JC MSFL DIVISION TWO
NORTH LONDON RAIDERS B 4 GLENTHORNE UNITED B 5
An Adam Goldman hat-trick helped Glenthorne B to their first win of the season against Raiders B at Brunel.
Goldman’s first came within the first five minutes, some neat work by Jamie Crawford who beat two men on the edge of the box before playing in Goldman down the right side of the penalty area. He hit a ferocious shot across the goalie and off the far post for an early lead.
This lead was doubled shortly after when a free kick from around 35 yards caught out everyone and sailed over the keeper for Goldman’s second.
It didn’t stay like that for long though, a Raiders corner was only half cleared and with their striker beating the offside trap he side footed a lovely volley past Brad Grant in the Glenthorne goal.
This lead to 20 minutes of madness in the Glenthorne defence and soon after a second goal coming after a cross was deflected off Andy Herman and then sliced by Jordan Sapler to find the Raiders striker at the far post for an easy headed tap-in.
It didn’t finish there as a one-two down the Glenthorne right side opened up the defence and the home side’s midfielder slotted past Grant to give Raiders the lead.
Just before half time a Ryan Cole corner reached Sapler at the far post and his header back across goal was met by Crawford who could only help the ball onto the bar before the Raiders defence cleared the danger.
In the closing minutes of the first 45, another Raiders attack this time down the Glenthorne left saw a shot take a deflection off Sapler's studs and go beyond the despairing dive of Grant and saw the Raiders enter half-time 4-2 up.
Some choice words from managers Liam Stein and Sapler saw Glenthorne come out in the second half with the belief that they could get back into the game. They went back to their neat play, building attacks from the back with constant movement and at times opened up the home side’s defence with ease.
It took some time for a goal to come but when it did a deep cross was headed back across goal and met by winger Ryan Cole in the middle of the goal to tap in.
Attack after attack broke down until the last 10 minutes, Stein released Cole down the left wing and after a neat bit of skill to beat his man he laid the ball across goal perfectly for the on-rushing Goldman to tap in and complete his hat-trick.
Straight after the goal Sam Goldman was brought on to replace his brother up front and he offered a level of fitness and the ability to chase the ball down. This proved decisive when he closed down the Raiders defence and forced them to make a rash clearance ending in a Glenthorne corner with just two minutes remaining.
Another precise Cole corner found Sapler at the far post whose header seemed to strike the hand of the Raiders captain, but the ref waved play on. The ball was half cleared to the edge of the box where Jay Lawrence was waiting and he met the ball just above the floor to volley it into the bottom left corner through a flood of bodies to secure the win for the away team.
Raiders boss Oli Shorts told JC Sport: "We didn't start well, going two goals behind after about 15 minutes but we came storming back and went in at half time 4-2 up.
"We controlled the first 20 minutes of the second half but the minute they scored the third we panicked. To lose the game after being 4-2 up with 25 minutes to go is criminal but we'll come back strong. Glenthorne showed what a good side they are but we also showed how good we can be."
