Harmen go top after winning nine-goal classic
Southgate Harmen moved three points clear at the top of the Division One table as they beat Hendon B in a nine-goal thriller.
MGBSFL Division One
Hendon United B 4 Southgate Harmen 5
Sunday, 23 February, 2014
Perhaps it was the fact that we haven’t played a game for six weeks, maybe we thought that we had an easy fixture against a team that we had already beaten comfortably this season or maybe a few of our players had one to many bevvies the night before, a lacklustre performance coupled with blustery conditions did not make for easy viewing on the side lines.
Hendon started well with the wind behind their backs and took an early 1-0 lead. Harmen quickly equalised with Sam Castle receiving the ball from Jordan Grant, rounding the goalkeeper and slotting home. Hendon capitalised on poor defending to regain a 2-1 advantage but Harmen equalised before half-time, this time with Castle setting up Grant who took one touch to control the ball before powering home into the top left corner.
Five minutes in to the second half and with wind now assisting, Harmen scored their third to take the lead for the first time in the game. After a bit of ping pong in the box following a corner, Ben Henry claimed the goal albeit with the help of a large deflection. Hendon soon hit back with an equaliser of their own.
The fourth for Harmen was either good judgement from James Sandler or a massive fluke, either way the big centre-back played a long ball over the top from inside his own half, the ball taking one bounce over the keepers head who could only watch as it sailed into the top corner.
The fifth is being claimed by some as the best goal seen in Jewish football. Ben Weinberg received the ball on the half way line and the mini magician beat five players down the right before putting the ball past the keeper and receiving the congratulations from all in blue.
Harmen had plenty of chances to increase their lead, Lee Greenfield blazing over from no more than two yards out, Sam Castle rounding the goakeeper again only to fire wide and Ben Henry aiming for the top branch of the biggest tree in Hendon rather than the top corner with the goal gaping.
Hendon did hit back to bring the score to 5-4 but that was how it finished and the side skippered by Brad Fox for the first time took all three points.
After a scrappy game on a bobbly pitch, all eyes are on next week’s big clash against Brady at Rowley Lane and there is no time to sit back as we look to continue our push in the league.
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