MGBSFL DIVISION THREE
HENDON UTD SC C 4 FAITHFOLD C 4

Hendon player-manager Adam Glekin believes a lack of fitness cost his team as they blew a golden chance to claim their first win, with a hat-trick from DAN GORDON earning a battling Faithfold C a point in an eight-goal thriller.

Hendon missed a golden opportunity to claim their first win of the season as they let slip 3-0 and 4-2 leads in a match of two halves at West Hendon Playing Fields.

After keeper Yaacov Goldin made a smart early save, Hendon began to play some fine football and were rewarded when player-manager Adam Glekin curled in a precise finish with his weaker left foot.

Hendon doubled their lead shortly after when David Elf scored a stunner to mark his return to the side. Spotting the keeper off his line, Elf measured his shot to perfection from around 45 yards for what must surely be the goal of the weekend in the MSFL.

Alex Elf had been a constant menace to the Faithfold defence, and it was no surprise when he joined his brother on the scoresheet with another fine individual goal. Picking up the ball inside his own half, the younger Elf skipped past several challenges before tucking the ball away clinically.

Faithfold were handed a lifeline on the stroke of halftime when Glekin handled, and the spot-kick was converted by Gordon.

Faithfold began the second half on the front foot and pulled the score back to 3-2, but another superb run and finish from Alex Elf - almost a carbon copy of his first - saw Hendon regain control.

However, a dubious penalty gave Faithfold another route back into the match, and they equalised with a few minutes to go thanks to an impressive finish from a tight angle. Jeremy Teacher scored the other for David Garson's men.

Alex Elf (2), David Elf and player-manager Adam Glekin were the goal men for Hendon.

Hendon boss Adam Glekin told JC Sport: "I probably sound like a broken record but I'm gutted again. I thought the first half was magnificent - the best we've played all season. We absolutely tore them to shreds and could have been further ahead, but I gave away a needless penalty and it gave them some hope.

"The wind picked up in the second half and I was disappointed with our fitness levels. Credit to Faithfold, they improved considerably after the break but I very much consider this two points dropped.

"The story of our season so far has been playing well in patches, but not for the whole game, and we're being punished for mistakes. I thought our centre backs played really well and didn't deserve to concede four, and Alex Elf was back to his best - there were a lot of positives to take out the game despite my frustrations."

Faithfold player-manager David Garson told JC Sport: "We were disappointed to only draw but delighted to keep going and not to give up."