CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP ROUND THREE

HMH 2 FAITHFOLD DOCMM WHITE 0

As predicted, this game was a well fought battle that was extremely tight. The teams had recently played out a goalless draw in the MGBSFL Premier Division, where Faithfold goalkeeper Gideon Rabstein thwarted HMH with an outstanding performance in nets, and he was to star again in the cup meeting.

Faithfold set themselves up to frustrate HMH - they sat back and soaked up the pressure in the first half, and they tried to hit HMH on the break and their tactics worked well.

The Superhoops restricted HMH to crosses and they had their own moments in the space behind out widel without really troubling the HMH goalkeeper.

HMH thought they had found the breakthrough but an excellent goal-line clearance by Rabstein denied them. The home side had another chance to go ahead when they were awarded a penalty but the human wall in front of them wasn't ready to just give a goal and made an unbelievable save down low to his left.

The second half was much more open, Faithfold started to press a little more and played some excellent football. Eventually it was a bit of luck that helped HMH break the deadlock. Leo Berger's cross flew much closer to the goal then was intended, Rabstein could only tip it and it found Wagner who bundled the ball in.

At this point Faithfold needed to push and they had several chances to equalise but just weren't clinical enough in the final third.

With Faithfold committing so many players forward to get the equaliser, Wagner sealed the tie, converting HMH's second with two minutes to remaining - his third brace on the trot - following a lovely through ball from Dom Feldman.

Delighted HMH boss Avi Goldberg told JC Sport: “After our last match against them we knew this would be tough as Faithfold set out their stall once again with five at the back and defending deep to give protection to their keeper Rabstein.

"Nevertheless we managed to carve out some good chances - one a hotly-contested goal-line decision from a header by the superb Tom Prais which was not given and the other a penalty which Rabstein saved low down to his right. Rabstein was called on a few other times as Moss, Hardoon and George Goldberg all forced him into action.”

Faithfold player-manager Avi Markiewicz told JC Sport: "In the end I am very proud of our boys. We played an excellent game and stayed with HMH the whole way."