MGBSFL DIVISION THREE
KING CROWN 1 NORSTAR LONDON RAIDERS C 6
Zack Gothelf believes the next two weeks are pivotal after a deadly double from Nick Haringman helped NLR boosted their title hopes with a handsome win over King Crown.
Further strikes from Liam Stein, Alex Goodman, Jonny Blain and Will Ufland earned L'Orange their 11th win of the campaign and saw them move five points clear at the summit.
NLR boss Zack Gothelf told JC Sport: "We've got two massive games in the next two weeks against two title challengers. If we come through those then the title could well be heading our way."
The visitors took the lead midway through the first half when Liam Stein drove down the left and launched a 25-yard effort over the Crown keeper and into the back of the net.
One became two shortly after with one of the team goals of the season. Jonny Samuel won the ball on the halfway line before giving the ball to will Ufland. Ufland chipped a delightful ball over the crown left back where the on-rushing Oli Nathan controlled it, ran to the byline and played the ball across the six yard box where Haringman tapped in. A truly wonderful goal.
Crown looked buried at this point, but got a goal back against the run of play when a Norstar free-kick was cleared by Crown and the striker broke free of Norstar's line and Sacha Nusenbaum beat Grant Waissel.
Into the second half and Norstar started to see almost all of the possession. Alex Goodman claimed L'Orange's third and his second in as many games.
Jonny Blain came on as a second half substitute, replacing Sam Cherkas who was making his first appearance of his injury-hit season. Blain was involved in Norstar's fourth, fifth and sixth. His shot was well saved by the Crown keeper, but Ufland was on hand to bag his 10th of the season.
Moments later another shot was parried into the path of Haringman who got his second of the game. And Blain himself scored the final goal somewhat fortuitously when running in on goal the crown defender hit the ball at Blain's foot and the shot beat the keeper.
A thoroughly impressive win from the oranges to keep the pressure on tier rivals.
King Crown boss Jacob Kadoch told JC Sport: "We collapsed in the last 30 minutes."
