PETER MORRISON TROPHY ROUND ONE
FINCHLEY CITY FC 1 HERTSWOOD VALE 2
Jack Shulman was the toast of Hertswood Vale after guiding them into the second round of the Jewish FA Cup following their first win of the season away to Finchley City.
Vale came into the game on the back of a string of poor results. However, the return of a number of key players boosted spirits ahead of this morning's kick-off.
The visitors fell behind to an early header from Gav Krieger after a long-throw into the box in a half which featured solid defensive and chances for both teams.
A 15-minute break and an inspirational team-talk later, Vale came out the blocks in the second half. With "great focus, vision and energy," Vale were creating chance after chance. In the 59th minute, Harry Graham was "rugby-tackled" to the ground by the Finchley City 'keeper. Despite fluffing his lines with the initial penalty, Graham displayed great composure to slot home at the second attempt after a retake had been rightly awarded with the keeper off his line.
A series of chances for both teams, and an inspired performance from Hertswood Vale's no. 1, Yaacov Goldin, kept the score at 1-1 as the whistle for full time went.
Despite two players unable to continue beyond the 90 minutes, and with the council attempting to take down the goals, Vale had it all against them going into extra-time.
However. Don't adjust your screens. A long throw from Ben 'Rory Delap' Mandel, found co-manager Shulman just inside the area. A powerful nodded effort towards the top corner was mishandled by the keeper, as the ball fell over the line in the first half of extra-time. Shulman's first goal for the Vale was awarded to him despite Sam Cohen's best efforts to poke it over the line. The fans went wild.
An onslaught by Finchley City in the second half of extra-time was resiliently well-marshalled and snuffed out by Theo Gluckstein and co. as Vale held onto their first win of the season.
Finchley boss Joel Holder told JC Sport: "Unfortunately we were not good enough. At this level, you can't turn up and expect the opposition to roll over.
"Hertswood wanted it more then us on Sunday and deserved the victory. We wish them luck in the competition."
