A tougher game than what we have faced over the last few weeks, but a good test and 3 more points on the board, as we triumphed 4-2 over Shrubbs.
The first part of the first half was fairly even, as both sides had chances. With Aron away, Yossi had replaced him up front and he and Ryan were linking up well to create opportunities. Yaakov was playing well in the middle, dropping to help the defence and also supporting the attack. And we were grateful to Jay in goal, himself a late replacement for Sruli, for some smart saves.
We were awarded a penalty, due to a backpass being picked up by the goalkeeper, and Ryan dispatched this to give us a 1-0 lead, and we continued to fashion chances: Yossi carrying the ball well on a number of occasions, and Gary passing out well from the back. Despite this, a good run from Shrubbs allowed them to equalise and the half ended all-square.
A half-time team talk, where the need to press more from the front was highlighted, saw us start the second half in a much stronger way, putting Shrubbs under far more pressure, and this told as Yaakov found Ryan to put us back in the lead. Shrubbs then lost the ball high up the pitch and Yossi set Ryan up for 3-1.
Mordy then replaced Yossi and, from a corner, Yaakov rolled the ball backwards to him, and he finished brilliantly. The pattern of the game then changed, as, with Shrubbs pushing forward to try and get goals back, we were able to counter-attack at will, and really should have added to the score, although their goalkeeper did pull off some great saves.
Shrubbs did get a goal back, but Darren and the rest of the defence kept things calm at the back to see us over the line.
Results:
Whitefield 6 - 4 Holy Law
Shrubbs 2 - 4 Heaton Park
Lubavitch Boys Minyan 0 - Young Lubavitch 3
Fixtures 10th November:
8:00pm
Windsor Road vs Adas Yisroel
Lubavitch Boys Minyan vs Shrubbs
9:00pm
Heaton Park vs Holy Law
Young Lubavitch vs Vine Street