Defending champions Hendon United made a flying start, while Oakwood A and AC Whetstone made a big statement of intent on the opening weekend of the MGBSFL season. Danny Caro looks back on all the action.
MATCHDAY 1 HEADLINES
Prem Div - Fabulous Fehler at the double against Lions
Div 1 - Camden hit back in style
Div 2 - Whetstone show off their six packs
Div 3 - Red-hot Rovers off to a flyer
JC HAT-TRICK HEROES
Div 3 - Josh Bharier (London Rovers)
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VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: FC TEAM B vs L'EQUIPE
PHOTOGALLERY: FC TEAM B vs L'EQUIPE
PHOTOGALLERY: FC TEAM B vs CATFORD & BROMLEY
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THE CONTENDERS
GK - Guy Ben-Aroya (Catford & Bromley Maccabi)
DEFENDERS - Dave Cohen (Oakwood A), Adam Kay (London Rovers), James Korn, Mark Driver (both King Crown), Scott Kay, Sam Franks (both NW Neasden), Sammy Huberman (AC Whetstone), Max Clynes (Oakwood B), Josh Kaye (FC Team C), Matan Ozin (Shacharit Donetsk)
MIDFIELDERS - Josh Bharier (London Rovers), Daniel Perelberg (Athletic Bilbaum), Greg Corin (Hendon A), Phil Braham, David Benjamin, Jake Garfield (all King Crown), Steve Field, Danny Sherman, Michael Field, Ben Chernoff (all NW Neasden), Dan Harrod (Brady), David Eden, Dan Ash (both Oakwood B), Lorian Madanes (FC Team B), Jake Saunders (Camden Park)
STRIKERS - Dovi Fehler (Hendon A), Adam Arnold (NW Neasden), Mitch Lassman (FC Team C), Dave Woolman (Oakwood A)
MANAGER - Clive Nathan & Anthony Jacobs (AC Whetstone), Ric Blank & Alex Schock (Oakwood A), Stirling Kay (Neasden)
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THE CONTENDERS
1. DANIEL PERELBERG (Athletic Bilbaum) - summer signing put the Baums ahead with an audacious curled shot into the top corner from outside the box
2. GREG CORIN (Hendon A) - fine ball down the left was picked up by Michael Kenley who took it to the byline before pulling back into Greg's path - seeing the keeper slightly off his line he dinked a beauty - Cantona-esque over the keeper and into the corner to the delight of the crowd
3. BEN CHERNOFF (NW Neasden) - a wonderful team goal which started with the keeper and involved six players, ended up with Chernoff curling it in from the edge of the area
4. DAN COHEN (AC Whetstone) - GOAL 2 - already a contender for goal of the season. He interchanged passes with his brother Rob before slotting past the keeper. There was much kvelling from the sidelines as the boys grandparents were watching!
5. LORIAN MADANES (FC Team A) - curled a corner into the top corner with the outside of his foot
6. Josh Levy (Shacharit Donestsk) - GOAL 1 - scored a screamer on the stroke of half-time against Fortune
7. DAVID KHALASTCHI (Camden Park) - carrying his impressive form on from last season, David “Ramires” Khalastchi picked the ball up from the left side, 10 yards outside of the area and curled a beautiful first time effort into the far top corner. Class
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DANNY CARO'S SAVE OF THE WEEK
DAN COHEN (Oakwood A) - tremendous one-handed save from point blank range at a corner. Came out of nowhere, he'd had nothing to do and managed to not only save it, but fend it away from danger. Top save!
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DANNY CARO'S QUOTE OF THE WEEK - JASON STEIN
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THE CONTENDERS
1. NICK SHINDER (Athletic Bilbaum) - "It's a beautiful feeling to see all the work put in come together in a perfect symphony of smash and grab football"
2. CLIVE NATHAN (AC Whetstone) - "Dan Cohens second is already a contender for goal of the season. There was much kvelling from the sidelines as the boys grandparents were watching!"
3. JOSH DAGUL (Brady B) - "SPEC and Brady have had some epic, bruising encounters over the years, and although the match looked to be following in that vein, we were just happy to let our football do the talking"
4. JASON STEIN (Oakwood B) - "We're delighted to get the win that gives us a platform to build on for the next few weeks before our yomtov break when the Northerners need to return home for some apple and honey"
5. RIC BLANK (Oakwood A) - "We're not getting ahead of ourselves - our next two league games are Redbridge home and Raiders away"
6. ELLIOT NUSSBAUM (Shacharit Donetsk) - "David Wolff and Division Rep Mike Shorvon attend our game - they were both surprised when I informed them that this was the first game the team had played together"
7. RICKY LAWRENCE (SPEC FC) - "We wish Brady's Nathan Harrod who picked up an extra kneecap during the game a speedy recovery"
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PETER MORRISON TROPHY ROUND ONE DRAW
CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP ROUND ONE DRAW
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YOUR WEEKEND REVIEW STARTS HERE:
PREMIER DIVISION
OAKS OFF TO A FLYER
FAITHFOLD A 0 OAKWOOD A 2
Guy Helman and Carl Peters helped Oakwood make their intentions clear with two goals and a clean sheet against Faithfold.
Oaks joint-manager Ric Blank told JC Sport: "Overall we're happy with the result but know we can play better and score more goals. Faithfold are a good side but we were too strong on the day."
Faithfold boss Zuriel Solomon told JC Sport: "Overall I was pleased with the performance. We had a bare 11 players, with myself and Ben Lewis as subs so not ideal - we had six boys away which would have made a difference."
DC Prediction: Faithfold 0 Oakwood 1
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NEW BOYS SPARKLE FOR NEASDEN
NORTH WEST NEASDEN 3 WOODFORD WANDERERS 0
Neasden won the battle of the new boys, with Sam Franks, Gideon Barnett and Ben Chernoff getting them off to a flyer against Division One champs Woodford.
NWN boss Stirling Kay told JC Sport: "This was a great way to start the season and have now set the bar high."
DC Prediction: Neasden 0 Woodford 1
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FANTASTIC FEHLER FUELS CHAMPIONS
MACCABI LONDON LIONS BLUE 0 HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A 4
A deadly double from summer signing Dovi Fehler helped Hendon start where they left off as they overpowered the Lions at Rowley Lane.
Player of the Season Ari Last and Greg Corin put the icing on the cake.
Hendon boss David Garbacz told JC Sport: ""Of all the debutants, the one that really got the juices flowing was youngster Dovi Fehler - his touch and pace was terrific and he got off the mark with two typical poacher goals - believe me this kid will take a lot of stopping this year."
DC Prediction: Lions 0 Hendon 1
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DIVISION ONE
PERELBERG MAKES BLANCOS PAY THE PENALTY
ATHLETIC BILBAUM 2 LOS BLANCOS 1
Daniel Perelberg bagged a brace as the Baums edged past Blancos at the Bernebaum.
Young Player of the Year Jono Gaon had levelled the scores in what looks set to be his only appearance for LB this season.
Baums player-manager Nick Shinder told JC Sport: "It's a beautiful feeling to see all the work put in come together in a perfect symphony of smash and grab football."
Blancos boss Jon Ison told JC Sport: "There is very little doubt we were the better team; we had multiple chances and should have scored about five."
DC Prediction: Bilbaum 1 Blancos 2
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CAMDEN HIT BACK IN STYLE
BLIZZARD STORM 2 CAMDEN PARK 3
Camden Park's bid to book an instant return to the Premier started well as they came back to win a five-goal thriller against big-spending Blizzard in Borehamwood.
David Khalastchi, Greg Mellor and Jake Saunders saw Camden home.
Dean Shaw and Adam Speck registered for Blizzard.
Blizzard boss Simon Linden told JC Sport: "It was a frustrating to let a 2-1 lead slip. We weren't at the races second half and Camden took advantage.
"It was a close game, Camden I'm sure will be up there at the end of the season. We turn out attention to a next week against Bilbaum where we must bounce back."
DC Prediction: Blizzard 1 Camden 1
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HEROIC HARROD STEERS BRADY HOME
SPEC FC 0 BRADY MACCABI 4
Two goals from Dan Harrod helped Brady sent out a title warning as they destroyed SPEC FC at Brunel.
Reiss Mogilner and Josh Newman were also on the mark.
Delighted Brady boss Josh Dagul told JC Sport: "I am so proud of my boys today. SPEC and Brady have had some epic, bruising encounters over the years, and although the match looked to be following in that vein, we were just happy to let our football do the talking."
SPEC's Ricky Lawrence told JC Sport: "Brady were pretty lethal in front of goal and have got some fine players. We struggled to create chances and they were deserved winners."
DC Prediction: SPEC FC 0 Brady 2
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DIVISION TWO
MAJESTIC MADANES THE MAN FOR TEAM
FC TEAM B 4 L’EQUIPE 0
Favourites FC Team B ran out worthy winners at Old Camdenians, with Lorian Madanes (2), Ben Binder and Adam Rones finding the net against newly-promoted L'Equipe.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: FC TEAM B vs L'EQUIPE
PHOTOGALLERY: FC TEAM B vs L'EQUIPE
Jubilant FC Team boss Mitch Young told JC Sport: "I'm very happy to start the season with a convincing win - we were in total control for 90 minutes."
L'Equipe joint-manager Josh Lewis told JC Sport: "It’s early days and we have a few more key players to come back into the squad, so we’re taking the positives out of the game and move forward quickly."
DC Prediction: Team 2 L’Equipe 0
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LASS LAUDS IT FOR TEAM
FC TEAM C 4 CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI 2
Mitch Lassman fired a double as FC Team C made it a win double in Mill Hill.
Adam Stollerman and Josh Kaye also registered on a day the Cats were second best.
FC Team player-manager David Gordon told JC Sport: "Overall I’m pleased to start off with three points. We started the game excellently but found ourselves behind from two quite awful decisions. But credit to the boys who picked themselves up and turned the game around."
DC Prediction: Team 2 Catford 1
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SUPER STONES TURN ON THE STYLE
JEWDINESE 3 AC WHETSTONE 6
Whetstone claimed one of the results of the weekend, with Rob Cohen and Dan Cohen firing doubles in a stunning win in London Colney.
There were also goals for Alex Wolffenden and Jonah Gordon-Boyd on a memorable day for the Stone.
'Nese's goals came from Luke Lewis and Brandon Sassoon.
'Nese chief Jake Erlich told JC Sport: "Everyone put in a massive amount of effort. We'll be back and no doubt beat Whetstone in the next game. A lot of positives can be taken."
DC Prediction: Jewdinese 3 Whetstone 1
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FIVE-STAR OAKS HUMBLE ORIENT
OAKWOOD B 5 LOUGHTON ORIENT 0
Oakwood made an impressive start as a double from Max Clynes put the seal on a 5-0 drubbing of Loughton Orient.
Marcus Mann, Marc Hyamson and Jacob Richler-Kleiman joined the party.
Oakwood boss Jason Stein told JC Sport: "We know there will be harder challenges going forward, starting with Raiders C next Sunday, but it vital to win our first game and for the players to see that all their hard work through pre-season was worth it."
Loughton manager Adam Conway told JC Sport: "We were well beaten by a good side, but we had a few players out which didn't help and played most of the second half with 10 men after Paul Block limped off."
DC Prediction: Oakwood 3 Loughton 1
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DIVISION THREE
BHARIER LIFTS ROVERS
LONDON ROVERS 5 HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B 2
It was high fives all round as the Jeremy Brown revolution start in style against Hendon B.
JOSH BHARIER was the hat-trick hero, with Yehoshua Silverman and Yisroel Lewis adding the gloss.
Saul Cohen scored both goals for Hendon.
Rovers boss Jeremy Brown told JC Sport: "We played some nice football and looked well disciplined. I was a bit frustrated with the two goals we conceded, both from set pieces but apart from that they didn't have a sniff at goal."
Hendon manager Adam Glekin told JC Sport: "It's a hugely frustrating start to the season. No disrespect to London Rovers, who played well, but this is the sort of game we need to be winning if we're going to have a successful season."
DC Prediction: Rovers 2 Hendon 2
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LEVY AT THE DOUBLE FOR SUPER SHACHARIT
SHACHARIT DONETSK 3 TEMPLE FORTUNE 1
A Josh Levy double helped youth conquer experience in Hendon as Shacharit Donetsk won their first-ever match in the MGBSFL.
Akiva Fink will go down in the history books as the man to score Shacharit's first league goal - and he did it in front of league chairman David Wolff.
Richard Cooper grabbed a consolation for Fortune.
Shacharit boss Elliot Nussbaum told JC Sport: "I was delighted with a good solid start to the season, with the team keeping their shape and discipline throughout."
DC Prediction: Shacharit Donetsk 1 Fortune 1
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GLORIOUS GARFIELD LIFTS CROWN
MACCABI LONDON LIONS GREEN 1 KING CROWN 4
King Crown ran new boys Maccabi Lions Green ragged at Rowley Lane, thanks to goals from Jake Garfield (2), Phil Braham and Ben Retter.
Aaron Sporter's strike was no more than consolation for the Lions.
Jubilant King Crown manager Jacob Kadoch told JC Sport: "I am very proud of the boys who listened to the tactics and delivered. This was our first game and we are only going to get better."
