Oakwood claimed the result of the day as they set up a semi-final clash against South Manchester by ending NLR's treble dreams at Brunel, while Catford & Bromley cruised past Division Three leaders NLR C. Hendon B's Daniel Garfinkle took centre stage with a stunning seven-goal salvo against Shirley Park. Danny Caro looks back on all the action on Matchday 29 of the season.
MATCHDAY 29 REVIEW
PMT - Oaks stun Raiders
Prem Div - Away day joy for proud Lions
Div 1 - Woodford give Blancos rude awakening
Div 2 - Redbridge B its famous five
Div 3 - Four-midable Cats crush Raiders
JC HAT-TRICK HEROES
Div 1 - Daniel Garfinkle 7 (Hendon B), Harrison Midda (Woodford)
Div 2 - Nathan Sollosi (Redbridge JC B)
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DAVID WOLFF CELEBRATES 50 YEARS IN MGBSFL
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MATCH PHOTOS: RAIDERS vs OAKWOOD
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THE CONTENDERS
GK - Oli Gee (Oakwood A), Mike Myers (FC Team C), Steve Murad (NW Neasden)
DEFENDERS - Motti Colman (Hendon A), Charlie Resnick (Faithfold C), Paul Hizer, Glenn Davis (both Chigwell), Ilan Scorah (Oakwood A), Richard Gold (Redbridge JC B), David Brown, Parys Hammond (both Boca), Adam Luria, Jeff Gotch (both Catford & Bromley), Joel Rosenberg (FC Team C), Daniel Field (NW Neasden)
MIDFIELDERS - Philippe Auret (AC Whetstone), Rafi Kon (Hendon A), Josh Bentley, Guy Helman, Brad Wine (all Oakwood A), Nathan Sollosi (Redbridge JC B), Lewis Blitz (LML Blue), Michael Patterson (Boca), Gary Hill (Catford & Bromley), Shim Bensoor (FC Team C), Richard Cooper, Jeremy Barnett (both Temple Fortune), Dan Breger (Faithfold C), Martin Smulovitch (Hendon C)
STRIKERS - David Garfinkle (Hendon B), James Gold (LML Blue), Harrison Midda (Woodford), David Joseph Cohen (FC Team C)
MANAGERS - Ric Blank & Alex Schock (Oakwood A), Lester Jacobs (Catford & Bromley)
REFEREE - Laurie Benson (FC Team C vs Oakwood B), David Lazarus (Woodford Wanderers vs Los Blancos),
Adam Lewis (Redbridge JC A vs Hendon Utd SC A), Martin Lavender (Boca Jewniors vs Jewdinese)
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DANNY CARO'S MATCHDAY 29 OSCARS
SAVE OF THE WEEK
Oli Gee (Oakwood A) - tremendous triple save to deny NLR at 1-0
GOAL OF THE WEEK - DAVID GARBACZ
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PETER MORRISON TROPHY SEMI-FINAL DRAW
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CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP FINAL
Norstar London Raiders A vs Hendon United Sports Club A
May 4, Wingate & Finchley
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YOUR WEEKEND REVIEW STARTS HERE:
PETER MORRISON TROPHY QUARTER-FINAL
RED-HOT HELMAN HELPS OAKS END NLR HOODOO
NORSTAR LONDON RAIDERS A 1 OAKWOOD A 2
Oakwood claimed the result of the day as they set up a semi-final clash against South Manchester by ending NLR's treble dreams at Brunel.
Having lost against NLR three times this season, there was relief all round in the Oakwood camp as a Guy Helman double condemned NLR to only their second defeat of the season. Jamie Wolfson netted for NLR.
Delighted Oaks joint-manager Ric Blank told JC Sport: "We felt hard done by in the Anekstein semi, but today we got what we deserved. Raiders will be worthy champions and possibly double winners so to beat them at their 3g pitch is an amazing achievement."
Stand-in NLR boss Rob Richman told JC Sport: "Congratulations to Oakwood - they fully deserve to go through to the semi-final and we very much hope they go on to win the competition. They play the game in the right way and are a credit to the MSFL. Today wasn't our day but we have a cup final to look forward to and we can look back on a brilliant league campaign whatever happens over the coming weeks"
DC Prediction: NLR 2 Oakwood 1 AET
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MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
AWAY DAY JOY FOR PROUD LIONS
FAITHFOLD A 0 LONDON MACCABI LIONS BLUE 1
Lions Blue boosted their survival hopes with a hard-fought win over Faithfold at Chase Lodge - thanks to a goal from James Gold.
The match was marred by an injury to Faithfold top-scorer Mike Pearson who was taken to hospital in an ambulance as LML moved to within two points of last season's champions.
Victorious LML boss Jamie Kyte told JC Sport: "It was a massive win for us today and the best team performance all season. It wasn't pretty today and the bobbly pitch made it hard for us to play our fluid football. It's nice to go into the Pesach break with a win, hopefully we'll continue this form in May."
Faithfold boss Zuriel Solomon told JC Sport: "The match had an end-of-season feel about it - the result was bad for us, but I think we will have to win a few games to stay up so work still to do."
DC Prediction: Faithfold 2 LML 1
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HEROIC HENDON CLOSE IN ON RAIDERS
REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A 0 HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A 3 (DOUBLE-HEADER)
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A 4 REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A 0
Hendon boosted their treble hopes with an impressive double-header win over Redbridge A at Fairlop - to close the gap at the top to 15 points with six games in hand on NLR.
Yoav Kestenbaum, Avidan Last and Greg Corin eased them to a 3-0 victory in part one.
The Reds went on to boost their goal difference with another clean sheet in the follow-up - with Yishai Last, Greg Corin, Ari Last and Danny Kon putting the icing on the cake.
Jubilant Hendon boss David Garbacz told JC Sport: "We literally swept Redbridge aside with minimum fuss and made the lottery of the double-header look easy."
DC Prediction: RJC 1 Hendon 2/Hendon 0 RJC 0
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DIVISION ONE
GLORIOUS GARFINKLE IN SEVENTH HEAVEN
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B 9 SHIRLEY PARK 0
An absolutely sensational seven-goal salvo from DANIEL GARFINKLE helped Hendon B run rampage against Shirley Park.
Further strikes from Avi Markewicz and Chaim Gothold completed the rout.
After watching his team climb out of the relegation zone, delighted Hendon boss Aryeh Goldring told JC Sport: "We were excellent all across the park.We have now given ourselves a chance with our last three results and put pressure on the teams below us.
"We have certainly shown that when we have our 1st XI, we are a match for any side and don't deserve to be in this situation. Will certainly make for a nervous few weeks!"
DC Prediction: Hendon 4 Shirley 3
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COLE LATE SHOW STUNS NEASDEN
NORTH WEST NEASDEN 0 CHIGWELL ATHLETIC 1
An injury-time winner from Ryan Cole saw Chigs dent NWN's promotion hopes with as the east Londoners returned to winning ways following their cup exit.
Jubilant Chigs boss Richard Slater told JC Sport: "It was a really even game - both teams hit the woodwork and, at times, it wasn't pretty, but I did feel we just shaded it and the scoreline reflects that.
"Some of our play was superb - the winning goal saw superb through ball from Pearlo and finished well by Coley, but at other times it was shocking. The lads kept going and dug in brilliantly. Top effort."
DC Prediction: NWN 2 Chigwell 1
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WOODFORD GIVE BLANCOS WAKE-UP CALL
WOODFORD WANDERERS 3 LOS BLANCOS 0
A first-half treble from HARRISON MIDDA'S saw Woodford regain top spot as they returned to their brutal best - storming past Blancos 3-0 at Fairlop.
Woodford boss Tony Charles told JC Sport: "A bare 11 players made easy work of a poor team."
Blancos chiarman Joel Minsky told JC Sport: "A combination of an early kick-off and the clocks going forward meant we didn't really start playing until it was all too late."
DC Prediction: Woodford 2 Blancos 1
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BRIXTON OLD BOYS P BRADY MACCABI B P
Match postponed - Brixton pulled out due to a shortage of players
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DIVISION TWO
TEAM CHOP DOWN OAKS
FC TEAM C 4 OAKWOOD B 0
FC Team C flexed their muscles ahead of the big game against promotion rivals Redbridge B with a 4-0 demolition of Oakwood in Mill Hill.
A double from David Joseph Cohen and one apiece from Jamie Breslaw and Joel Ross clinched the points as Team scored twice in each half.
FC Team joint-manager Michael Myers told JC Sport: "It was a comfortable victory for Team in the end. Although a sluggish start, we dominated the second half in what was a classy performance from the boys in yellow and blue."
Oaks boss Ian Tussie told JC Sport: "They're a good team with a few nice players, but above all they’re very fit and they have consistently got the same bunch of players out every week - given that, it’s not a surprise they’re competing for promotion."
DC Prediction: Team 4 Oakwood 2
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REDBRIDGE HIT FAMOUS FIVE
REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B 5 FC TEAM B 0
Hat-trick hero NATHAN SOLLOSI was in imperious form once more as Redbridge B took another big step towards promotion with a 5-0 demolition of FC Team at Fairlop.
Craig Sandford had got the show on the road with a double, before Sollosi stole the show.
RJC boss Jon Jacobs told JC Sport: "It is great that promotion all comes down to our last game when we play the only other team in the league who play football in the right way - it should be a great match, great players all over the park. We look forward to hosting FC Team C."
FC Team manager David Gordon told JC Sport: "Jon Jacobs’ comments are rather curious being that the defence that started the game only had one change to it from the game three weeks ago. Perhaps a couple of the boys have had haircuts since the last game and Jon got confused!"
DC Prediction: RJC 3 Team 2
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DIVISION THREE
'NESE FIRE BLANKS
BOCA JEWNIORS 0 JEWDINESE 0
Jewdinese's promotion challenge received a dent as they were forced to settle for a point at battling Boca for whom it was their first-ever clean sheet.
DC Prediction: Boca 3 Jewdinese 4
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COURAGEOUS CATS GIVE NLR A GOOD GOING OVER
CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI 4 NORSTAR LONDON RAIDERS C 1
Catford & Bromley produced arguably the performance of the season as they stunned table-topping NLR into submission with a brilliant 4-1 victory.
Oli Hitman bagged a brace, including one stunning effort, with Jamie Sinai and Jonny Lee putting the icing on the cake.
NLR boss Zack Gothelf told JC Sport: "It's a shame that our last game will put a slight damper on our season, but we're still top and the pressure is really on L'Equipe. We'd much rather be in our position, with points on the board than need to win all of our remaining games to clinch the title."
DC Prediction: Catford 1 NLR 2
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DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR FAITHFOLD
FAITHFOLD C 4 HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB C 2
Charlie Resnick and Ben Portnoi bagged brace as Faithfold C gave their fans something to cheer about with a 4-2 win over Hendon at Chase Lodge.
Hendon replied with two excellent strikes, including a 30-yard free-kick from captain David Elf and an exquisite volley fro Ezra Dulberg, but Faithfold went on to claim their fourth league win of the season.
Resnick missed the chance to complete his hat-trick when his penalty came back off the post.
Faithfold boss David Garson told JC Sport: "We're delighted to notch up another win - the boys played well today on a tough pitch and who would have thought Ben Portnoi and Charlie Resnick would finally both score twice each! Charlie will not be on penalty duty again!"
DC Prediction: Faithfold 1 Hendon 1
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WHETSTONE WIN SEVEN-GOAL THRILLER
KING CROWN 3 AC WHETSTONE 4
AC Whetstone completed back-to-back wins, but they almost threw it away after leading 4-0 against a plucky Crown.
Dan Cohen scored the pick of the bunch, with an own goal and one apiece from Alex Woffenden and Aaron Benjamin sealing the win.
Sacha Nusenbaum, Ben Retter and Daniel Cohen replied for Crown whose manager Jacob Kadoch told JC Sport: "We lost the first half 4-0 and won second half 3-0. It was a tale of two halves. 10 more minutes woudl've at least drawn."
DC Prediction: Crown 2 Whetstone 3
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ICE-COOL FOGELMAN STEERS L'EQUIPE HOME
L’EQUIPE 3 TEMPLE FORTUNE 2
Richard Fogelman helped L'Equipe keep alive their title hopes with the winning penalty to settle a hard-fought contest against Fortune.
Jon Kay and joint-player-manager Josh Lewis also found the net for L'Equipe.
Fortune's goals came through Nicky Stone and Richard Cooper.
L'Equipe joint-manager Dan Cordell told JC Sport: "We are still unbeaten all season at home and want to keep that going next week. Although as said before it's one game at a time."
Fortune boss Jonathan Cohen told JC Sport: "We were deserving of at least a point in the game and played almost the entire the second period in the L’Equipe half, and in truth only lost through a very cheap penalty award against us, some wasteful finishing and some pretty bad luck."
DC Prediction: L’Equipe 2 Fortune 0
