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A massive week for Hapoel Hyde Park, with the chance to make history - their week began on Tuesday as they took on Lenton Orient in a brilliant match at Boddington, sponsored by Jewish Camps USA and Jason Millan. The last time these two teams met, Notts JSOC came out on top winning 2-1. Hapoel Hyde Park beat Maccabi Selly Oak on penalties earlier in the season and a win against Lenton Orient allowed them to do the JSOC double this season.
The sun was shining down at Boddington for the occasion, as Hapoel started well hitting the bar via a free kick. This was the best chance of the game for the first 20 minutes as neither team were able to break the deadlock. A great run from Joe Bregman resulted in a penalty for the visitors. Charlie Dagul stepped up and converted it making it 1-0 to Nottingham.
Dagul’s penalty and a water break separated the two sides after the first 25 minutes, but Lenton Orient kept pushing to increase their lead. A good save from Josh Bull helped Leeds stay in the game.
Hapoel Hyde Park finally found a way back into the game. Nathan Mann’s cross was cleared away, only as far as Jake Jayson who headed the ball home and Leeds were level just before the break.
The first half ended 1-1, with Leeds having the momentum a big half was needed for both teams.
The Lenton Orient players were furious after the referee awarded his second penalty of the game. A controversial decision allowed Hapoel to go ahead. Jonothan Daniel doesn’t miss penalties as we have seen throughout the season and he sent the keeper the other way and made it 2-1.
After previously scoring a direct corner in Hapoel’s 10-1 win against CivSoc, Zack Cohen came extremely close to scoring again but this time it struck the crossbar and Leeds couldn’t add to their tally.
Both teams kept pushing, whilst Notts were looking for an equaliser, but neither team could challenge the goalkeeper and the score remained 2-1.
Hapoel Hyde Park took all the glory as after a keeper mistake in the final seconds, Jonathan Daniel scored his second of the game, smashing it into an empty net, Ultimately winning the game for his team.
The full-time whistle was blown and Leeds were victorious for the second time this season against their JSOC opponents and were able to get revenge after suffering defeat last year.
Nottingham faces Birmingham on the 19th of May in a Midlands derby. Nottingham will be hoping to bounce back, whilst Birmingham looks to take their excellent form from the league into the derby.