CRAIG SANDFORD was the match-winner for Glenthorne B as the east Londoners boosted their double hopes with victory in a seven-goal thriller against Division Three rivals Los Blancos.
The game started in cagey fashion as both sides were finding their feet after a few weeks out due to the cold snap. The ball was mainly stuck in the middle of the pitch.
Sandford opened the scoring after 25 minutes after Richard Rosenthal played him through. The joint-player-manager raced into the box but was brought down before he could get the shot off. Sandford stepped up and slotted in the bottom left corner.
Los Blancos kept putting pressure on the Glenthorne goal but could not find a breakthrough.
Glenthorne got the bit between there teeth and kept chipping away. Their perseverance paid off when Sandford found Adam Bernstein who scored from 10 yards.
Blancos needed a break and they got it after a cross caught Jordan Davidson in goal of his line and looped in.
Half time came and went and it was Blancos that dominated the start of the second half. They had quality in all areas and were really tightening the screw.
Blancos' hard work paid off and made it 2-2 on the hour and they turned the game on its head as Glenthorne heads dropped and Blancos saw a chance to capitalise. They took a well deserved lead and made it 3-2 with 20 minutes left.
This was an unusual position for Glenthorne to be in as they have rarely been behind. Sam Rosenthal and Sandford were shouting to the team to show character and drive.
Andy Levy took that on board and found Sandford who went round the excellent keeper to bring the score back to 3-3.
The next goal would obviously be the crucial one and Glenthorne took the initiative. After good work from Josh Wynne on the wing a corner was forced. Jamie Bernstein delivered with quality and Sandford got the winner to complete his hat-trick.
Blancos heads never dropped and kept pushing for the equaliser, but Glenthorne stood strong and saw the victory out.
Sami Birnbaum, Joel Kutner and Dovid Greenberg netted for Blancos.
Los Blancos manager Joel Minsky told JC Sport: "We're all absolutely gutted coming away from today's game with no points.
"We gave Glenthorne as good as we had to offer from an attacking perspective and after gifting them two goals early on we deservedly came back to take a 3-2 lead.
We gave away another very soft equaliser and they snatched it towards the end.
"I'm very proud with our performance - we had quite a few players out today, but I still feel its the best football we've played in months.
"It was a tight game but I feel if it was us that had come away with all three points it would have been very much deserved.
"Whilst Glenthorne took their chances I'm sure they'd be the first to admit they got a bit lucky today - we didn't let them play like the team who have won
everything in front of them this year."
