MGBSFL Matchday Two preview - The Jewish Chronicle

YOUR WEEKEND PREVIEW STARTS HERE: (KO's 10am unless otherwise stated)

MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION

CAMDEN PARK vs OAKWOOD

Camden Park made an excellent start last weekend when they put Maccabi London to the sword to the tune of three goals to one.

The new management team of Stirling Kay, Rick Harris and Ray Abrahams were high-fiving one another after a well-executed performance, with a double from Daniel Orgel plus a wonder goal from Sacha Nusenbaum leaving their supporters in upbeat mood.

On Sunday they face another tough test in the shape of Oakwood. A physical encounter is on the cards in a game that will be won and lost in midfield.

Looking ahead to the game, a Camden spokesman told JC Sport: "We hope to build upon last week's performance. We know Oakwood are a very good side and we had many good battles against them last season, so we look forward to an exciting match."

Oakwood let slip a 2-0 advantage against Faithfold. In the end they were relieved to come away with a point, and their players will now realise there are no easy games in the division.

It was no surprise to see Josh Cuby on the scoresheet. He's odds-on favourite to be Oakwood's top-scorer this season, and is the man Camden must watch closely.

I can see Oakwood trying to make a fast start and the Camden back-line will need to be on top of their game in what could be a real case of cat and mouse.

JC team news: Camden have a few players returning from abroad ready to play their first games of the season. Kane Gilbery remains suspended.

Venue - Aycliffe Road, KO - 10.15am

JC star man: Steve Murad (Camden)

DC Prediction: Camden 1 Oakwood 1

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MACCABI LONDON FC BLUE vs FAITHFOLD WHITE

Faithfold staged a brilliant comeback on Matchday One, coming from 0-2 down to draw with Oakwood. And they almost nicked the points.

Avi Markiewicz was delighted with the application and effort from his team in a contest where the introduction of Jack Joseph was the game-changer.

Eli Davila and Avi Garson registered, with new goalkeeper Joseph Nyman showing his qualities with a worldie save. Akiva Solomon and Yoav Kestenbaum, who joined from Hendon United during the summer, also impressed in a game where they overcame early nerves to finish strongly.

Defenders Jeremy Bornstein, Gideon Caller, Avi Mocton and the ageless Martin Smulovitch remained composed against a tricky Oakwood frontline to pick up a point from the jaws of defeat.

That has set them up nicely for another tough-looking away game, at a Maccabi London team smarting from a 3-1 loss against Camden Park.

Faithfold's Avi Markiewicz told JC Sport: "We started off well last week and hope we can continue the form of that second half."

Max Kyte and Laurence Judah want their team to be "competitive and push for a top three finish". But they must get the Camden result out of their system quickly. Player development is an important factor for the team this season but it's important they play like a unit and win their individual and collective battles against a Faithfold team who will be up for the challenge.

Kyte expects a big reaction from the hosts and told JC Sport: "We hope to win and put right our poor performance last week against Camden."

Without knowing too much about the Lions squad for Sunday, I'm going to put my neck on the line and predict a famous Faithfold win!

JC team news: Faithfold are carrying a couple of injuries, with David Leiwy and Akiva Solomon are facing late fitness tests.

POSSIBLE SQUADS:

OAKWOOD (from): James Hiller, Percelle Ascott, Dale Bradman, Alex Lee, Louie Fisher, Jacob Finestein, Sam Modlin, Harry Myers, Aaron Searle, Ben Peppi, Dan Seligman, Josh Cuby

FAITHFOLD (from): Joseph Nyman, Gideon Caller, Jeremy Bornstein, Avi Mocton, Martin Smulovitch, Avi Garson, Eli Davila, Akiva Solomon, Jack Joseph, David Leiwy, Avi Markiewicz, Yoav Kestenbaum, Jamie Davila

Venue - Rowley Lane

JC star man: Joseph Nyman (Faithfold)

DC Prediction: ML 1 Faithfold 2

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DIVISION ONE

LEAGUE TABLE

NORTH LONDON RAIDERS vs SPEC FC

SPEC FC made a flying start, with star man Zack Neiman the two-goal hero in their win at Rowley Lane.

Josh Green popped up with the other goal in the 3-2 win over Maccabi London FC Red - a result which delighted player-manager Ricky Lawrence.

Nothing can beat the ecstasy of a last-minute winner, and the performance will give them the belief they can challenge L'Orange on Sunday. Lawrence told JC Sport: "After a last-minute win on Sunday, spirits are high.

"However we’ve heard good things about Raiders so we’ll have to perform even better than last week.

"We’re missing a few but are still able to put out a side we’re confident could cause somewhat of an upset.”

Raiders have had a week to recover following their victory in the David Wolff Trophy.

"The boys are very excited for the new season," NLR's David Isaacs told JC Sport. "We are very pleased with how pre-season went, however it means nothing if we don’t get three points on the board this week.

"Throughout the summer we have recruited very well. Looking back on last season, we weren't happy with our league form overall, however this year we believe we will be competing for the league."

There's long been a winning culture at Raiders, and Isaacs and co are confident they have the players to push for a top two finish. So SPEC beware!

Sunday could come down to a battle of the hot-shots, with NLR's Aron Gale possibly vying for the headlines against the boy Neiman. It should be a cracker.

JC team news: Raiders have a few absentees this week including club captain Joshua Bloom and yarden Sharon. We will also be missing Charlie kasler who will be serving his suspension.

Venue - Ark Academy

JC star man: Liron Mannie (Raiders)

DC Prediction: Raiders 2 SPEC 1

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BROOK FARM ROVERS vs REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE

Matchday One didn't go to plan for new boys Brook Farm Rovers. But they will be ready to go again when Redbridge Jewish Care are the visitors to their Willesden home.

Rovers won't come up against a striker of the calibre of Reiss Mogilner every week and it's important their management team stays calm and remind the players the league is a marathon and not a sprint.

Redbridge go into their opening fixture in good shape. Boss Daniel Jacobs told JC Sport: "Despite a few defensive absences, we have a healthy squad to choose from this Sunday. This means some tough decisions have to be made, but that’s why RJC chairman Jon Jacobs hired me. At least I think that’s why, and nothing to do with the fact he also happens to be my dad!

"With no game last week, we’re all raring to go in what is a really competitive division this season. Essentially, it’s a new Redbridge team, and we’re very excited to begin the challenge this Sunday.

"We know Brook Farm are a good footballing side and I’m certain their result last week was just a one-off, it should be a really good game between two sides who like to keep the ball on the floor."

Venue - Capital City Academy

JC star man: Tomer Tricot (BPR)

DC Prediction: BFM 2 RJC 2

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HERTSWOOD VALE vs NORTH LONDON GALAXY

Hertswood Vale will be looking to continue their perfect start to the season when they host stablemates North London Galaxy - it's being dubbed the East Barnet School derby.

The Division Two champions were involved in a thriller against Mill Hill Dons last weekend, with James Millet and Charlie Becker among the heroes in a 4-2 win.

Vale trailed 2-1 but they showed great powers of recovery and another action-packed 90 minutes is on the cards.

Ahead of the meeting with the Barry Goldstein Trophy holders, Vale joint-managr Jacob Emanuel told JC Sport: "Although we share a pitch with Galaxy, I imagine this is where the friendly rivarly ends - both teams will be going all out for the win.

"We know about Galaxy's quality and their ambitions to win the title this season. I'm surprised they've been written off behind Jewdinese and Raiders, but I imagine that will suit them.

"They had an excellent season last year in Division One, and it does appear they're aiming to go from strength to strength, so it will be on them to make sure they achieve their lofty ambitions."

Vale's comeback win told you everything you need to know about their squad and their intentions. Emanuel went on to say: "I've said from the start, that despite this being our first season in a higher division, that we have more than enough quality in our squad this season to compete in this league and that is what we'll be looking to do on Sunday.

"We started the season in the best possible way last week, but our performance was nowhere near where it should've been, and we almost let a fairly comfortable lead slip, so we'll be looking to step it up this weekend."

In terms of selection, Emanuel added: "This is the best and worst time of the season for any manager - we have 18 players available on Sunday which is incredible, but with such high-quality in the squad, it does mean that three or four players who deserve a start will be missing out.

"I suppose it's a good situation to be in. No doubt we'll lose players to a variety of reasons as the season progresses, but right now we're at full accompaniment and competition for places are high. I've no doubt that there will be goals in this one."

The Galaxy squad are raring to go. Player-manager Luke Lewis has put together a top-notch group and they are confident of making a winning start.

Lewis told JC Sport: "We’ve had 25 boys who’re available to play this one, with 20-plus at training every week. We know Vale will be raring to go and looking to kick on from last week's win and build some momentum.

"Our big squad has meant competition for places is high at the moment and everyone’s being pushed to train harder.

"The squad is yet to be decided for the game so I can’t reveal too much on the team exactly but it’ll be strong - we’re determined to win the league this year and know that Sunday is just the first three points of 54 points available ... it’s as simple as that."

Winning breeds confidence. That is the Galaxy way, according to Lewis. He said: "Having tasted success in our first season by winning the Barry Goldstein, we want more days and nights like that and to build our trophy cabinet."

If you're looking for five-star entertainment on Sunday, this is your game.

JC team news: A couple of those who played in last week's win against the Dons are unavailable, including Harry Graham, but Vale equally have a number of returning players, including Zach Mandel.

DJ, Joe Bellman and Jordan Aspis will be making their league debut for Galaxy - "with all three looking sharp in pre-season".

Venue - East Barnet College

JC star man: Jordan Aspis (Galaxy)

DC Prediction: Vale 2 Galaxy 3

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MILL HILL DONS vs BAYERN MINCHA

Bouncebackability is the name of the game for Mill Hill Dons ahead of their home game against Bayern Mincha.

They let slip a winning position to lose 4-2 - due in large to the brilliance of James Millet and Charlie Becker.

Dons boss Brandon Hamme is demanding a big reaction. "Last week was not the start we were hoping for," he told JC Sport. "We know we need to improve quickly with a difficult set of fixtures coming up. We now are back training this week and we will working hard on what went wrong last Sunday.

"I feel Sunday provided a wake-up call to the boys, I think complacency had seeped in after an impressive pre-season and we got completely caught out as a result. This was a common trait of our performances early in last season and by the time we were able to turn things around, there was too much ground left to catch up, we can’t let the same thing happen again.

"We need to bounce back and get the three points. There is some history between us and Mincha from two seasons ago when we were in a promotion race with them and Fairlop.

"We had promotion snatched from our hands, the boys all remember this and I’m sure it will provide them with some motivation ahead of Sunday. I have complete faith that we will bounce back this weekend."

Bayern lost star striker Adam Ellis to HMH over the summer and replacing strikers of his quality is easier said than done. And they will need to bring their A-game to the table if they are to deny a Dons team with a point to prove.

Even though the Dons have several key men missing, I can see their strength in depth edging them to victory.

JC team news: Ben Rodol (nose), Josh Cinna (knee), Josh Marks (thigh), Josh Moses (shoulder) and Sam Singer (humerus) are all out injured for the Dons. Daniel Lande, Harry Kalms, Isaac Virchis, Marc Charles, Richard Reback and Sam Stead are all unavailable.

Venue - Marlborough Science Academy

JC star man: Jamie Nagioff (Dons)

DC Prediction: Dons 2 Bayern 1

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DIVISION TWO

LEAGUE TABLE

FC TEAM vs NORTH WEST LONDON BEARS

Derbies are always hard to call but I'm predicting goals in the London Academy derby on Sunday.

FC Team player-manager Mitch Young predicted another strong season from his strikers and it was no surprise to see Connor Perl pop up with a hat-trick on the opening weekend - a powerful 7-0 win over Paris Saint-Jewmain.

David Cohen and Richard Salmon grabbed braces in a performance that left Young purring. And he will want more of the same against another MGBSFL new boy. Young told JC Sport: "We know the Bears moderately well having faced them in pre-season. They are another young and energetic team whom have some tricky attacking players. It should be a good game and we will be hoping to build on last week's professional performance.

"If we maintain our focus for 90 minutes and defend well then we should come away with the three points.”

The Bears came away frustrated with a 1-1 draw in their first-ever MGBSFL outing against Temple Fortune. But one point is better than none and they are on the board.

Joint-manager James Harpin knows all about the threat posed by FC Team. Ahead of kick-off, he told JC Sport: "FC Team will be a tough game for us but if we turn up with the right attitude and desire we can get a result.

"We played them in pre-season and had a closely fought game until they had a man sent off, so I’d fully expect it to be a tight game again.

"They had a very good result last week and will be full of confidence coming into this game. We know their strengths and their weaknesses and hopefully we can exploit these early on. If we start bright and get on the front foot I expect us to control the game and hopefully get our first win on the board."

The first 20 minutes will be key for me. If FC Team grab one early doors, confidence will kick in and I can see them finishing the derby all smiles.

JC team news: Eitan Ben Zion returns but Richard Segal and Ben Sollosi miss out for FC Team who otherwise name the same squad as last week.

Venue - Ark Academy

JC star man: David Cohen (FC Team)

DC Prediction: Team 3 Bears 1

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BORUSSIA BARNET vs TEMPLE FORTUNE

Daniel Garfinkle gave Borussia Barnet a rude awakening as they went down 7-2 in their opener last weekend.

Bradley Papier and Sam Sharer shouldn't read too much into that result and they will relay a positive message to rally their troops ahead of the visit of Temple Fortune.

Sam Lipton and Michael Kenley, two players with Premier Division experience, scored their goals and the pair will be key for Borussia this season, as will goalkeeper Joe Botchin, formerly of Oakwood.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Borussia joint-manager Bradley Papier told JC Sport: "We got absolutely turned over and it was a terrible day for us. Ffair play to Chigwell, they deserved it completely.

"We have to turn it around with a better performance this week against a good side who took points of Bears last week.

"We know we’re in for a battle and the boys should be prepared to give everything to bounce back after last week."

But they shouldn't expect any favours from a Fortune team who gave the Bears a good contest last weekend. In Eshed Rahav and goalkeeper Ed Bloom, they have two players who will ensure they are competitive, with the physical presence of Danny Sherman up top.

"I’m ready for another tough game," Fortune boss Simon Linden told JC Sport. "I reckon that Barnet will be a strong team - I don’t care what happened against Chigwell, I put that down to Chigwell being a class team.

"So, my expectation from my Fortune team is to dig in and show the same level of commitment as last week in order to try and get something out of the fixture. Last week was very good and it’s important that we build on that performance."

I can see this coming down to small details, with Borussia edging it.

JC team news: Ethan gold, Sam Lipton and Oliver Lewin have all been ruled out with injuries picked up last week. Ollie Hart is out of the country at a wedding. Apart from that , "everyone should be available although Jack Mattey and Ben Bellman ar 50/50 at the moment".

Fortune "have a couple in and a couple out from last week's squad".

BORUSSIA (squad): Joe Botchin, Adam Freedman, Daniel Lee, Ben Bellman, Jack Mattey, Joseph Eskenazy, Dan Moses, Oliver Smith, Danny Shina, Mitchell Gerber, Nathan Rosenthal, Scott Greenfield, Josh Pampel, Oron Sheldon, Michael Kenley, Joe Woolf

Venue - Bridgestone Arena

JC star man: Ben Bellman (Borussia)

DC Prediction: Borussia 2 Fortune 1

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FAITHFOLD GREEN vs HAMPSTEAD DUCKS

"I hope it goes to plan". Those were the wary words of Faithfold player-manager Ben Kfir ahead of Sunday's opener against Hampstead Ducks.

Kfir's Faithfold toiled generally last season, but fresh starts and all that ... opportunity knocks for his class of 2019/20.

Excitement is building in the Ducks' squad ahead of their first-ever outing in the Maccabi League. And we'll all know a bit more about them come Sunday lunchtime.

Venue - Tempsford Green

JC star man: Ben Kfir (Faithfold)

DC Prediction: Faithfold 2 Ducks 1

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PARIS SAINT-JEWMAIN vs CLUB DE CHIGWELL

Daniel Garfinkle propelled Club De Chigwell to a hugely impressive victory over Borussia Barnet, and now he is ready to pile more misery on another new team with a famous European name.

Garf is odds-on winning the Division Two Golden Boot and he will fancy adding to his three-goal tally from the 7-2 thrashing, in which Joe Klein, Harrison Grant, Adam Cole and Stanley Offord joined him on the scoresheet.

Chigwell have their tails up but they must remain focused and patient ahead of a long trip, and a ground that can be hard to find.

Vice-captain Joshua Dobias told JC Sport: "We know what we have to do, we've sat down and thought about the way we want to play this season and that came through in the game against Barnet last week.

"We now need to push on from the result and getting a winning run going. PSJ had a strong pre-season and fully expect them to be at it from kick-off and make it a tough game. If we stick to our game-plan we hope to come away with three points."

Paris Saint-Jewmain had no answer to the ruthless streak of FC Team. They came up against a class act in the shape of Connor Perl, but will find Garfinkle a totally different proposition. He excels in drifting in off the should of the last defender, and once he gets past him it usually only ends one way.

Indeed PSJ couldn't have asked for two tougher opponents, so they will need to try and find a way to frustrate the Essex boys on Sunday.

JC team news: Chigwell have "a few niggles from last week’s game but hopefully they will all past their fitness tests and be available for Sunday'. They will definitely be without Joe Klein for a few weeks and also Matt and Nathan Sugar for the game but they welcome back Sam Stein, Charlie Cohen and Jack Pentol-Levy into the squad, "who will give us pace and dynamism in the attacking third".

Venue - Brunel uni

JC star man: Charlie Cohen (Chigwell)

DC Prediction: PSG 1 CDC 5

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SCRABBLE vs WEST HAMDILLAH

Scrabble boss Jon Yantin has added several quality players to what is now undoubtedly the most experienced squad in the MGBSFL.

But they will be like a box of chocolates this season - as their rivals will never know what they are going to get until the respective cheder and challah-runs have been sorted. They will guarantee mascots and will have a real family feel about them, with several of the next generation in the stands to watch their dads give their Sunday best.

James Cartmell has been added to their ranks following the demise of North London Raiders Masters. Alex Bourne, Bradley Lazarus and Paul Lenchner could feature in a star-studded front line, with Matty Kleinman pulling the strings. Also look out for Max Radford and Hadley Silver who will provide some silky skills and firepower for a team who still love their fix of Sunday morning football.

West Hamdillah - welcome to the league. A nice first fixture for another of the league's new boys.

Venue - JCoSS

JC star man: Alex Bourne (Scrabble)

DC Prediction: Scrabble 2 West Hamdillah 0

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MATCHDAY ONE REVIEW

DANNY CARO'S MATCHDAY ONE AWARDS

TEAM OF THE WEEK

GOAL OF THE WEEK Sacha Nusenbaum (Camden Park)

SAVE OF THE WEEK Joe Nyman (Faithfold White)

QUOTE OF THE WEEK Simon Linden (Temple Fortune)

MANAGER OF THE WEEK: James Rose (Club De Chigwell)

REFEREE OF THE WEEK: Martin Lavender (Oakwood vs Faithfold White)

YOUR GUIDE TO THE MGBSFL SEASON 2019/20