from inside the six-yard box and the winner a "poacher's goal" from Sidle after a brilliant left-footed cross from substitute Taylor 10 minutes from time.
Kristall went on to say: "I really hope Brady are able to put an 11 like that out every week because they will be a force in this league.
"They brought Charlie Kasler into their side. Let's hope that wasn't a one-off and he plays against the Hendon and Redbridge's of the league but Brady should take great credit from their performance, some big wins are round the corner for them if they keep that level of performance up.
"The game was a great advert for the league and shows the strength of the teams in the division. I always say that as the number of overall teams are reducing, the Premier division is very competitive and games like this prove it.
"We know we must defend better and have lots to work on. On another day, we may have lost this game but we go into another break from league action on a high, having really proven our mental resolve and once again we have shown Jewish football why we are the champions."
Disappointed Brady joint-manager Joel Nathan told JC Sport: "We were unfortunate to lose after being 2-0 up at half-time.
"Oakwood are a very good team who showed their team spirit in the way they came back at us and we are disappointed but will learn from it especially as we had control of the game in the first half and just let them over-run us in the second."