Second-half strikes from Marc Woolfe and Liam Stein saw Raiders put last week's disappointing result behind them with a good 2-0 win over Hendon B at Chase Lodge.
March 6, 2016 20:59MGBSFL DIVISION TWO
HENDON UTD SC C 0 NORTH LONDON RAIDERS C 2
Second-half strikes from Marc Woolfe and Liam Stein saw Raiders put last week's disappointing result behind them with a good 2-0 win over Hendon B at Chase Lodge.
NLR always looked the most threatening side and had some good chances in a goalless first half. Hendon also looked good on the ball but didn't really test keeper Grant Waissel.
The first half was a tight affair, though Hendon felt slightly aggrieved not to be leading at the break as they felt they shaded the first half. However, they were undone right at the beginning of the second half as a shot from the edge of the area struck the underside of the bar and the referee adjudged it to have crossed the line.
Into the second half and Raiders started with more urgency, getting some of their more creative players a lot more of the ball. They were duly rewarded with the first goal of the game and it was a great goal. Good build-up play saw Dan Tan whip a ball in from the right where Alex Elf laid the ball back to Marc Woolfe
Raiders looked good for their lead but couldn't initially do so and a major turning point in the game came on the hour mark when Hendon captain James Neidle earned a penalty for his side not long after, but Grant Waissel in the Raiders net got down superbly well to reach across to his right corner and tip the ball at full stretch behind the post for a corner.
Hendon had a decent amount of the ball but failed to properly test Waissel who dominated his area throughout.
As the game neared its end, the game opened up and Raiders had several chances to extend their lead, they eventually did when Olivier Telvi running down the right sent a low ball across where Liam Stein up from left back couldn't miss from six yards.
A well deserved victory on a touch pitch for Raiders who go into their Morrison quarter-final against Heaton Park Rovers next weekend with a win and a clean sheet under their belt.
Hendon manager Adam Glekin told JC Sport: "I think we've been really unlucky to lose the game, we deserved a point at the very least.
"All the lads put in a great shift, I couldn't have asked for any more. The only disappointment was that we didn't have a cutting edge in the final third, we had a lot of possession and set pieces in good positions but just couldn't make the breakthrough."
"Although I'm a little miffed with their first goal being awarded (goal-line technology would have been handy!), I have to praise the referee today Callum Foster. No disrespect to the other referees, but it was great to have someone who had the fitness to keep up with the game and not give decisions from 40 yards away from the incident."