PETER MORRISON TROPHY ROUND TWO
REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B 1 HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A 2
David Garbacz expressed relief after cup holders Hendon were pushed all the way by Division One promotion hopefuls Redbridge B at Fairlop.
Having beaten the east Londoners by the same scoreline in the Anekstein a couple of weeks ago, Hendon survived an almighty battle.
Hendon started the game on a perfect Sunday morning for football the better side and Redbridge looked nervous and definitely missing captain, Darren Brown and the drive of Nathan Sollosi in the midfield.
After taking an early lead through Rafi Kon after keeper Brad Grant had pushed the ball out, and looking in control, Hendon let RJC back in who deservedly equalised with a smart finish from Daniel Garfinkle after stand-in keeper Jeremy Reuben, who was filling in for Russell Corin, fumbled Sam Sollosi's shot. Reuben more than made up for it in the second half with a couple of important saves.
The equaliser gave RJC enormous confidence and for large periods of the match, Hendon were second best in nearly every department.
The chances kept on coming to Redbridge and Ethan Zone cleared one off the line after smart play from RJC's James Berkley. RJC's midfield trio of Sollosi, Bernstein and Berkley were dominating the champions and half time came at one goal apiece.
Redbridge were told by their manager to leave nothing left in the tank and only be happy in winning. They took this as their mantra and tore into the Hendon backline. Chances kept on coming, Jordan Sapler had chance to score from a corner, Matt Niman miskicked in front of goal and then Garfinkle had a chance to win it with a one-on-one, but the despairing lunge of the defender pushed it wide.
But in the end, RJC were left to rue a series of missed chances.
With extra-time on the cards, it took a moment of magic from Greg Corin whose cross was diverted into his own net by the unfortunate Adam Goldman to take Hendon through. Garbacz told JC Sport: "When you have Greg Corin on the pitch, you always have a chance of snatching a goal, and so it proved as he weaved his magic on the right and created the last minute own goal which won us the match."
There was nothing but respect between the two teams and even the managers shared a joke on the side lines but defeat was still a hard pill to swallow.
Hendon boss David Garbacz told JC Sport: "We were extremely relieved to still be in the hat after an almighty battle in east London. They promised us a proper welcome and we felt it from minute one as they were biting and flying in and showing enormous desire and commitment - we expected it, but maybe didn't realise how hard they would actually come at us and we very nearly paid the penalty.
"We needed to show other qualities to stay in it, and all credit to the boys for simply refusing to give up the lead.
"I hope Redbridge go up this year. They have given us two big frights in both cups which we have done well to come out of on top and frankly are superior to many current Premier teams.
"I would look forward to locking horns again with my mate, Jon - I'm pleased to say we both kissed and made up after last week's shenanigans and there was no controversy this time - just a very hard fought cup tie between two totally commited teams."
Proud RJC boss Jon Jacobs told JC Sport: "We had taken the champions to two minutes from time and were undoubtedly the better team for the second game running, but this time, against the 11 men of Hendon.
"Hendon’s manager, David Garbacz, knew his team had been pushed as hard as possible and was magnanimous in victory, praising my young team and agreeing that they had been lucky to win.
"Lesson learned, you have to take your chances against the top teams, we certainly had enough of them."
"The challenge now is to take all the positives from this narrow defeat and go on a run in the league and join them in the Premier League for next season.
"Hendon have learned how to win ugly and we need to learn how to close games out."
