JC BARRY GOLDSTEIN CUP GROUP C
Catford & Bromley Maccabi 2 Jewventus 2

A last-gasp effort from player-manager Gabriel John earned the visitors a point in the Group C opener at Norseman FC.

Jonny Lee and Jamie Sinai netted for the Cats.

A high-quality game which Catford were disappointed not to have won, saw the hosts make a nightmare start in they we conceded a very soft goal from the second phase of a set-piece.

Jewve were probably just the better side first half. Playing some good football they worked the ball from a long throw and Nigel Sommeck crossed the ball perfectly for Dan Ezra to nod home.

Catford dominated the rest of the first half, restricting Jewventus to one shot from open play.

The half was a well fought battle, which no team could make count any further. Second had Catford were immense with Jonnys Bord and Lee running the game.

Jewve were always a danger on the counter, but apart from the one shot they managed - very well saved by Guy Ben Aroya in goal - we didn't let them in our area, despite giving away a couple of sloppy free kicks.

Into the second half we continued to dominate possession, although still weren't working the ball into scoring positions as much as we'd have liked. For a 10-minute period we let Jewventus into the game a little more than we should have and had to get back to defend a few times.

Catford started to turn the screw and looked for another goal and were rewarded six minutes from time when a slick passing move found its way to Yonni Bord who unleashed a powerful left foot shot. It was well-saved by Reuben, but Sinai was on hand to control and slot home the rebound.

Within a couple of minutes Catford should have had the game wrapped up when Sinai was put through one-on-one with the keeper, but his shot was again saved by Reuben John, when he should have put it out of reach.

Jewve piled forward and in the last minute Adam Lewis sliced the ball out for a corner. It was almost inevitable that it would be former Catfordian John who would rise and head the ball home for a smash-and-grab point.

Cats joint-manager Adam Lewis told JC Sport: "We had a number of shots from long distance and although we went close on several occasions, we didn't do well enough to make Reuben John in the Jewve goal work enough.

"All in all, a well fought match which we were disappointed not to win, but full credit to Jewventus and I'd love for it to be the two of us who progress to the next round."

Jewve boss Gabriel John told JC Sport: "The epitome of a "game of two halves" ended all square at full time."