DAVID WOLFF DIVISION ONE CUP QUARTER-FINAL
MLFC BLUE 1 HMH 2
This was a good game played in awful conditions, but HMH's passing game ultimately saw them through.
In a match moved from Rowley Lane to the Hive due to concerns about Storm Dennis, MLFC took the lead with a rare foray into the HMH half, when he ball held up in the wind, allowing Benji Weinberger to lob HMH keeper Alex Davies.
HMH came back, pressing and probing and ten minutes later it paid dividends as MLFC trying to play out from the back, were forced into a sloppy pass by Sammy Kingston and from the loose ball Rahamim slotted home, leaving the score 1-1 at half-time.
The second half was a different story as HMH changed formation, and although they were going against the wind, the pressing, passing and movement started to create chance after chances.
Ethan Krell and Eli Wegrzyn bossed the midfield and Dom Feldman started to find spaces in between the lines. Within five minutes of the restart, HMH were ahead as Feldman slotted home into the corner from the edge of the box.
HMH spurned several good chances to extend their lead and they were almost made to pay, but a smart save from Davies and alert defending from Wegrzyn saw the danger averted as HMH moved into their third cup semi-final of the season.
Delighted HMH boss Avi Goldberg told JC Sport: "Another week watching quality football in terrible conditions, which only serve to bring out the best in our game. This time we did not concede late and this time we were focused on keeping MLFC much deeper and it worked as we ran out winners.
"Some superb performances - none more so that Eli Wegrzyn and Ethan Krell in midfield, who stepped up in the absence of Prais, Moss and Monjack, to deliver top drawer performances in midfield."
MLFC joint-manager Laurence Judah told JC Sport: "The best team won on the day, and overall I don't have any huge complaints about our performance. The first half was pretty even; we were a goal ahead, unlucky with the break of the ball and then gave them the equaliser through sloppiness.
"In the second half, the game opened up way more than we wanted and their quick movement of the ball and sharp decision-making was a bit too much for our midfield this time. We're missing seven players who start regularly for us so as I say, I'm not too disheartened."
Judah went on to say: "We're a team that's improved a lot, and is continuing to improve. If we can become more ruthless defensively then we'll become a really good side.
