The Inter-Shul Football League

A close game where, on the evidence of the first 20 minutes, we did not deserve to lose. But, ultimately, not taking chances, and some defensive lapses, saw us lose 4-3 in our semi-final against Windsor Road. 

After a period of intense pressure, Yaakov bent a volley past the goalkeeper, after a shot from Ryan was saved. Older readers may recall Zinedine Zidane against Bayer Leverkusen, in the 2002 Champions League Final.  

We continued to create chances, Yaakov, Ryan and Aron all going close. In between Jared, in goal, pulled off a great double save. But after a 3-on-2 that we could not convert, Windsor Road found an equaliser. 

A change in personnel at that point, as an injured… Read More »

RESULTS 

Ohel Shalom 2-5 Vine Street (Cup) 

With qualification to the semi-final assured, and results elsewhere earlier in the evening sealing top spot, it gave us an opportunity to look at different options. But perhaps the best thing about the 6-1 defeat to Vine Street is that there is a lot less write-up required for this report. 

One thing we are always guaranteed is a great Sruli save onto the bar, and, not as frequent but still regular, is a good run and goal from Gary, and both obliged, but ultimately Vine Street had a plan that worked, and whilst we learnt lessons which will benefit us in future games, the rest of the group remains wide open, with 3 teams still able to go through in second place. 

Results: 

CUP

Vine Street 6-1 Heaton Park

Young Whi… Read More »

A close contest as we overcame Adas Yisroel 5-4, with our fourth win from four in the Cup seeing us through to the semi-final with a game to spare.

It did take us a while to settle, perhaps in part due to having not played for a number of weeks, and it was Adas who opened the scoring, via a deflection. We hit back almost immediately, with a good team goal involving Darren, Gary and Ryan, before Yaakov created space to finish.

The game continued to be end-to-end, Aron hitting the bar from a shot on the turn, and Adas going even closer when the ball came back off the inside of the post. We were then fortunate that the ball broke free to Ryan from an Adas corner, giving him time and space to finish well. Adas equalised again before good foot… Read More »

A physical battle in our latest Cup game, against Young Whitefield, in which both goalkeepers deserved praise. Ultimately, we prevailed 3-1 to move to the top of our group. 

Young Whitefield began strongly, pressing from the front, but it was us who took the lead, Gary playing the ball to Yaakov, who waited for the opportune moment before lifting the ball high into the net. Young Whitefield came back quickly, though, capitalising on a loose ball to net the equaliser.  

This set the pattern for the first half, with both defences made to work hard. Yaakov, Aron and Ryan all had good chances, particularly a shot that rolled across the line and hit the post. At the other end, Darren and Gary found themselves in a real battle, with J… Read More »

Fixtures 23rd March 

8:00pm

Ohel Shalom vs Adas Yisroel - Cup

Heaton Park vs LBM - League 

9:00pm

Young Whitefield vs Vine Street - Cup

Young Lubavitch vs Shrubs - League

A solid performance gave us back-to-back 5-1 wins, as we returned to league action.

We started well, holding onto and moving the ball well, and Yaakov set up Ryan, who was unmarked, with a great through-ball, to make it 1-0. Although Shrubs briefly pegged it back to 1-1, our lead was restored when Ryan found Aron, and he controlled the pass brilliantly to give himself time to finish.

Strong defending was required, as Shrubs looked to again get back into the game, but Darren and Gary stood firm and Sruli dealt with anything that did get through, including a stunning one-handed push around the post. Particularly impressive was how quickly we won the ball back, and how we defended as a team.

Ryan made it 3-1, drawing gasps from the crowd, a… Read More »

Cup Fixtures 23^rd February:

8pm

Ohel Shalom vs Young Whitefield

Lubavitch Boys Minyan vs Young Lubavitch 

9pm

Shrubs vs Vine Street

Holy Law vs Windsor Road

We put the disappointment of the previous game behind us, as we recorded a 4-3 win over Adas Yisroel.

We started the stronger, as some neat passing moves led to early chances being created, although it took us until halfway through the first half to take the lead. In the absence of Ryan, Yoni had come into the team, which enabled Darren and Gary to make good forward runs, one of these leading to the opening goal, as Gary finished in off the post.

Yaakov then made it 2, and with Sruli finding Aron with good long balls from the back, it was surely a matter of time before we added to the lead, and indeed Aron did score, with Yaakov then making it 4-1, Adas having pulled a goal back before this.

We perhaps relaxed a bit at this stage, giving… Read More »

A frustrating night saw us slip to third in the table, as Whitefield won 5-0. 

A fairly even start as both sides traded shots but it was Whitefield who took the lead when they won the ball back. 

This set the pattern for the game, Whitefield looking to hit us on the break and allowing us very little breathing room, and a 3 on 2 gave them a 2-0 lead at half-time. 

We started the second half strongly, putting good pressure on Whitefield, but Whitefield stuck to their plan and added further goals, to cement their grip on the game.

Results:

Adas Yisroel 1-4 Lubavitch Boys Minyan

Heaton Park 0-5 Whitefield 

Holy Law 0-4 Young Lubavitch

Windsor Road 7-2 S… Read More »

 Results:

Adas Yisroel 2-1 Shrubs

Whitefield 1-3 Lubavitch Boys Minyan

Windsor Road 4-5 Young Lubavitch

Fixtures 2^nd February:

8pm:

Adas Yisroel vs Lubavitch Boys Minyan

Heaton Park vs Whitefield

9pm:

Holy Law vs Young Lubavitch

Windsor Road vs Shrubs