JC MSFL Division Four
Athletic Bilbaum 4 Athletico Finchley 3

New boys Athletico Finchley were edged out in a seven-goal thriller at Bilbaum.

It was a hard fought victory for the Baums against a very talented Finchley team.

The Baums controlled the game in the early stages and went ahead early through Sam Roth’s masterful strike, which was soon added to by player-manager Mark Pasha, who guided the ball in directly from a corner.

However, as the half went on, Athletico Finchley grew in confidence, moving the ball around the park very well for a team in their first MSFL game.

The Baum defence was resilient and had to work hard to keep them at bay. The walls were breached however and strikes from Finchley on either side of the break levelled the game up.

The Baum spirit stayed strong though, and with Snap Baum snapping and clapping away on the sidelines, the Baums converted a penalty after some persistent play from Bell and Green up front. Once again Finchley replied and with 10 to go it was game on.

Then in the dying minutes, the Baums won a corner and in flies Adam Landes with a bullet header stinging the keepers paws and dropping delicately into the net.

Three goals from GOODMAN could not save Finchley.

At that point Landes knew that the extra Weetabix at breakfast had been the right choice.

Baums boss Mark Pasha told JC Sport: "All in all it was a really well contested and entertaining game of football that could have gone either way right up until the death.

"The game was played in an excellent spirit with both teams fighting for the win until the final whistle."

Athletico’s Dovid Kurzer told JC Sport: “Daniel caused lots of havoc in their defence with his pace and skill.

“We played very well considering it was the first time the team played together and we held strong against a good team.”