MGBSFL DIVISION ONE
MILL HILL DONS 5 REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE 1
The stormy conditions played a major role in this fixture from the first minute, but it wasn't long before Cohen put Mill Hill Dons ahead with a well-struck free-kick from range.
Ben Rodol soon doubled the home side's lead, with his volley from wide leaving the Redbridge 'keeper stranded.
Isaac Virchis then got in on the act shortly before half time - his superb strike from distance ensuring the Dons took advantage of the wind being in their favour for the first half.
Knowing that the conditions would favour Redbridge in the second period, the Dons set up to frustrate the visitors as much as possible. The defence was looking solid and the boys from Mill Hill were still able to break away on the counter on numerous occasions.
First, Adam Isaacs was brought down in the area as he was about to pull the trigger, meaning Cohen stepped up to dispatch the resulting penalty - his second goal of the game. And, Cohen completed his hat-trick after slotting home calmly from a through ball.
Redbridge got a wind-assisted goal of their own just before the final whistle but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation as the Dons ran out comfortable winners.
Dons manager Jamie Nagioff told JC Sport: "Given today's awful weather, this has to go down as one of the most professional and well-executed performances I've seen from this side. The boys were focused on the task at hand and adapted superbly to the conditions.
"We knew we had to take advantage of having the wind with us in the first half, but it was even more pleasing to score two more goals after the break, when the wind meant it was so difficult to even make a proper clearance at times.
"And, all this success was despite not being awarded at least another one or two penalties, and a couple of very lucky Redbridge players that should have seen red for serious foul-play and a last-man challenge respectively. But we just made sure we carried out our own game plan to perfection, so huge credit to the boys for that."
DONS: Adam Brown, Sam Denby, Oli Goodman, Adam Isaacs, Adam Lisberg, Harry Moss, Marc Rister, Ben Rodol, Isaac Virchis, Zach Cohen. Subs: Josh Moses, Nick Phillips, Richard Reback
SCORERS: Cohen 3, Rodol, Virchis
REDBRIDGE: Elliot Black, Sam Calmonson, Antony Cope, Sam Cormack, Grant Gischen, Matthew Kemp, Ben Nathan, Max Seitler, Ross Weinrabe, Daniel Wexler
SCORER: Weinrabe