Mill Hill NW7ers 8 v 3 Norris Lea

Match Report

The Mill Hill crew met up at 7h45 to take to the field feeling still resonating after their win against the much fancied Kinloss under 35’s.

A quick look at the team sheet left the pundits questioning who was to lead the attack, with MH’s recognised strike force absent, and an over-stocked midfield.

Enthusiastic player/manager Zeital unfolded his master-plan gambling with Steve “I haven’t played upfront in over 20 years Moss(Mossie) and Paul “who knick’d my water?” Myers to lead the attack, slotting the dynamic duo of Cahn/Bloom(alias Ben Moses) back into their central mid-field paring.

The team also welcomed goalkeeping debutant Brad Reznik, to the daunting position of goalkeeper.

Norris Lea took control of the game within the first 5 minutes, comfortably knocking the ball around, keeping possession and positively frustrating the MH midfield. If they could hold this tempo and level of possession for the entire night, MH would have their work cut out! Feeling the pressure, and still looking very unsettled, MH were unable to get into the tempo and stride of the game, which immediately led to a poor defensive clearance goalkeeper Reznik, which was pounced on by a proficient Norris Lea striker and MH found themselves 1 nil down. Minutes later Norris Lea could have gone 2 up , but managed to push the ball just wide of the left upright.MH looked positively rattled!

Up against it, but used to going down to an early goal MH started slowly coming back into the game. The central defensive pairing of Dan Flitterman and David Peters controlled the shape the back , giving the ever elusive giant “Gil” and youthful David Brown a little more space to express themselves and move forward. Finding more success on the left side of the field through Josh Bentley , the MH attacks started advancing, and not before too long a decisive through ball saw Mossie clinically finish to get MH back on even terms. This was short lived, as a decisive dispossession in the centre of the midfield saw Norris Lea break sharply down the right side and then put away a brilliantly weighted cross to their striker. 2- 1.

The manager rung his first change of the evening , sacrificing himself to introduce Dan Zinkin on the right side of midfield. Zinkin’s impact was immediate, adding an element of skill and pace, and finding himself in great advanced positions, but at this stage failing to find the quality cross. However, his advances started yielding some corners, and after replacing Josh Bentley as corner taker, Zinkin floated in a perfect corner that was brilliantly headed in by the towering Gil. 2-2 game on!!

The last 20 minutes of the first half starting seeing the MH midfield machine start taking better control of the mid-field, but still lacking the composure, sloppy passing, and failing to find the quality last ball, saw them squander a number of good advanced opportunities.

Half Time……

A stern talking to by the hard-man and captain Andrew “Moses” Bloom calling for better composure and more commitment seemed to ring the bell, as MH took to the field in the second half looking rejuvenated, and showing the confidence and belief they were lacking in the first half.

Dan Soloway replaced Gil at right back, and although MH lost some mobility going forward, Soloway provided a solid defensive replacement, to compliment a defensive back 4 , that had hardly been troubled in the last 20 minutes of the first half.. Looking much quicker and raising the tempo, MH continued advancing looking to play the front two through the mid-field, and abandoning the wider wing crosses. On a few occasion they came close, but dubious off-side decisions kept them at bay. At this stage the work rate of Zinkin and Mossie on the right, and youthful Bentley and Brown on the left impressive. Likewise impressive steamrolling particularly David “I played the ball” Peters, and great control and composure the ever-youthful Flitterman saw MH pick up another gear. Even keeper Resnik looked like a different player, now beaming with confidence, he went on to play an almost flawless second half

But then disaster, a ball over the top, chased down by the Norris Lea left wing and then brilliantly crossed and headed in saw MH go down 3v2 against the run of play!!

Not too fear, the machine composed itself, and then an inspirational moment captain, Andrew Bloom, delivering in a beautifully weighted through ball, to be brilliantly put away by Paul Meyers. 3-3 ! Norris Lea swarmed the referee, like a South American team in the Copo America, ranting “off-side, off-side” only to be sent back to the halfway line. This appeared to be the turning point in the game, as the mid-field turned it up another gear, and put away 3 quick goals in the space of 10 minutes. Bloom , Bentley and Moss all having a hand in either making or scoring the goals .The most memorable a long prospective shot by Bloom, that was caught sweet, and easily beat the unsuspecting keeper who was acres off his line.

With time moving on, and the game safe, manager Zeital pulled off Cahn and Mossie, re-introducing himself, and Gil upfront. Zeital was looking fresh up, and his advances almost paid dividends. But without doubt , the youth and fitness of Bentley was showing, and his swift movement down the left wing was proving too hot to handle, coupled with excellent link up play with Zinkin and Myers they managed to add two further goals to the Mill Hill tally. The last 5 minutes of the game were seen out un-eventfully, and MH had secured themselves another convincing victory.

End result 8v3.

The “Rakusin’s Matzos” Man of the Match was a tough one this week. Any number of players were up for it. The back four were brilliant, fantastically led by Flitterman, and his assassin and wing-man Peters. David Brown was fantastic always looking composed , weaving his way out of trouble, and adding an attacking element , linking beautifully with Josh Bentley. Zinkin, Meyers , Moss and Bloom were all contenders, always in the mix , but after careful consideration , Josh Bentley takes the award . His two goals, assists, and constant movement down the left flank, were the deciding factor.

Please ensure that he is given an extra tot of “white horse” and extra herring at the children’s service Kiddush!!

Interviewed after the match on his adventurous decision to start with Mossie and Meyers upfront, Manager Zeital was quoted as saying “ Awww….. never in doubt, never in doubt, …with quality like that I could have played them both in goals, and they would have performed!!!”

Anyway, well done to all involved, and hopefully we can follow through this success against the highly rated Borehamwood team.  

Jarrod Cahn