Avi Goldberg says HMH "knocked Hendon off their perch" after a deadly double from Oscar Wagner took the Peter Morrison Trophy winners above Hendon United as the sky blues inflicted a first league defeat of the season on the defending champions.
November 11, 2019 11:50
HMH started with 12 fit players, with "many others missing", including stalwarts Tom Prais and Eli Wegrzyn, four "crocked subs, one who couldn’t play at all" - those struggling included Josh Goldstein, Jake Norton, who limped off after Hendon's opener, Sam Monjack and George Goldberg.
Yehuda Korman had put Hendon in front with a looping header, but this was soon cancelled out by a close-range volley from Dan Hardoon following a superb cross from summer signing Nate Kashket.
Then a stunning free-kick from Sammy Kington put HMH in front - he hit it so hard and sweetly that it broke the net - and they never looked back.
HMH switched things around at half-time and played two forwards at full-back. They kept it tight for the next 15 minutes, as Clark Norton "ran his socks off up front". Then Oscar Wagner and Dom Feldman came back on, with George Goldberg moving to the wing and their tactics paid dividends, with two assists for Goldberg and Wagner netting both times to put them 4-1 up and effectively settle the match.
It could have been more but for Hendon goalkeeper Russ Corin who made "a quite outstanding series of saves" to keep HMH out.
Hendon pulled a consolation back through Chaim Korman, but not before HMH goalkeeper Alex Davies also proved his worth again with a couple of top drawer saves.
A jubilant Avi Goldberg summarised today’s performance and told JC Sport: "To go 1-0 down to a quite outstanding header and to recover to turn that around to be leading 2-1 at half-time with a lovely effort from a sweet move finished by Dan Hardoon followed by a quite sumptuous strike from Sammy Kingston was a joy to watch.
"Both teams played good flowing football and both defences had their hardest day at the office this season. Nate Kashket, in particular, managed to get past their full-back three times to provide chances but it was not to be.
"We knew we had to win and win we did with something to spare. Despite missing many regulars and with four on the bench injured, that was very satisfactory scoring more goals against Hendon than they have conceded in total so far this season.
"We are top of the league and as one famous Scottish manager once said, 'we knocked them off their xxxx perch'. It was a top, top-drawer from everyone and a marvellous game for the neutral."
Hendon boss Jordan Sapler described his team as "masters of their own downfall". He told JC Sport: “Unfortunately, if you make mistakes playing HMH they will be punished. We had a very good first half but somehow went in 2-1 down at half-time despite dominating the game and creating lots of chances.
"The second half was a comedy of errors. We handed them three goals due to not picking up men, allowing rebounds and some poor passing.
"Had we taken our chances the headlines would have been about another Hendon win but when playing against good teams that’s not how it will end.
"A draw would’ve been a fair result, but we were ultimately the masters of our own downfall today. We move on to Oakwood where we will set things right.”
HMH: Alex Davies, Dominic Feldman, Max Foster, Sammy Kingston, Ethan Krell, Alex Moss, Jake Norton, Clark Norton, Nathan Kashket, Dan Hardoon, Oscar Wagner. Subs: Leo Berger, Adam Ellis, George Goldberg
SCORERS: Hardoon, Kingston, Wagner 2
HENDON: Russell Corin, Zachary Garbacz, Josh Harris, Yehuda Korman, Ari Nevies, Simon Peterman, Jonny Kay, Chaim Korman, Roie Spitzer, Moses Seitler, Dovi Fehler. Subs: Jordan Mizrahi, Josh Bharier, Zack Lewis,
SCORERS: Yehuda Korman, Chaim Korman