JC MSFL DIVISION TWO
London Maccabi Lions B 4 Hendon Utd SC B 0
London Maccabi Lions B today showed that even if they’re not heading back to Division One this season, they’re ready to push for the Division Two title next year.
James Gold or 'Jimmy Goals' as he in known inside the dressing room, lit up Rowley Lane with a three-goal haul, with Jonny Cutter getting on the scoresheet too.
Gold scored his 17th, 18th and 19th league goals of the season (26th in all competitions and third hat-trick of the season) as the Lions brushed aside Hendon’s league winning team. The win looks to secure Lions finishing third in the league.
Lions came into the match on hot form, with six wins from six, whilst Hendon came into the game having clinched the title in their victory against Camden the week before. Only a 14-0 defeat would have seen them lose out to Camden.
Although Lions lacked a degree of urgency in the opening 15 minutes, they were controlling the game from the off. Link up play between Rich Gold, Cutter and Kosky made life difficult for Hendon and it was in the 20th minute when the breakthrough came.
Kosky picked up the ball just inside his half spotted Gold's run and played a through ball over the top of the Hendon defence. Once Gold was shoulder to shoulder with the defender there was only one outcome, defender outmuscled and outrun, Gold found himself one-on-one with keeper Nicky Rosenthal and calmly lobbed the ball over him to make it 1-0.
After the first goal the hosts began pouring forward and it wasn’t long before Gold picked up his second. Cutting in from the left wing he was bundled over in the box. Referee Laurie Benson had no choice but to give a penalty. Although not normally a Lions a policy – Gold, the penalty winner, stepped up to take the penalty too. Bottom left, right in the corner, even with the keeper guessing the right way it was unstoppable.
The rest of the half continued in the same vein, with Lions controlling the game. Max Kyte was given space and used this to spray balls out to Kosky and Lazare on the wings, who were regularly getting at Hendon’s full backs and creating opportunities.
Lions came out second half just as they finished the first, playing the ball comfortably across the back when nothing was on and finding moments to press when the opportunity was on. It wasn’t long after the start that Gold had the chance to make it 3-0 but put his header over.
Lions then had David Kosky to thank for an excellent save, making himself big to save a Hendon shot from no more than five yards and showing everyone why he is known as the best Jewish keeper around.
Barely a minute later and Lions were 3-0 up and it was Cutter who created and finished with aplomb, running with ball from the halfway line before hitting the sweetest of shots and lobbing the keeper.
Three became four in the last minute, as a through ball from Max Kyte found Gold, who took one touch before slotting the ball past the keeper for his hat-trick.
Lions manager Jamie Kyte commented: "We played proper good today and I'm really proud of the team, not only for today, but for the way we have been playing since the turn of the year.
"We have shown throughout the season, that we can give any team in any division a game, and I look forward to finishing the season with another win in our last game against Faithfold."
