MGBSFL DIVISION TWO
REAL HENDON 5 NORTH LONDON RAIDERS C 1
It was a big game today for the Bees of Real Hendon, facing a Raiders side who had really run over them in the return fixture just last month.
Raiders started brightly, with Alex Goodman taking control in the middle, but without target man Alex Elf, the ball didn't quite stick up front and assured and very experienced centre back Martin Smulovitch was able to mop up with comfort.
With 15 or so minutes gone, Gail Kolt found left-winger and former gaffer Chaim Gothold out wide, who threaded it through to Noe for a snapshot with his right foot, squirming its way around the despairing Raiders keeper for a 1-0 lead.
The same three players combined again for Real's second minutes later, Kolt making a block and through ball down the line, Gothold twisting the right back inside and out before delivering a pinpoint cross for Noe to head home.
Before long, it was 3-0 as a Jordan Alex cross fizzed across the box for Doron Shooter to slot home with a 'no look' shin scuff.
The Hendon Bees were buzzing at half-time and eager to come out strongly after the break. Again, the pressure told quickly. Benny Goldberg teed up Noe for a shot, for him to be scythed down as he pulled the trigger. Rafi Addlestone lined up the free kick just 25 yards out, and fizzed it under the wall towards the bottom left-hand corner. The Raiders keeper got down quickly to make a good save, but there was Noe again, mopping up the rebound, this time with a left foot dink to bring him a perfect hat-trick and Real a 4-0 lead.
As the second half wore on, both sides rang the changes. Robert Samuelson saw some of the ball on the Raiders left wing, but couldn't make any progress and was limited to fanciful pot-shots from outside the area.
Alex Goodman Stein moved up front and was persistent throughout, eventually scoring a consolation goal after a swift move on the break and a questionable push on Raffy Zysblat in goal - who had an exemplary day until then.
With minutes to go, Real put the icing on the cake as right winger Jordan Alex scored to make it 5-1, picking up the ball near the halfway line, powering past three defenders and dinking it over the keeper with a sublime finish.
Reflecting on the team's fourth league success, Real's Rafi Addlestone told JC Sport: "A very positive performance from the Yellow and Blacks, who will now look to take winning momentum into the next fixture, away to similarly inconsistent Catford and Bromley."
