ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
6 min read
ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
The cream rose to the top in the bottom division where Scrabble FC marked their return to the MGBSFL in style, while Lions B, my pre-season tips, secured second place. The efforts of Athletic Bilbaum and Catford & Bromley Maccabi were also recognised in a season of great promise
CHAMPIONS - SCRABBLE FC
Record: Pl 22, W. 20, D. 0, L. 2, F. 87, A. 26, Pts. 60
Honours: Champions in their first season back in the league
Best result: 2-1 vs Lions
Biggest win: 16-0 vs Fortune
Worst result: 6-1 vs Lions
Clean sheets: 8
Games failed to score in: 0
Best buys:Elliott Espinoza, Ben Law
Star men: Zak McLeod, Elliott Espinoza, Ben Law, Danny Sherman
Top-scorer: Zak McLeod
Most-improved: Josh Flax
WAGS favourite: Josh Flax
DC Rating: Started the season like an express train and ended up worthy winners. Ray Abrahams put together a top-quality squad that was well-balanced and scored in every game. Goalkeeper Ben Law and midfield maestro Elliott Espinoza were among the stand-out players who should be playing in a higher division. 10/10
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2.MACCABI LONDON LIONS B
Record: Pl 22, W. 18, D. 2, L. 2, F. 85, A. 21, Pts. 56
Best result: 6-1 vs Scrabble
Biggest win: 8-0 vs Fortune
Worst result: 4-1 vs Catford
Clean sheets: 6
Games failed to score in: 0
Best buy: Nick Landesberg
Star men: Josh Bloom, Nick Landesberg, Benji Weinberger
Top-scorer: Josh Bloom
Most-improved: Zak Linden
WAGS favourite: Nick Landesberg
DC Rating: One of only two teams to beat champions Scrabble, but not only did they beat them, they wiped the floor with them, hitting them for six. But that team didn’t play week in, week out and that was the difference. 9/10
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3.NORTH LONDON RAIDERS C
Record: Pl 22, W. 11, D. 3, L. 8, F. 50, A. 40, Pts. 36
Best result: 4-1 vs Bilbaum
Biggest win: 8-3 vs Fortune
Worst result: 3-2 vs Catford
Clean sheets: 5
Games failed to score in: 2
Best buy: Jono Rochenberger
Star men: Will Ufland, Alex Elf, Alex Goodman, Liam Stein
Top-scorer: Will Ufland
Most-improved: Oliver Telvi
WAGS favourites: Dan Tan
DC Rating: The departure of Josh Bloom affected NLR’s plans during pre-season and although they didn’t struggle for goals – averaging more than two a match – it was telling that the Lions scored over 30 goals more than L’Orange. The other major factor was an injury to star defender Jake Yudelowitz and although they won more than they lost, the end-of-term report reads should’ve done better. 6.5/10
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4.REAL HENDON
Record: Pl 22, W. 11, D. 2, L. 9, F. 58, A. 45, Pts. 35
Best result: 6-3 vs Bilbaum
Biggest win: 6-0 vs Fortune
Worst result: 2-1 vs Boca
Clean sheets: 5
Games failed to score in: 2
Best buys: Gav Noe, Martin Smulovitch
Star men: Martin Smulovitch, Yossi Goldberg, Hezzie Raymond
Top-scorer: Gav Noe
Most-improved: Hezzie Raymond
WAGS favourite: Chaim 'Lodger' Strom
DC Rating: A good season overall but they will be feeling they could've done even better. 6.5/10
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5.ATHLETIC BILBAUM
Record: Pl 22, W. 10, D. 3, L. 9, F. 69, A. 46, Pts. 33
Best result: 5-2 vs Real Hendon
Biggest wins: 11-0 vs Fortune and Boca
Worst result: 3-2 vs FC Team
Clean sheets: 6
Games failed to score in: 2
Best buys: Cael Persaud, Josh Pugh
Star men: Cael Persaud, Josh Pugh, Benjamin Bell, Robert Rodney
Top-scorer: Benjamin Bell
Most-improved: Josh Pugh
WAGS favourite: Robert Rodney
DC Rating: One of the most improved teams of the season. The acquisition of Cael Persaud and Josh Pugh helped take the team to a new level and boy did they entertain. There were few better midfields in the division than Josh Pugh, Benjamin Bell and Robert Rodney and there is real optimism they can achieve something special next season. 7/10
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6.L’EQUIPE
Record: Pl 22, W. 10, D. 2, L. 10, F. 59, A. 56, Pts. 32
Best result: 2-2 vs Lions
Biggest win: 7-2 vs Boca
Worst result: 5-0 vs Faithfold
Clean sheets: 4
Games failed to score in: 3
Best buy: Grant Bates
Star men: Andy Smith, Mark Smith, Mark Singer
Top-scorer: Andy Smith
Most-improved: Jonny Kay
WAGS favourite: Too many to choose from!
DC Rating: Another team with plenty to cheer about following an encouraging campaign. Nick Stern got the best out of his pack who may not always have won over the neutrals with their brand of football, but no-one can argue with 10 victories. 6/10
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7.HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B
Record: Pl 22, W. 9, D. 4, L. 9, F. 43, A. 43, Pts. 31
Best result: 3-0 vs Raiders
Biggest win: 5-0 vs Boca
Worst result: 7-0 vs Scrabble
Clean sheets: 3
Games failed to score in: 5
Best buys: Ben David
Star men: Benni Sluckis, Avi Mocton
Top-scorer: Benni Sluckis 10
Most-improved: Gideon Barth
WAGS favourite: Almost enough for a minyan!
DC Rating: There was something very symmetrical about Hendon’s season – 9 wins, 9 defeats, 43 goals for and 43 against. Consistent they were not. They started the season well but finished it with a whimper, the NLR game apart. With doubts over the future of boss Adam Glekin, who knows what the future holds? 5/10
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8.FC TEAM C
Record: Pl 22, W. 7, D. 2, L. 10, F. 37, A. 58, Pts. 26
Best result: 2-0 vs Raiders
Biggest win: 4-3 vs Catford
Worst result: 7-2 vs Scrabble
Clean sheets: 1
Games failed to score in: 3
Best buy: Sammy Barron
Star men: James Milman, Eddie Sternberg, Jacob Symons
Top-scorers: Eddie Sternberg, Freddie Marks 6
Most-improved: James Milman
WAGS favourite: Freddie Marks
DC Rating: The departure of Adam Stolerman really hurt the Team who although scoring regularly, conceded at a rate of knots. Overall there were more lows than highs as a result lapses in concentration and not taking chances. 5/10
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9.FAITHFOLD C
Record: Pl 22, W. 6, D. 6, L. 10, F. 47, A. 43, Pts. 24
Best result: 5-2 vs Raiders
Biggest win: 10-1 vs Temple Fortune
Worst result: 1-1 vs Boca
Clean sheets: 5
Games failed to score in: 4
Star men: Dan Kosky, Ben Portnoi, Jonny Gahan, Alon Pinhas
Top-scorer: Dan Gordon
Most-improved: Ben Portnoi
WAGS favourite: Alon Pinhas
DC Rating: Faithfold C were one of the division’s great entertainers. David Garson shared managerial duties with Rob Shooman towards the end of the season but they were held back by inconsistency. A team featuring a spine of Dan Kosky, Josh Barnett and Dan Gordon should be finishing top half. End of. 5/10
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10.CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI
Record: Pl 22, W. 7, D. 6, L. 9, F. 35, A. 43, Pts. 27
Best result: 3-1 vs Scrabble
Biggest win: 4-1 vs Lions
Worst result: 3-2 vs Fortune
Clean sheets: 1
Games failed to score in: 4
Best buys: Danny Yeshua, Danny Bennaroch
Star men: Adam Simon, Tal Cohen, Richard Adams
Top-scorer: Jamie Sinai
Most-improved: Adam Simon, Tal Cohen
WAGS favourite: Danny Bennaroch
DC Rating: 17 new players took time to settle, as one would expect, but the Cats saved their best for the big boys – with wins over champions Scrabble FC and runners-up Lions B. But it was against the lower-placed teams they struggled. A defeat against Temple Fortune and draw against Boca Jewniors tells me they struggled to focus in the role of favourites.
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11.TEMPLE FORTUNE
Record: Pl 22, W. 2, D. 3, L. 16, F. 23, A. 111, Pts. 9
Best result: 3-2 vs Catford
Biggest win: 2-0 vs Boca
Worst result: 16-0 vs Scrabble
Clean sheets: 1
Games failed to score in: 8
Best buy: Aron Barnes
Star men: Adam Lenz, Josh Klepper, Nicky Stone
Best young player: Amier Wiselman
Top-scorer: Adam Lenz
Most-improved: Gavin Levy
WAGS favourites: Josh Klepper
DC Rating: Having avoided the wooden spoon by the skin of their teeth, there is already optimism at Temple Fortune following the appointment of former Blizzard Storm boss Simon Linden as manager next season. Fortune fell well short of the standard required this season, not for the lack of trying on behalf of Jonathan Cohen and co who pulled off one of the coups of the season in acquiring former Team GB and London Lions star Aron Barnes. When he played, Fortune played. But it was defensively where they struggled most, especially once Dave Sawyer was ruled out through injury. But the injection of some fresh blood will undoubtedly lift everyone connected to the club. 3/10
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12. BOCA JEWNIORS
Record: Pl 22, W. 2, D. 2, L. 18, F.13, A.78, Pts. 8
Best result: 2-1 vs Real Hendon
Biggest win: 2-1 vs Real Hendon
Worst result: 11-0 vs Athletic Bilbaum
Clean sheets: 1
Games failed to score in: 12
Best buy: Elio Elia
Star men: Gavin Fox, Elio Elia, Simon Englander
Top-scorer: Josh Webber
Most-improved: Jacob Emanuel
WAGS favourite: Elio Elia
DC Rating: Truth be told, season 2015/16 was a struggle for Boca Jewniors. Simon Englander’s side struggled for goals, scoring just 13 times in 22 matches and failing to score in 12 of those. Throw just one clean sheet in the mix and you have a recipe for disaster! But they deserve 10 out of 10 for folding like a pack of cards or ever take the easy option. 3/10
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