It’s Hendon’s to lose now
FOOTBALL AVI Goldberg admits Hendon United showed championship quality after HMH maintained their unbeaten record against the MGBSFL leaders in one of the games of the season.
A late goal from Thomas Prais kept HMH’s title hopes alive in a sixgoal thriller at the Hive in which they showed great resilience.
Hendon forged ahead after some great work from Jordan Mizrahi on the right wing. He released Chaim Korman who crossed for Dovi Fehler to nip in front of goalkeeper Jake Doffman and head home.
Doffman then made a great save from Zack Lewis before HMH levelled following a good break finished off by top-scorer Oscar Wagner.
With both goalkeepers — Russ Corin of Hendon and Doffman — in top form, the title rivals continued to attack with great purpose and it was HMH who went into the break ahead following a bullet header from Ariel Rahamim from a set-piece.
Hendon dominated the second half and drew level with a goal of the season contender from the right foot of Avi Korman. He did well to collect a knee-high pass from Chaim Korman before flicking the ball up and then on the turn, he volleyed the ball into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Hendon stepped up a gear and deservedly forged ahead when Chaim Korman released Lewis who fired a rasping effort high into the net.
Just as it looked as though HMH had run out of ideas, the onrushing Prais made it 3-3 in the final stages, smashing a the ball into the top corner to keep the title race open.
HMH manager Avi Goldberg reflected on “a game of two halves”. He said: “It was indeed a great match that lived up to its billing. I thought we edged it in the first half and were worthy of our lead but we lost two players to injury towards the end of the first half. “That’s not to take anything away from Hendon as they showed why they are champions in the second half. They were superb for 25 minutes and really should have put the result beyond doubt.” Goldberg went on to praise Doffman and said: “He showed his class and experience which kept us in the game”.
Hendon boss Jordan Sapler agreed with Goldberg’s assessment and said: “It was a great game in which the first half belonged to HMH who played well and created a number of opportunities. We defended really well and limited them to a number of half chances.”
Sapler highlighted “two possible late talking points when Lewis went down in the penalty area for “what looked like a clear penalty and then HMH had a goal disallowed late, but I think a draw was a fair result”.
Sapler added: “Credit to Avi who has a great bunch of boys. I don’t think there was one malicious tackle in the game. The match was a real credit to both teams and the league as a whole. A final note to say the ref, Phil Peters, and his assistants, Neal Cohen and Stuart Ansher, both had a great game and it allowed us to concentrate on the football.”