Hendon boss confident of clinching historic third treble

Hendon manager David Garbacz says he’s confident his side will clinch an historic third treble after they beat Norstar 1-0 in Sunday’s Peter Morrison Cup quarter-final.

Peter Morrison Cup Quarter-Final:
Norstar London Raiders A 0 Hendon United A 1
Sunday, 8 Matrch, 2015

David Seifert’s second minute strike proved to be the difference on Sunday morning, leaving last season’s treble winners in pole position to repeat the feat this year.

Confident they can replicate last season’s league and cup success, Garbacz said: “We are very comfortable with our current position in the league and cups and at the moment expect to sweep the board once again. We believe we have the talent and more importantly the belief to do it again – it would be a remarkable achievement – that’s for sure.

“There’s still an awful long way to go, we have no room or margin for error – there are still quality teams left in the PM cup and to win the other two, we’ll have to beat Norstar two more times.”

That may be slightly easier though given their run against them, with Garbacz adding: “The fact is we have a phenomenal record against them – it must be something that is eating away at them, but we are only too aware that on any given day they can beat us and the two potential games to go will surely still be as tight as this one.”

Sunday’s win was a battling, hard-earned one, and believing they just about deserved the win, Garbacz said: “I thought we put in a thoroughly professional job. We played as a unit with everyone fully committed and fighting for the cause – it was an excellent performance from defence to attack and although it was a very tight game, I thought overall we just about deserved to win.
“There will never be much in it whenever we play each other, some games between us might open up more but ultimately we are two very well organised units so chances will always be at a premium. As is often the case, the margins are small, we had our moment of magic provided by young Dave Seitler and then we used our experience and belief to hold off a brilliant Norstar team.”

The only sour note for Hendon was a nasty-looking injury which saw wingerYoav Kestenbaum carried off the pitch. Garbacz said: “We all wish him a speedy recovery and hope that the injury is nowhere near as bad as it first looked, although I’m sure he is out for the season. The assistance and help we got from all the Norstar team and management was fantastic and really well appreciated. It put everything in perspective and totally confirmed what a fine bunch of mensches they all are.

“Two great football teams full of admiration and respect for each other playing Sunday league football the way it should be played – as long as we keep beating them of course!

Norstar’s assistant manager Jonathan Green felt his side could have ended up as victors, if luck had been on their side. He said: “I thought it was a decent performance from us, it was always going to be a tight game with a few moments deciding the outcome, unfortunately for us we gifted them a goal within the first two minutes of the game.

“It was always going to be an uphill battle from there. We did create chances throughout the match and with a bit of luck the outcome could have been different, but we move on from here with plenty to play for during the rest of the season.

“Conceding so early was the decisive blow unfortunately, we knew going in to the match that it was going to be incredibly tight and that’s the way it played out. Thankfully we have two more opportunities to make right the disappointment we’re feeling today.”

But not believing the win gives Hendon the advantage going into the upcoming League match and a potential meeting in the final of the Cyril Anekstein Cup, he said: “I’m not of the belief that this gives them a psychological edge. If we win our remaining league games we go into our meeting at the end of March in an incredibly strong position. There is great belief within our team that we will win what’s left on offer this season and we now have six cup finals to make sure that happens.

“Finally, all at NLR would like to wish Yoav Kestaumbaum a speedy recovery, it is never nice to see a player in such distress on a football pitch.”