MGBSFL DIVISION THREE
HENDON UNITED B 2
Jacob Kadoch paid tribute to his players for overcoming treacherous conditions, and opponents Hendon B, as King Crown made it six out of six thanks to a double from Dominic Cheniart, but their 100 per cent record was given a run for its money as the Hustlers ran them close.
The game started in an atrocious conditions and this contributed to the opening goal, with Hendon trying to pass the ball out of defence and the ball getting stuck in the mud.
A bizarre incident saw Phil Braham beat three players only for the puddle to stop him in his tracks, which happened to the visitors a few times in the first 15 minutes.
The pressure eventually told five minutes later as the Hendon keeper sliced a clearance into the path of Cheniart, who in true Victor Wanyama style, 40 yards from goal, took one touch and lofted it over the keeper stunning strike.
One became two 10 minutes later when some great work between Braham and Jake Garfield on the left flank saw the latter get to the bye-line and roasts the defender. He then travelled into the box, his goal-bound strike was parried into the path of the onrushing Garfield to tap in the rebound, with Hendon's protests for handball falling on deaf ears.
Hendon got themselves back into the game on the half hour when player-manager Adam Glekin's free-kick found a way past the Crown keeper and the hosts had multiple chances to equalise before the break but failed to capatalise.
Crown regained their two-goal advantage early in the second half - the energetic Adam Nusenbaum played a gorgeous one-two with Cheniart, who dummied the defender on the edge of the box and then smashed it top right-hand corner.
Hendon refused to lie down, but the home side continued to create chances and thought they'd pulled one back through Benni Sluckis but were again frustrated by a refereeing decision.
With the Crown team dictating the game, striker Ricky Fox, Josh Aziz and Ben Retter came on and all were superb. Fox hit the post and then the Hendon keeper made a stunning save to keep him out again.
Retter then had a great chance which was pushed it wide and moments later, Crown's appeals for a penalty following a hefty challenge on Retter were turned down.
The introduction of Aziz was the game-changer as he controlled the midfield and played some great through balls.
The points were sealed 10 minutes from time following some great link-up play with Fox, Nusenbaum and Cheniart - some short, intricate passes between the three resulted in Braham receiving the ball on the left edge of the box and drilled across the face of goal and into the bottom corner, leaving the keeper, who was Hendon's best player according to Jacob Kadoch, with no chance.
Avi Mocton hit a sweet last-minute consolation, but it was Crown celebrating at the final whistle.
King Crown boss Jacob Kadoch told JC Sport: "Our football is getting better and better and, in spells of the game, it was a pleasure to watch despite the terrible pitch and conditions."
Hendon manager Adam Glekin told JC Sport: "Today was a considerable improvement on the last couple of weeks. We created a lot more today, and could easily have got something from the game if we'd taken our chances.
"But once again, individual mistakes have cost us - we really need to stop gifting teams leads.
"On to next week which is a game we've really got to win in order to stop the rot."
