JC CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP ROUND ONE
NORSTAR A 1 GLENTHORNE UNITED B 6
It was down as the 'Coupon Spoiler' but no-one would have predicted the large gap in the scoreline.
Glenthorne B ran out emphatic winners against Division One Norstar A and the east London side did not give their opponents time to breathe.
As soon as the game got underway, the pace and quality of the Glenthorne forward four could not be handled by Norstar.
Just minutes after the kick off Richard Rosenthal played an inch-perfect pass into the path of Craig Sandford who went to take it past the keeper but was brought down in the process. A yellow card was issued and Lewis Walker dispatched the penalty.
Norstar did not expect the Division Three outfit to come at them all guns blazing, and again they were undone by Glenthorne pressure.
Following three successive corners, James Rubin delivered a great ball which was attacked by Andy Levy only to see his effort stopped on the line, he was determined and made sure he got the second ball and forced the ball over the line.
Norstar always looked dangerous as they have a long throw specialist in Jonny Isbitt and a giant of a man in Jeff Gotch but the Thornes defence stayed strong.
A swift counter-attack saw Glenthorne get there third. The excellent James Law brought the ball out from right back and found Sandford on the far left. He beat the full back and drove into the box before powering a shot into the near post.
Half time came around and both teams knew that the next goal would be vital. Glenthorne thought the result was settled but when Norstar scored a 30-yard curling free kick, they had to get there heads back on the game.
Law and Walker combined brilliantly all day down the right side and it was not surprising when there combination put the tie to bed. Law found Walker and he coolly beat a man and slotted in from eight yards.
Norstar looked shell-shocked and Glenthorne continued to express themselves. James Rubin got what he deserved after he converted a Sandford cross making it 5-1 to the Thornes.
Joint man-of-the-match Dan Lassman wrapped things up by scoring a lovely goal after some close control in the penalty box.
Glenthorne manager Craig Sandford told JC Sport: "I always believed we could come here and get something and we really deserved this victory.
"1-14 for us today were excellent and I want to thank my squad for settling down and getting on with things after a new management takeover.
"Lewis Walker, James Law and Dan Lassman were all immense today and if we keep playing the way we are then another giant-killing could be on the cards. After all, we're only pub team from Essex."
Norstar boss Phil Peters told JC Sport: "It was a very disappointing performance - even with seven of our squad missing for various reasons - including our goalkeeper.
"As we know from our own experience, the lower leagues of the MSFL are filled with teams that will end up several divisions higher and Glenthorne are one of them.
"We were punished for our indiscipline throughout and lack of fitness towards the end of the match and I'll be expecting much better when we play Oakwood next week.
"We're already playing catch-up in the league having only played one game so far but if we can get our full-strength team out most weeks then we'll still be in a position to challenge."
