Brady A Win Masters Cup Final

Jeremy Silverstone - Wednesday 30th 2008f April 2008


Cup Winners Brady A

Brady A kept alive their hopes of an historic league and cup double as two goals from Marc Marc Herman helped them to a 3-0 win over EDRS.

Henry Swerner Maccabi Masters League Cup Final
Brady Maccabi A 3 EDRS Stonegrove 0
Tuesday, 29 April, 2008

The final, which is sponsored by Tux’n’Tails, was played at Wingate Stadium on Tuesday evening and saw Brady A eventually wear down a dogged EDRS team to clinch the Henry Swerner Trophy, and set themselves up for a league and cup double.

Brady started as firm favourites, despite being up against the Cup holders, and in a keenly contested first half, dominated the possession without being able to prise open a disciplined EDRS back line.

In a cruel twist of fate, EDRS keeper Larry Radiven had suffered an injured shoulder in a work accident just hours before the match, and EDRS were forced to appeal for a replacement at short notice. Ironically, the stand-in turned out to be Mike Leigh, who usually finds himself between the sticks for Brady B!

As the half wore on, Brady became increasingly frustrated at their inability to make the breakthrough, and indeed it was EDRS who came closest to breaking the deadlock, in a rare attack, when Malcolm Joseph’s long-range effort was tipped round the post by Brady ‘keeper Andrew Selby.

On two occasions, Brady managed to get the ball in the net, but were denied each time by the offside flag, and Leigh made a number of fine saves to deny his stablemates.

After the interval, it looked as if the relatively young Brady line-up would press home their advantage when a powerful header from Jonathan Feldman was cleared off the line, but EDRS gradually gained in confidence and began to settle into their controlled passing game, and when Tony Platman came on as a substitute with 25 minutes to go, to support Mark Kingston up front, it seemed that they might push on and upset the form book.

However, within five minutes, Brady’s Laurence Beck fed Scott Ansher down the left and his shot ricocheted off the near post into the path of Marc Herman, who stabbed it in from close-range to give Brady the lead.

EDRS continued to press forward for an equaliser, but the extra space allowed Brady to attack more freely themselves, and the game was effectively ended as a contest when Dan Forman’s speculative shot looped over Leigh in the EDRS goal and again the rebound from the post fell invitingly for Brady, this time Scott Ansher turning scorer to double their lead.

As the tie neared its conclusion, Marc Herman sealed Brady’s win with a well-taken strike from 15 yards to notch his second of the night, and the celebrations could begin for the Division 1 leaders.

Brady player-manager Danny Collins said: “We're delighted to have come away with a win, and all the spectators enjoyed an excellent match. Great credit is due to EDRS who made it very difficult for us, but in the end, our younger legs made the difference, as I knew they would! We now have the chance to be the first Masters team to achieve the league and cup double, so there is still everything to play for.”
Chairman of the Masters League, Stuart Lustigman, and Guest of Honour Stuart Greenberg, Chairman of Maccabi GB, presented Brady with their winner’s medal.

Despite the disappointment of losing out, EDRS player manager Ian Leader was typically philosophical: “We gave them an aggregate of 165 years, so I don’t thing we did too badly!”

Brady: Andrew Selby, Joel Nathan, Daniel Collins, Mark Abrahams, Jason Harris, Andrew Lipton, Jonathan Feldman, David Rose, Perry Yam, Dan Forman, Mickey Nurtman, Laurence Beck, Marc Herman, Scott Ansher, Jonathan Cohen.

EDRS:
Mike Leigh, Ian Leader, Gary Shaw, Malcolm Joseph, Mark Kingston, Dave Hassell, Paul Chilton, Jon Holman, Jacob Namer, Gary Good, Phil Silver, Nigel Conway, Barry Lampert, Tony Platman, Roger Levitt, Cliff Warner