Brilliant Bloom strike sees Raiders win at Whetstone

Norstar London Raiders C bounced back from a heavy defeat against Oakwood as they recorded a hard-fought victory against AC Whetstone.

MGBSFL Division Two:
AC Whetstone 1 Norstar London Raiders C 2
Sunday, 15 February, 2015

The visitors took the lead within 10 minutes, when Josh Bloom found space 25 yards out and lifted the ball over the Whetstone defence for Daniel Polak, running from deep, to flick the ball first time over the head of the onrushing keeper.

The game was a great one to watch for the neutral, as encounters between these two sides have always been, and the game followed a similar pattern to the earlier game in the season. Both sides had their spells of possession and spells where they threatened, but NLR’s defence held firm and Grant Waissel was on top form.

NLR doubled their lead in some style midway through the first half. Josh Bloom picked the ball up just inside the Whetstone half, and carrying the ball towards the goal, to the right of the goal as he looked at it and hit the perfect strike from 30 yards into the top left corner of the Whetstone goal. No keeper would have saved that shot, right on the postage stamp.

With the score 2-0 at half time, Whetstone were always going to come out fighting in the second half, but NLR defended firmly, with everyone working hard for the team. NLR still did look a threat when going forward but couldn’t add to their lead. Whetstone did pull a goal back to leave a nervy last 20, but NLR were good value for their win.

Raiders manager Zack Gothelf said: “It’s a real shame that we may not play Whetstone again, Clive and Anthony have a great group and comfortably the most organised team we’ve come up against, a credit to Jewish football.”