Cohen double fires Whetstone to victory

A double from Dan Cohen helped AC Whetstone get back to winning ways as they beat Boca Jewniors 2-1 at the 1,000-seater Hitchin Town ground, writes Sam Ellard.

MGBSFL Division Three
Boca Jewniors 1 AC Whetstone 2
Sunday, 23 March, 2014

Despite a late rally from Jewniors, Whetstone hung on for a vital three points. Cohen put the visitors one up as his free-kick evaded everyone and ended up in the back of the net, Josh Silverman levelled for the hosts as he coolly finished past Pollins. As the game looked like ending up all square, Cohen calmly finished past the on-rushing Michael Siddler to give Whetstone the victory. Ben Pollins then produced a magnificent save right at the death as Jewniors looked for the equaliser, if only they started the game the way they finished.

The visitors dominated the early possession and nearly went one up as Philippe Auret’s glancing header forced Siddler into a save. Cohen was proving a handful for Jewniors’ backline as his pace and skill caused the defence problems. But it was from a set-piece that Cohen put his side ahead. He fizzed in a delivery which was too good for anyone to get on the end of, it evaded everyone, including the goalkeeper, and found its way into the corner of the net. The momentum was with Whetstone and they really should have doubled their lead. It was route one football as Pollins hoofed the ball up field, it went over the defenders and Cohen was bearing down on goal. You expected the net to burst, but Cohen tried an audacious chip over the keeper, he got it horribly wrong and it went out for a goal kick.

Whetstone remained in control as they tested Siddler with a few half chances, but Jewniors should have leveled just before the break. Silverman was played in on goal and he rounded the keeper, his touch was too heavy and it forced him wide. But he picked out Dovey Vogul on the edge of the box but he failed to hit the target as he side footed wide. It was a good pass by Silverman but Whetstone had men on the line to make it hard for Vogul.

Jewniors started the second half the strongest as they were first to every ball, but against the run of play Whetstone had a wonderful chance to make it two. Sammy Huberman produced a wonderful cross from the right which picked out Aron Benjamin at the far post, the ball bounced and Benjamin struck a fierce shot which cannoned back off the cross bar. It was a thunderous strike. It looked as if Whetstone were going to rue that miss, as moments later Jewniors equalised. Silverman was having a great game and made no mistake when he was played through on goal; he slotted past Pollins and levelled the score. Silverman worked hard upfront and deserved his goal. Game on.

It turned into a feisty encounter as both teams pushed for the winner, but it was Whetstone’s two best players who combined for their second. Auret played in Cohen and as Siddler rushed out the striker calmly helped it over the keeper to give Clive Nathan’s side the lead.

Jewniors responded quickly as Vogul fired a free-kick just wide. As Jewniors’ poured men forward gaps were left open at the back. From a corner substitute Clive Nathan should have headed home, he was left unmarked but somehow failed to hit the target as he headed over. But Pollins saved his blushes as he produced a world class save right at the death. The ball was whipped into the box and Whetstone failed to clear, there was a scramble in the six yard box but the ball fell to substitute Dovey Vella, and from only five yards out he fired a shot which Pollins reacted well to as he kept the ball out with a fine save. It was a brilliant piece of work from the goalkeeper.