North London Raiders B celebrated winning the JC MSFL Division One title with an emphatic win over promotion-chasing Brady.
The goals came from an unlikely source as centre back Rick Sherman scored twice from corners, including his team’s decisive third midway through the second half.
The first period was an extremely tight affair with neither side creating a meaningful chance until a Nicky Woolf run down the left found top-scorer David Dinkin but the ex-Lions player had his effort blocked by the excellent Ben Adaki in the Brady goal.
Five minutes later, in the 35th minute, an inswinging corner from centre back Stuart Haring was poked in at the far post by partner Sherman.
Then Sherman had a brilliant 35-yard lop tipped wide by Adaki just before the break.
The second period saw Raiders double their advantage within 90 seconds as James Foley-Comer lashed home a brilliant half volley after cutting inside his man on the left.
Brady, at the time fearing a defeat would put promotion out of their hands, pushed top-scorer Josh Hershman up from left back into a winger role, but he was unable to retrieve the situation from Brady who just couldn’t get onto the ball in midfield as Raiders pressed the man in possession. Brady failed to create one outright chance the whole game.
Adaki made three excellent saves, including blocks from near range efforts, including Dinkin and an excellent tip over.
The decisive third came on 67 minutes when- following a clearance off their own line two minutes earlier - Brady failed to pick up their man again when Sherman smashed home a power header from 10 yards.
Raiders boss Rob Richman extolled praise for “the 16 or 17 players” that have served them well throughout the campaign. He told JC Sport: “The whole squad has given me everything. We have also had a great togetherness which comes from us being friends; last night we all went out for a meal together.
"I think that winning 10 games in a row between October and February was the key. That’s some achievement in any league.”
He believes that the players he has will enable them to compete in the Premier Division next year but would consider start names “if they approach me expressing an interest to come and play”.
Brady manager Josh Rosenfield didn’t discuss his team’s performance, preferring to praise the victors. “Raiders are worthy winners of these league and we wish them the best next year," he told JC Sport.
"First half we matched them but second period was all them. They battered us and we were awful.”
Brady: Adaki, Berman, Fox, Sears, J. Hershman, Gershuny, Stern, J. Gordon (sub: Levy) Platt, M. Smith, A. Smith (sub: Field)
Raiders: Berliner, Bloch, Haring, Sherman, Foley-Comer, M. Hershman (sub: Angel), Espinoza (sub: Ben-Soor), Hesselberg, Esterkin, Woolf (sub: Rob Samuelson), Dinkin
