Neasden were tipped for top-flight honours, but in the end it was all about one team. Three cheers for Hendon United Sports Club A. Danny Caro gives his verdict.
1. HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A
Record: Pl. 18, W. 15, D. 1, L. 2, F. 52, A. 13, Pts. 46
Best result: 5-2 vs Lions
Biggest win: 10-1 vs Harmen
Worst result: 1-0 vs Redbridge
Clean sheets: 8
Games failed to score in: 2
Best signings: Ben Lauffer, Danny Kon, Motti Colman
Star men: Josh Lipman, Greg Corin, Danny Kon
Top-scorer: Danny Kon 12
DC Rating: Peter Morrison Trophy winners. JC MSFL Premier Division champions. JC Cyril Anekstein Cup winners. Hendon had an incredible season, beyond David Garbacz’s wildest dreams. They ticked all the boxes with Josh Lipman and Greg Corin the top performers. Keeper Russell Corin also deserves special credit for eight clean sheets and conceding the fewest goals in the top three divisions. Summer signings Ben Lauffer, Danny Kon and Motti Colman gelled immediately and helped take the team to another level. United by name. United by name. 10/10
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2. LONDON MACCABI LIONS A
Record: Pl. 18, W. 12, D. 2, L. 4, F. 51, A. 30, Pts. 38
Best result: 1-0 vs Hendon
Biggest win: 8-0 vs Harmen
Worst result: 5-1 vs Faithfold
Clean sheets: 8
Games failed to score in: 0
Best signing: Alex Bowman
Star men: Ollie Craig, Ollie Leslie, Jacob Lew, Yoav Lebens, Pete Lazard, Aviel Schwarz
Top-scorer: Ollie Craig 10
DC Rating: The stats are there for all to see. The Lions made a dramatic improvement this season, with managers Malcolm Newman and Josh Newman turning them into a well-oiled machine. They recorded the highest number of clean sheets of any team in the JC MSFL this season, including four in a row, while, at the other end, they were ruthlessly efficient – scoring in every match. Victory in the final match cemented second place, three higher than last season. As I said a few weeks ago, I can see this group of players winning the title in the next two to three years. 8/10
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3. REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A
Record: Pl. 18, W. 10, D. 4, L. 4, F. 40, A. 40, Pts. 34
Best result: 1-0 vs Hendon
Biggest win: 5-1 vs FC Team
Worst result: 2-1 vs Raiders A
Clean sheets: 3
Games failed to score in: 1
Best signing: Adam Bolle
Star men: Adam Bolle, Sam Sollosi
Top-scorer: Adam Bolle 12
DC Rating: Had Redbridge started the season with the team that finished it, it would be fair to say that they’d have pushed Hendon even closer. As predicted, the absence of Daran Bern and Adam Hakimi affected them and the blip between late October and early December didn’t help, but in Adam Bolle they made arguably the signing of the season. Bolle earned some rave reviews and finished a memorable first JC MSFL season in style with the winner against Hendon. They will be eternally haunted by the administration error that led to them being thrown out of the Jewish FA Cup. Manager Eilon Kennet will be disappointed not to finish the season with any silverware to show for his efforts but with a bit of fine-tuning and more strength in depth next season, I expect them to be there or thereabouts once more. 7/10
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4. FAITHFOLD A
Record: Pl. 18, W. 8, D. 3, L. 7, F. 44, A. 37, Pts. 26
Best result: 5-1 vs Lions A
Biggest win: 5-1 vs Lions A
Worst result: 4- vs FC Team A
Clean sheets: 1
Games failed to score in: 2
Best signing: Paul Sammerof
Star man: Mike Pearson
Top-scorer: Mike Pearson 15
DC Rating: The Superhoops lost their way after midfield maestro Alex Kaye departed for Africa mid-season and although they finished the season with more points than last, they were never serious contenders. Their cup form was disappointing and manager Zuriel Solomons know that he must bring in some extra quality to make them challengers in season 2012/13. Keeping no. 1 Ben Law has to be the priority. Two or three top quality additions could inspire them next season, as will a full season from Alex Kaye. 6/10
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5. NORTH WEST NEASDEN A
Record: Pl. 18, W. 8, D. 2, L. 8, F. 38, A. 37, Pts. 26
Best result: 3-1 vs Faithfold
Biggest win: 4-0 vs Raiders B
Worst result: 4-1 vs Faithfold
Clean sheets: 3
Games failed to score in: 4
Best signings: Paul Babai, Scott Shindler
Star man: David Fox
Top-scorer: Marc Lazare 12
DC Rating: By their own very high standards, Neasden had a poor season. They opted to take a sabbatical from the London Intermediate Cup to concentrate on domestic competitions, but the plan did not work. Eight wins and eight defeats shows great inconsistency in the league and disciplinary problems came back to haunt them. They failed to muster good runs in either cup and a second consecutive season without silverware is not good enough for a club of their standing. I believe we’ll see a new man at the helm next season and rumour has it Pep or RDM is on their hitlist. 5/10
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6. NORTH LONDON RAIDERS B
Record: Pl. 18, W. 7, D. 3, L. 8, F. 28, A. 33, Pts. 24
Best result: 2-1 vs Faithfold
Biggest win: 4-0 vs Harmen
Worst result: 4-0 vs Neasden
Clean sheets: 2
Games failed to score in: 6
Best signing: Dave Esterkin
Star men: Alex Bloch, David Dinkin
Top-scorer: David Dinkin 10
DC Rating: Raiders B had an excellent first-ever season in the top-flight. In something of a mirror image to their A-team 12 months ago, they took the division by storm with some memorable wins, including league double over Faithfold and Raiders A. They played some mouth-watering football, with tremendous spirit, playing as a team and with big hearts, and won many new fans. 7/10
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7. FC TEAM A
Record: Pl. 18, W. 6, D. 5, L. 7, F. 34, A. 41, Pts. 23
Best result: 4-0 win vs Faithfold
Biggest win: 4-0 vs Faithfold
Worst result: 5-1 vs Redbridge
Clean sheets: 3
Games failed to score in: 1
Best signings: Jon Toby, Ed Bloom
Star men: Jon Toby, Richard Salmon, Ed Bloom, Danny Moss
Top-scorer: Richard Salmon 7
DC Rating: FC Team didn’t want the season to end after a four-match unbeaten run, culminating with a glorious 4-0 victory over Faithfold. Manager Mitch Young deserves a huge amount of credit for an excellent first season in the top-flight. He made some excellent additions to the squad and will be delighted to finish above a strong Brady team. At times, Richard Salmon was unplayable. The Didier Drogba of the JC MSFL. I don’t expect them to suffer second season syndrome and can only see them pushing on in 2012/13. 6/10
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8. BRADY MACCABI A
Record: Pl. 18, W. 5, D. 5, L. 8, F. 29, A. 30, Pts. 20
Best result: 2-0 vs Redbridge
Biggest win: 8-2 vs Harmen
Worst result: 2- vs FC Team
Clean sheets: 3
Games failed to score in: 7
Best signings: Jonny Ellis, TJ Keterman, Jonathan Green
Star men: Jonny Ellis, Zak Presky, Josh Hershman
Top-scorer: Josh Hershman
DC Rating: If Brady had started the season with the team that finished it they would probably have gone very close to winning the title. Manager Josh Rosenfeld put together a top-quality group of players who claimed win after win in all three competitions since the turn of the year. It’s hard to believe that with a forward line boasting Paul Hakim, TJ Keterman and Jon Green, they failed to score in seven league games. Rosenfeld and co will believe they didn’t get the rub of the green in the Anekstein final and Morrison semi-final and that will make them more determined than ever to push on next season. League mark – 4/10, but overall 6/10
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9. NORTH LONDON RAIDERS A
Record: Pl. 18, W. 2, D. 4, L. 12, F. 30, A. 58, Pts. 10
Best result: 2-1 vs Redbridge
Biggest win: 6-0 vs Hendon B (cup)
Worst result: 7-1 vs Faithfold
Clean sheets: 0
Games failed to score in: 3
Best signing: Carl Peters
Star men: Jamie Wolfson, David Rhodes
Top-scorer: Jamie Wolfson 8
DC Rating: A nightmare. That is how I would describe season 2011/12 for Raiders. Whatever could go wrong, did go wrong. Injury to key players hit them really hard and they were forced to use four different keepers throughout the season, with no. 1 Danny Berliner missing the first half of the season and eventually only playing a handful of matches. Individual errors at the back proved costly as they failed to kill off opponents from winning positions – including twice against Neasden. Their only league win was an impressive one – at the home of defending champions Redbridge, a team they took four points off this season. Striker Jacob Gold was another key absentee, but they showed just how good they can be in the Anekstein semi-final against Hendon when they had defeat snatched from the jaws of victory in heartbreaking fashion. 2/10
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Bottom: SOUTHGATE HARMEN A
Record: Pl. 18, W. 2, D. 1, L. 15, F. 18, A. 58, Pts. 7
Best result: 3-1 vs Raiders A
Biggest win: 3-1 vs Raiders A
Worst result: 10-1 vs Hendon
Clean sheets: 0
Games failed to score in: 4
Best signing: Zack White
Star man: Ben Graham
Top-scorer: Zack White
DC Rating: By hook or by crook, Harmen finished the season, when many predicted they were going to fold after forfeiting matches on more than one occasion due to a lack of players. It was always going to be a big ask to consolidate in the division after finishing third in Division One last season, but they gave it their all. It could be an interesting summer … 1/10
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JC MSFL SEASON 2011/12 ROLL OF HONOUR:
Peter Morrison Trophy: Winners – Hendon Utd Sports Club A, Runners-up: Oakwood
JC Cyril Anekstein Cup: Winners - Hendon Utd Sports Club A, Runners-up: Brady Maccabi A
JC Barry Goldstein Trophy: Winners - UJIA, Runners-up: NW Neasden C
JC MSFL Premier Division: Champions: Hendon Utd Sports Club A, Runners-up: London Maccabi Lions A
Division One: Champions: Oakwood, Runners-up - Brixton Old Boys A
Division Two: Champions: Hendon Utd Sports Club B, Runners-up - Camden Park
Division Three: Champions: Glenthorne Utd B, Runners-up - Shirley Park
Division Four: Champions: Brady Maccabi B, Runners-up - Athletic Bilbaum
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JC MSFL GOLDEN BOOT WINNER
30 goals - Craig Sandford (Glenthorne United B)
