MGBSFL DIVISION ONE
NORTH LONDON RAIDERS B 5 HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B 1
Zack Gothelf believes North London Raiders B were rewarded for their exciting brand of football after they finished the weekend top of the table after a 5-1 demolition of Hendon B.
It didn't take long for Raiders to get off and running at the Ark, a delightful crossfield ball from Marc Woolfe found Will Ufland on the right wing and his excellent cross was flicked on by Alex Goodman for Jake Gilbert to head home after two minutes.
Raiders grabbed their second when Woolfe played an exquisite through ball for Gilbert who squared it to the oncoming Ufland to slot home on 15.
The hosts continued to dominate without creating as many chances as they'd have liked and would have extended their lead by Si Buchler saw his shot come back off the bar and when the ball eventually came back to him, the Hendon keeper did extremely well to turn the shot around the post.
Hendon came into the game in the last 10 minutes of the first half without really testing David Simnock, but certainly showed that they weren't done. However, Raiders managed to capitalise to claim a third just before the break when debutante Jack Roberts broke into the left-hand side of the box and finished superbly past the Hendon keeper.
Hendon started the second half strongly with Raiders struggling to settle down with a half=time tactical switch and five minutes into the second half they pulled one back with a good finish by Gideon Barth past the Simnock.
After a nervy 10 minutes or so Raiders regained their rhythm and looked confident going forward and but for some fine saves by Hendon's No. 1 it could have been a lot more. Hendon could have grabbed another but for a stunning point-blank save by Simnock.
Raiders did get their fourth when Lewis Blitz pounced after Hendon failed to clear a corner and the scoring was finished by the impressive Roberts who smashed the ball low beyond the Hendon keeper after being set free down the right.
This was another confident display from Raiders who are really starting to look the part this season.
NLR joint-manager Zack Gothelf told JC Sport: "We know that we've got a big three games coming up against two title rivals and the chance to play a side from the division above and it was important that we picked up all three points today.
"More importantly was the manner of the victory, we're playing some seriously attractive football at the moment and we're getting the rewards, the players look confident and there's a great buzz around the team".
"We're sitting at the top of the table now and we still feel like there's more to give so it's a great position to be in and hopefully we'll still be there come the winter break."
Hendon joint-manager Jono Nesbitt told JC Sport: "We can take some positives from the game; we did look to play football in stages and when we got the ball down and passed it around we did create openings, unfortunately they are a very well-drilled team, and know how to capitalise on defensive mistakes.
"We are still working on gelling as a team, and this game really showed that we still have a lot to work on which we hopefully do so by introducing training sessions to attempt to introduce some cohesiveness and improve he general morale which is quite low right now."
