PETER MORRISON TROPHY ROUND FOUR
CAMDEN PARK 1 RC UK FC 3
"Another Prem team, another convincing win. How the hell do we struggle against any teams in our division?"
Having stunned Oakwood A in the previous round, MGBSFL Division Two promotion hopefuls RC UK FC were at it again.
And it was the magical Markiewicz who inspired them to victory with two deadly finishes.
RC UK FC "believed from the first minute that we could win it and we used that belief to fuel us on to victory".
Setting up in a 4-4-1 formation with Josh Shaffer man-marking Camden Park danger man Rob Hershkorn, RC UK played like men possessed.
The underdogs "knew that if we eliminated that threat then it would stifle Camden heavily". Shaffer didn't give Hershkorn an inch.
Unlike against Oakwood, RC UK didn't sit back as much but played their own brand of football and deservedly took the lead at about the 15th minute. Some great football to work the ball out the back, Leor Harel got on the ball and played a great ball out wide to Markiewicz who turned inside and managed to curl the ball over the keeper from 20 yards and into the far right corner.
Camden posed little threat but after 35 minutes on the clock an error from the RC UK keeper saw him hit the ball against his own player, leaving Camden with an open goal to equalise from two yards.
Camden then went close again just before half-time, a deep cross to the far post was headed against the outside of the post. RC had a couple more chances but hit the ball directly at the keeper "and it was a worry they would come back to haunt us".
The second half again was a tight affair but on the 60 minute mark Dudi Edryei received the ball wide right, a couple of step-overs later left his man for dead, hit the by line in the box then pulled it back to Gideon Caller who tucked home from close range. Markiewicz said: "How a hungover (still drunk?) Dudi managed that I don't know but it's a happy farewell as this is his last game for the club this season before he goes travelling."
RC were pushed back The last 15 minutes, without ever really being threatened, but RC were always dangerous on the break and squandered a couple of great chances before the grandstand finish.
With the time running down RC broke again, Harel, who had been immense the entire game, played Markiewicz in again, he had a player to beat, turned in then out taking the Camden man out the equation and then finished high into the far corner to wild celebrations which ignited further as the full-time whistle was blown.
A jubilant Markiewicz told JC Sport: "Mazal tov to Eli Shebson who is getting married but it did almost cause us to call the game off after being unable to raise enough players.
"That would have been such a waste after the win against Oakwood and so some of the players who originally pulled out made the extra effort to get down for the game (even if they were a little hungover, Dudi).
"Although it may be the goal-scorers who are mentioned it was the defensive players who really won that game for us.
"The shape and discipline was first class the entire game. Not a mistake all match, soaked up the pressure and used the ball smartly when on it.
"Thank God I didn't promise first round on me again if we win like I did last time, cost me an absolute fortune. The Roses go marching on."
Camden player-manager Max Saunders told JC Sport; "I am not going to take any credit away from RC UK FC, at the end of the day they wanted it more than us and fully deserved their win.
"However, I would imagine it would have been a completely different game had we played on a surface remotely resembling a football pitch. That was the worst 'pitch' I think we've ever played on, it completely ruined the game. But we also weren't good enough, especially in the second half and RC UK FC defended well.
"Now we look forward to our biggest game of the season, our quarter-final tie against Redbridge."
