Redbridge B secure promotion in style

RJC B clinched promotion to the premier division with an emphatic 5-1 battering over promotion-chasing Scrabble in what was an all-round fantastic squad performance.

MGBSFL Division One:
Scrabble 1 Redbridge Jewish Care B 5
Sunday, 26 March, 2017

RJC B captain Brad Gayer won the coin toss and decided to go against the wind in thefirst half.

With the wind in favour of Scrabble, they were trying to force the RJC B backline deep, but once the game settled down RJC B started to dominate with Dean Ben Yosef and Adam Goldman causing the scrabble backline loads of problems.

Half-way through the first half, RJC B took the lead from a corner. A magnificent delivery from captain Brad Gayer was headed in by the big tall centre-back Dan Andrews, to give them a 1-0 lead, his fourth of the season.

RJC B were pushing for a second, and this came shortly after. The menacing Dean Ben Yosef received the ball on the right wing , and played a pin-point cross field ball, which was brilliantly left by Kane Hopps. The ball landed to Brad Gayer, who was in the exactly same position as he was last week, and the same result. A effortlessly low left drive across the goalkeeper finished right in the corner, giving the Scrabble goalkeeper no chance. Just world class from the skipper.

RJC B, knew how important it was to keep the 2-0 lead going into half-time, especially with having the wind in the second half. Solid defending from the back four of Caplin, Sapler, Andrews and McKenize kept the score at 2-0.

The message was very simple at half-time, keep the same intensity and work rate, and the game will be killed.To freshen things up, Anthony Cope, Adam Noble and Jack Van Gelder were brought on to kill the game off.

RJC B then trebled their lead. Adam Goldman worked very hard on the right wing to earn RJC B a free-kick, which was delivered expertly by left-back Scott Mckenize, and the ball was emphatically headed in by Dean Ben Yosef, who deserved his goal to give RJC B a 3-0 lead.

RJC B were ripping through Scrabble at will, and the fourth was not too far away. Anthony Cope, had a big point to prove today, and he certainly did. Winning a lot of 50/50 balls, and working extremely hard on and off the ball, the goal saw outstanding play by Cope. Receiving a bouncing ball from Daniel Bean, he twisted and turned the Scrabble centre-backs, before finishing clinically from 12 yards out to give RJC B a very big promotion day and a very strong 4-0 lead.

>To be fair to Scrabble, they did not lie down, and scored a very dubious consolation goal by the skilful Elliot Espinoza.

RJC B knew they needed to up the levels to see out the game, and this was indeed what happened with the goal of the game by the returning Jack Van Gelder. Receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty box. he twisted and turned past four defenders, before creating the opening which was finished clinically with his left foot into the bottom corner.

This killed the game off to give RJC B a massive 5-1 victory over Scrabble and confirm promotion to the Premier Division.

Manager Sam Rank said: “The boys were brilliant today from 1-15. It was a fantastic squad performance. Special mention to Daniel Bean (Jewish Ngalo Kante), Dean Ben Yosef and Anthony Cope.

“Today was the second of three cup finals, and the boys passed the test in flying colours. Just a fantastic squad performance, and shows the importance of having a squad, when you can bring on Cope,Noble and Jack Van Gelder.

“All the Scrabble squad and management are great guys, and if they can get all their squad fit for next season, they would be my tip for promotion from Division One.

“The RJC B boys have come on leaps and bound this season. They have bought into my football philosophy, knowledge and love for the game, and it is amazing to be around.

“Next week is the biggest game of Division 1 Championship , and cannot wait for that first whistle to be blown.”