Led by the evergreen Jon Yantin, Scrabble took the lead after an excellent six-man move was finished by Lee Levenson after Raiders had hit the woodwork twice.
With just 10 minutes remaining in a finely balanced game, NLR drew level through Alex Bourne’s close-range header but Scrabble continued to push forward and were rewarded when Steven Moss’s persistence made it 2-1 in the closing minutes.
Even then, it took a last-gasp save from Scrabble ‘keeper Elliot Gordon to ensure that Scrabble held on to earn themselves a cup final appearance.
Maccabi London Lions B cruised into the Final of the Nathan Horwitz Division 2 Cup at the expense of St John’s Wood Tigers, with goals from Gideon Barnett (3), Craig Henry (2) and Danny Schindler giving them a 6-1 win. Steve Gold netted Tigers’ consolation. Lions will face either Marshside or EHRS in the final.
Meanwhile, in the league, EHRS extended their lead at the top of Division Two with a 7-1 win over Temple Fortune. Martin Seifert (3), Adam Kern (2), John Dubiner, Ashley Davidson eased EHRS home, with Dean Ingram pulling one back for Fortune.
RESULTS
HENRY SWERNER MMFL CUP SEMI-FINAL, sponsored by Visualeyes Opticians and Sunglasses, Barnet
North London Raiders 1 Scrabble 2
NATHAN HORWITZ MMFL DIVISION 2 CUP, sponsored by Atlantis Travel Semi-final
Maccabi London Lions B 6 St John’s Wood Tigers 1
MACCABI MASTERS FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
Temple Fortune 1 EHRS Stonegrove 7
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TABLES
DIVISION ONE
1. NL Raiders Pl. 12, W. 10, Pts. 31
2. Chigwell Athletic Pl. 10, W. 8, Pts. 24
3. ML Lions Pl. 9, W. 5, Pts. 16
4. Brady Maccabi Pl. 11, W. 5, Pts. 15
5. Scrabble Pl. 13, W. 2, Pts. 7
6. HMH Pl. 11, W. 1, Pts. 4
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DIVISION TWO
1. EHRS Stonegrove Pl. 12, W. 10, Pts. 31
2. ML Lions B Pl. 9, W. 8, Pts. 24
3. Marshside Pl. 13, W. 6, Pts. 20
4. Glenthorne Pl. 9, W. 5, Pts. 16
5. St John's Wood Tigers Pl. 12, W. 4, Pts. 14
6. Temple Fortune Pl. 11, W. 3, Pts. 9
7. Brady Maccabi B Pl. 11, W. 4, Pts. 8
8. Hendon Harriers Pl. 9, W. 1, Pts. 3