Faithfold A finished the weekend in top spot as their double hopes gathered momentum, Shirley Park finished the season on a high, while Brady B closed in on the Division Two title on Matchday 31 of the JC MSFL season. Danny Caro looks back on all the action including some important promotion and relegation issues on a sun-soaked morning.
------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
JC PHOTOS: OAKWOOD B vs FC TEAM C
------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
JC MSFL MATCHDAY 31 HEADLINES
Prem Div – Double-header wins puts Faithfold top
Div 1 – Hornets sting Lions B
Div 2 – Five-goal Brady B close in on title
Div 3 – Ufland inspires Norstar C
JC HAT-TRICK HEROES
Prem Div - Max Kyte, TJ Keterman (both Lions A)
Div 1 - Saul Conway (Shirley Park)
Div 2 - Mitch Lassman (FC Team B)
Div 3 - Will Ufland (Norstar C)
------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
DANNY CARO'S MATCHDAY 31 OSCARS
GOAL OF THE WEEK: HAKI ELIAS (Hendon C)
SAVE OF THE WEEK: DAN PIKE (SPEC FC)
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: IAN TUSSIE (Oakwood B)
JC REFEREE OF THE WEEK
Brandon Pieters (Catford & Bromley Maccabi vs Brady Maccabi B)
------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
JC CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP FINAL
London Maccabi Lions A vs Redbridge Jewish Care A
April 21, KO: 6.30pm at Wingate & Finchley FC
------------------------------------
------------------------------------
PETER MORRISON TROPHY FINAL
South Manchester Sports Club 1st vs Brady Maccabi A
April 28, KO: 3pm at Boundary Park, Oldham Athletic
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
YOUR WEEKEND REVIEW STARTS HERE:
JC MSFL PREMIER DIVISION
TOP-SCORERS
18 - Lee Cash (LM Lions A - 10 for Neasden A)
17 - Adam Stolerman (Redbridge JC A)
13 - Daryl Phillips (Faithfold A)
12 - Jonathan Green (Brady A +1 for B), Brad Wine (Oakwood)
FAITHFOLD'S DOUBLE HOPES GATHER MOMENTUM
FAITHFOLD A 3 OAKWOOD A 0 (DOUBLE-HEADER)
OAKWOOD A 0 FAITHFOLD A 1
Faithfold A finished the weekend in top spot as their pursuit of the double gathered momentum.
The London FA Sunday Intermediate Cup winners ran out 3-0 winners in the opener, with goals from Mike Pearson, Daryl Phillips and captain Alex Levack.
An own goal from a Sam Reeves corner was enough to give Faithfold victory in part two in which Oakwood had a player sent off.
Faithfold boss Zuriel Solomon told JC Sport: "It was a very important six points as we haven't played in the league for nearly three months, which is bizarre, but we were determined to pick up maximum points against a good Oakwood team who impressed me in the second game."
Oakwood joint-manager Ric Blank told JC Sport: "I was unbelievably proud of how the boys played for 120 minutes yesterday against a top class Faithfold side.
"Faithfold are easily the best team we've played this year and are worthy champions. We wish the boys Daryl and Zuriel all the best and hope to be having a crack at them again next year."
DC Prediction: Faithfold 1 Oakwood 1/Oakwood 1 Faithfold 2
JM Prediction: Faithfold 2 Oakwood 1
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
LIONS HIT THE PERFECT 10
LONDON MACCABI LIONS A 10 BRIXTON OLD BOYS 3
Hat-tricks from MAX KYTE and TJ KETERMAN helped the Lions warm up for next week's Anekstein Cup final by registering the perfect 10 at Rowley Lane.
Andy Landesberg's boys sealed their eighth league win of the season with further strikes from David Nezri (2), Nick Landesberg and Matt Perlman.
Brixton's goals came through the in-form Adam Arnold (2) and George Fierstone.
Brixton boss John Nitka told JC Sport: "As most people are aware, four players left the club, including our keeper and went to Lions, another two went elsewhere with only a week left in the transfer window, therefore leaving us in a disastrous position to find other players to replace them.
"The score today was flattering as for parts in the game we outplayed them. However, we will keep fighting to the end and hopefully will be successful in our last two games."
DC Prediction: Lions 3 Brixton 1
JM Prediction: Lions 3 Brixton 1
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
BRADY IMPRESS SOUTH MANCHESTER SCOUTS
NORTH LONDON RAIDERS A 0 BRADY MACCABI A 3
Morrison finalists Brady ran out comfortable winners at Brunel, with goals from Josh Hershman, Alex Hershman and Jonny Ellis taking them on to 27 points following an impressive win and clean sheet over Raiders.
Delighted Brady boss Joel Nathan told JC Sport: "This was our final game before the Peter Morrison final in a couple of weeks and the main thing was to win, keep a clean sheet and keep the pressure on for a top three finish.
"Yes we were missing a couple of players today, but the boys who came in did very well and now Josh and I have some tough decisions over our starting line up."
Raiders manager Rob Richman told JC Sport: "It was just a poor day from start to finish. We lost two players in the build-up to the game and then David Rhodes not even five minutes into the game. That being said, we still had enough quality on the field to give Brady a match, but in truth we were poor and Brady didn’t have to do too much to beat us. We will knuckle down and work hard as we need to scrap and battle for a few points which will make us safe."
DC Prediction: Raiders 2 Brady 3
JM Prediction: Raiders 1 Brady 3
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
DIVISION ONE
TOP-SCORERS
34 - Jamie Kent (Shirley Park)
15 - Yishai Last (Hendon B), Max Kyte (Lions B includes 5 for A)
13 - James Gold (LML B), Gideon Gold (Shirley Park), Richard Silver (Camden)
HORNETS STING LIONS B
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B 4 LONDON MACCABI LIONS B 1
Hendon B claimed one of the results of the week after putting a massive dent into Lions B's title hopes with a stunning performance.
A double from Alex Neiss plus one apiece from Gav Noe and RA Noe inspired the Hornets to their fifth win of the season, and first since October 21 in a game they were trailing.
Delighted Lions joint-manager Motty Korman told JC Sport: "It was a fantastic performance from 1-11 and good to get a win again.
"We defended well throughout and took our chances well. We were 1-0 down at half time, but were by far the better team in the second half and deserved the win.
DC Prediction: Hendon 1 Lions 3
JM Prediction: Hendon 1 Lions 3
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
SLATER HAILS "HUGE" THREE POINTS
SOUTHGATE HARMEN 3 CHIGWELL ATHLETIC 4
Chigwell won a seven-goal thriller at the Mole to claim their ninth victory of the season and keep their promotion bid on track.
The east Londoners stormed into a 4-0 lead after 78 minutes. Dean Ben Yosef got the ball rolling with a header from a Richard Baum free-kick. Anthony Mendel doubled the lead from the penalty spot after 50 minutes. A 25-yard screamer from player-manager Richard Slater made it 3-0 before Mendel claimed his second and Chigwell's fourth from the spot 15 minutes from time.
Alex Bull, with "a worldie" was among the scorers for Harmen.
Delighted Chigs boss Richard Slater told JC Sport: "It was such a massive win, with more than 10 players out. What a performance - to dig in and get what is a huge three points.
"We made it slightly hard for ourselves last 10, but having 10 men for the last 30 minutes due to Dean Ben Yosef having to leave early and to score another two. The lads were fantastic."
Harmen boss Dan Uzan told JC Sport: "Chigwell were very well organised and Lee Hyams was man of the match for me. It was not good enough by Harmen, and we will have to improve next week."
DC Prediction: Harmen 1 Chigwell 2
JM Prediction: Harmen 2 Chigwell 2
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
SUPER SHIRLEY FINISH ON A HIGH
WOODFORD WANDERERS 3 SHIRLEY PARK 5
A hat-trick from SAUL CONWAY saw Shirley Park ended the season on a high as they claimed their 13th league game of the season to finish on 43 points.
Top-scorer Jamie Kent and Stefan Benfredj sealed the win.
Woodford's scorers were Joe Sumray, Daryl Green and Harrison Midda.
Shirley Park player-manager Dave Lusman told JC Sport: ""It's been a long hard road and I would like to say thanks to all the Park life crew. I'm pleased we've given a good account of ourselves, even though between us we know we have under achieved in parts. We know where we've gone wrong and will come back stronger next season."
Woodford keeper Ben Rosenthal told JC Sport: "The manager was angry after a game we led at three different stages before running out of steam … and giving up three points.
JM Prediction: Woodford 2 Shirley 2
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
DIVISION TWO
TOP-SCORERS
22 - Reiss Mogilner (Brady B)
20 - Adam Hersh (Los Blancos)
14 - Jake Gilbert (Athletic Bilbaum), James Joseph (Brady B)
BILBAUM STILL IN THE MIX
ATHLETIC BILBAUM 3 REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B 1
Athletic Bilbaum remain in the mix after seeing off Redbridge B 3-1 in a mudbath in west Hendon.
Josh Flax, Ben Bell and Seb Silverman were the goal men for Baums.
RJC's goal came through Harrison Grant.
Redbridge boss Jon Jacobs told JC Sport: "It is a shame that teams that are organised well can lose out on days like this playing on pitches that you should be sailing on not attempting to play football on."
DC Prediction: Bilbaum 3 Redbridge 1
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
IT'S LEGS 11 FOR SPEC FC
BLIZZARD STORM 2 SPEC FC 3
SPEC FC boosted their promotion hopes with Daniel Pike, James Lesner and David Newman steering Laurence Conway's troops to their 11th win of the season in a thriller against Blizzard.
Dan Simons bagged a brace for Blizzard, including the opener in a game they led until the 70-minute mark.
SPEC defender James Lesner said: “Credit to Blizzard who played some excellent football and made it very difficult for us. This wasn’t our best performance but some individual brilliance and fighting spirit saw us through.”
Absent manager Laurence Conway tweeted: “Well done to my boys @SPEC_FC for grinding out another win today. Three more of those to go. See where that takes us. I believe.”
Blizzard boss Simon Linden told JC Sport: "It was a much better performance, improving on recent weeks. We are up against it and the weeks are running out, but I'm fully confident we can stay in this league."
DC Prediction: Blizzard 1 SPEC FC 4
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
FIVE-STAR BRADY B CLOSE IN ON TITLE
CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI 1 BRADY MACCABI B 5
Brady B took another step towards back-to-back titles by crushing the Cats at Norseman FC to notch up their 14th league win of the season.
Strikes from Daniel Harrod, Reiss Mogilner (2) and Daniel Hildebrand (2) saw off Catford and despite a late consolation goal, Brady's tiki-taka football proved to be just too much for a brave Catford side.
Oli Hitman grabbed a consolaton for the Cats.
Jubilant Brady boss Josh Dagul told JC Sport: "It was exactly the performance I demanded from my players. Last week was simply not good enough and the boys knew that, but it acted as a kick up the backside to get us over the finish line, so I was delighted with the response they gave today.
"Although promotion is not mathematically guaranteed, this win leaves SPEC FC needing to overturn a 36-goal swing in three games, so I'm absolutely chuffed with the lads for what I think I can safely say is another promotion."
Cats captain Adam Luria told JC Sport: "The 11 that were out there gave everything today but as ever it's the players who don't show up who let everyone else down"
DC Prediction: Catford & Bromley 1 Brady 5
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
TEAM LEAVE STARS DOUBLED UP
FC TEAM B 4 NORSTAR B 2 (DOUBLE-HEADER)
NORSTAR B 1 FC TEAM B 4
FC Team B hammered another nail into Norstar B's relegation coffin with a double-header victory over the division's bottom team.
The in-form MITCH LASSMAN fired a hat-trick in part one, with Daniel Wolfe putting the icing on the cake. Norstar's consolation came through Rafi Addlestone.
Freddie Marks bagged a brace in match two, with Jon Fisher and James Milman finishing the job.
Norstar's goals came through Robin Scher and Marc Woolfe.
Norstar boss David Lubczanski told JC Sport: "It was Norstar stalwart Robins first goal in orange in five seasons and over 7,000 minutes of football. It's just a shame that it was during a game in which was lost, as it was long overdue."
DC Prediction: Team 4 Norstar 1/Norstar 0 Team 3
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
NEASDEN EDGE PAST RAIDERS
NORTH WEST NEASDEN B 2 NORTH LONDON RAIDERS B 1
Neasden B kept alive their promotion hopes with a hard fought win over top six rivals Raiders B, with strikes from Oli Joseph and Sam Foster edging them home.
Nicky Woolf scored a trademark goal for Raiders.
NWN player-manager Adam Levene told JC Sport: We had the chances to score more, but unfortunately we didn't manage to get the extra goals."
DC Prediction: Neasden 2 Raiders 2
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
DIVISION THREE
TOP-SCORERS
33 - Ben Zloof (AC Mill Hill)
25 – Alex Elf (Hendon Utd SC C)
24 - Jono Gaon (Tottenham Chutspah)
17 - Ben Polak (Oakwood B)
BECKER HELPS MILL HILL BOUNCE BACK
AC MILL HILL 2 L’EQUIPE 1
Nick Kershberg and Lloyd Becker were the goal men as title-chasing AC Mill Hill came from behind to beat L'Equipe.
The visitors forged ahead with a freak wind-assisted free-kick, but Mill Hill regrouped quickly and started knocking the ball around, with Kershberg drawing Mill Hill level before the break, leaving it to Becker to hit the winner.
Mill Hill manager Joe Levy told JC Sport; "We are delighted to have beaten L'Equipe twice this season after a lot of banter between the teams and we wish them all the luck playing third division football next season."
DC Prediction: AC Mill Hill 3 L’Equipe 1
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY FOR NORSTAR
NORSTAR C 3 TEMPLE FORTUNE B 2
A wonderful hat-trick from WILL UFLAND inspired Norstar C to their sixth win of the season as they edged past Fortune B in a five-goal thriller.
Ufland now has six goals in seven games for the starts this season, both being hat-tricks, with all three against Fortune from outside of the box, and Norstar certainly could have done with him to have played a few more this season with a goals to game ratio like that.
Ollie Squires and Gavin Levy registered for Fortune.
DC Prediction: Norstar 3 Fortune 1
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
IT'S ADVANTAGE OAKWOOD B
OAKWOOD B 1 FC TEAM C 0
Oakwood B did their title hopes a whole lot of good as they edged past rivals FC Team C in a tense battle at Parmiters.
Victory takes them four points clear of Team, who have a game in hand.
The all-important goal - that ended Team's proud record as the only unbeaten side left in the league - came on 85 when Matt Geey's corner was headed by Adam Blin; the FC Team keeper pushed the ball into the air but then bizarrely seemed to punch it into his own net. It was a goal befitting the pitch - mucky.
"Overall I'm delighted - we know it's in our hands now and that's all what you can ask for. We've went away to the would-be champions, undefeated all season, and we've came away with three points. Not bad for a team only back in the race because of Jewventus folding...
"However, I've banned all use of the P word - Prosecco. We've got two huge games to go and I want us to focus on them for now."
FC Team joint-manager Michael Myers told JC Sport: "We haven't given up on the title. Oakwood had a stroke of luck with Jewventus folding as they had dropped points to them. I'm hoping our stroke of luck comes in the form of AC Mill Hill defeating Oakwood on Sunday."
DC Prediction: FC Team C 3 Oakwood 2
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
THREE CHEERS FOR HENDON C
TOTTENHAM CHUTSPAH 0 HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB C 3
Hendon C proved too strong for Tottenham Chutspah, with Adam Glekin, Haki Elias and top-scorer Alex Elf on target in a 3-0 win in west Hendon.
Glekin put the visitors ahead in the first half with a powerful finish before Elias scored the goal of the game with a magnificent effort after spotting the keeper off his line with a Beckham-esque shot. Ben Slukis hit the post in a one-on-one before Elf sealed the points from the edge of the box following a surging run from Chaim Strom.
After the game Hendon player-manager Craig Miller paid tribute to club stalwart Haki Elias. He told JC Sport: "It is with great sadness we announce the retirement of Haki Elias. He is retiring from football having had a 15-year career with Hendon. He's an absolute legend and it's phenomenal he was still playing this season."
Hendon: Goldin, Strom, Miller, E. Weinstein, Shapira, Sluckis, A. Glekin, Saul, Elias (sub: Jacobs), A. Elf, B. Glekin)
DC Prediction: Chutspah 1 Hendon 4
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
MATCHES POSTPONED
Premier Division
Redbridge Jewish Care A vs FC Team A (double-header) - waterlogged pitch
Division One
Faithfold B vs UJIA - waterlogged pitch
Temple Fortune A vs Camden Park - waterlogged pitch
Division Three
Faithfold C vs Loughton Orient - waterlogged pitch
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
CHALLENGE CARO RESULT
Week 1: Caro 4, Rob Richman 5
Week 2: Caro 14, Mitch Young 10
Week 3: Caro 20 (incl. 2 correct scores), Richard Slater 15 (inc. 1 correct score)
Week 4: Caro 15 (incl. 2 correct scores), Phil Peters 5
Week 5: Caro 1 Loz Newman 8
Week 5: Caro 6 Josh Dagul 4
Week 6: DC 9 Motti Korman 14 (incl. 1 correct score)
Week 7: DC 4 Josh Marks 3 (Prem Div and Div 1 predicted only). DC scored 18 points overall incl. 3 correct scores)
