ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
Hendon Hawks Rovers secured the double after beating Alyth Belsize 3-1 in a competitive cup final.
Having already won the 7-a-side league Hendon Hawks maintained their winning formula.
Alyth began the game playing very defensively, inviting pressure from Hendon Hawks Rovers. This enabled Hendon Hawks to open the scoring with David Amor lobbing the ball over the Alyth goalkeeper and into the top right hand corner.
Alyth then changed their tactics which enabled them to play the ball out of defence and attack the Hendon Hawks goal. Alyth threatened the Hawks goal on several occasions, breaking with pace and causing man of the match Eli Meyer to come out of his goal to thwart numerous attacks.
The first half ended with the Hawks 1-0 up but the game was certainly an even affair. The second half saw Hendon Hawks Rovers extend their lead early on with a truly fantastic goal from Jonathan Korn. After a fluent exchange of passes, Korn turned, took one touch to control the ball into space before striking the ball beyond the reach of the Alyth keeper.
The Alyth Belsize keeper made some very important saves throughout the game but it was Meyer who was the busier keeper during the second half.
The Hendon Hawks Rovers manager Adam Goldschneider then put Aryeh Holder up front. Having only played defence for two seasons, Holder's debut as a striker was an inspired substitution, adding a great third goal to cap off a strong performance to clinch the cup. Rovers' captain, Avishai Marcus, released Holder who ran onto the ball and slotted it past the Alyth keeper.
A brilliant performance from Alyth Belsize ended with a deserved consolation goal as a strike from the edge of the area was deflected in off the head of a Rovers' player and into the top corner of the net.
It was a great game with plenty of chances for both sides but Hendon Hawks Rovers were deserving winners in the end and now have their sights set on the treble with the 9-a-side tournament firmly in their sights.