By, Danny Caro
15 min read
ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
Find out how MSFL teams have been preparing for the new season.
Sunday, August 28
Faithfold A 2 Montana Boca United 2
Strikes from new signing Simon Lindell and Gary Cohen saw Montana finish on level terms with Faithfold at the Hive.
Mike Pearson bagged a brace for Faithfold.
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Brixton Old Boys A 5 Southgate Harmen B 2
Three goals from Jamie Kent plus two from Rob Hershkorn saw Brixton run out comfortable winners.
Brixton's Rob Blackman told JC Sport: "This was a strong performance in a game where we missed lots of chances. In the end, we still came through comfortable winners."
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Brixton Boys B 4 Faithfold 3
Brixton battled to a victory and felt it could of been more. Two more goals from Stefan Owide, making it seven goals in three games in his pre-season, got the ball rolling. Dan Sherman and Jack Selt sealed the win.
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Chigwell Athletic 9 Athletico Bilbaum 0
A five-goal blitz from Jamie Fox paved the way for Chigwell's 9-0 demolition of Bilbaum.
Player-manager Richard Slater (2), Dan Castle and Craig Pearl finished the job.
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Faithfold B 4 Inter Borehamwood 3
Adam Grossman maintained his excellent pre-season form with two goals in a seven-goal thriller.
The Faithfold marksman hit the target for the ninth time with two excellent finishes at the Hive.
Daniel 'Sven' Edjelman chipped in with a 25-yard screamer with Saul Blumberg also on target.
The win came on the back of a 4-4 draw against Faithfold C.
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Los Blancos 1 FC Team B 0
A strike from summer signing David 'D-Suds' Sudwarts saw Los Blancos edge past FC Team. Sudwarts finished emphatically to cap a great team move. Sami Birnbaum impressed down the right wing, whilst there were no teething problems for new pairing of Josh Colman and Eddy Nathan.
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Wednesday, August 24
Glenthorne United B 2 Chigwell Athletic 6
A treble from Daniel Castle gave the Chigs East London bragging rights following a goal-fest against Glenthorne B. Glenn Michaels (2) and Jamie Fox sealed the win.
Glenthorne's goals came through Ashley Rubin.
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Sunday, August 21
Brixton Old Boys A 3 Redbridge Jewish Care A 0
Two goals from Rob Hershkorn plus one from Jamie Kent sealed a great performance for John Nitka's men against an below-par Redbridge who rarely looked like scoring.
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Brixton Old Boys B 3 Redbridge Jewish Care C 3
A six-goal thriller featured goals for Brixton from Stefan Owide (2) and Matt Tahan.
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FC Team 5 Woodford Wanderers 2
Mitch Young's troops continued preparations for the new season with an impressive win over Division One new boys Woodford.
A hat-trick from Richard Salmon plus two from Shai Davidi sealed the win.
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Blizzard Storm 7 Team JLGB 2
The Storm were in seventh heaven against JLG following strikes from recent signing Shai Revivo (3), Simon Linden, Hagai, Colet and an own goal.
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Faithfold A 5 Southgate FC 0
The Superhoops crushed Southgate FC with strikes from Mike Pearson, Daryl Phillips, James Frener, Lorian Madanes and Howitz.
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FC Team A 4 London Lions 1
Strikes from Shai Davidi (2), James Korn and Daniel Cohen helped FC Team run out comfortable winners over the Lions.
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North West Neasden C 4 North London Raiders C 1
Goals from Philip Benson, Sam Cirucel, an Adam Levene penalty and Joel Kanutin sealed a good victory.
NWN player-manager Louis Taylor told JC Sport: "I was happy how we moved the ball around, particularly in the second half. A good run out and one week closer to the start of the season."
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Brady A 2 Norstar A 2
With both sides missing key players, a draw was probably the fair result at Little Bushey Lane.
The game got off to a slow start with both teams nursing niggling injuries. An even half saw the visitors hold their own against the Premiership newboys until suicidal defending saw Kane Swerner nip in and score the opener past the hapless Ben De La Fuente in the Norstar goal. Sixty seconds later it was 2-0 with Swerner again capitalising on another moment of madness in the Norstar ranks.
As the heads cleared, so the performance lifted and Simon Perlmutter hit the post before De La Fuente saved a penalty from him just before half time. Some harsh words from the gaffer at half time prompted a third second-half comeback in as many weeks. Zak McLeod's ambitious chip lead to Oli Colmans carrying the ball over the line, before Josh Green scored the equaliser after a neat throughball from man-of-the-match Jonny Kay.
The future looks bright for Brady and Norstar after putting in good performances despite both missing 5 or 6 key players.
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North West Neasden 9 Glenthorne United A 3
Neasden continued their good form in pre-season with a 9-3 win over second division side Glenthorne A. The game was really over at half time but Glenthorne produced at spirited second half performance.
Four goals from Lee Cash, TJ KetermanRob Lerner and Jason Lindsey completed the scoring.
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Faithfold A 6 Chigwell Athletic 3
A hat-trick from Mike Pearson plus one apiece from Daryl Phillips, Dan Perkins and new signing Paul Sammeroff wrapped up a deserved victory for the Superhoops.
Assistant-manager Daryl Phillips told JC Sport: "We were always in control but let in three sloppy goals that we will have to work on."
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Temple Fortune A 7 Boca Jewniors 1
Four goals from Terry Chamberlain helped Fortune complete their pre-season friendlies by defeating Fourth Division newcomers Boca Jewniors 7-1 at Clitterhouse Playing Fields. Missing quite a few regular players, the Firsts brought in a few guests and made very hard work of a first half which should have seen a healthy lead, such was Fortune's ovevrall domination. Boca rode their luck after a series of very close shaves including three efforts kicked off the line and trailed to just a solitary goal after 20 minutes, netted by the impressive Chamberlain. Somehow, against the run of play, Boca equalised close to half-time with practically their only shot on target during the first period. The second half continued where the opening one left off, with Fortune bombarding the Boca goal. Following a few more near misses on the Boca goal, Chamberlain scored a second after 60 minutes quickly followed by Jason Miller's first goal for the Club to make it 3-1. This seemed to knock the steam out of the opposition and they did well to escape with just seven put past them, Fortune hitting the woodwork on several occasions and the goalkeeper pulling of a series of fine saves. Chamberlain added two more whilst Miller, with a sumptuous first-time control and finish, and a delightful chip by Jon Fisher, completed the scoring.
Fortune boss Lee Fegan said: "I thought the lads did well. The effort and commitment was very good and they kept going despite a frustrating first half in which we should have been out of sight. For all of Boca's effort, it could have been a cricket score but overall it was a pleasing run-out for everyone."
Vice-captain Dan Natoff said: "A great performance against Boca. Yes, the opposition were not that good, but our approach and attitude were spot on. We fought for, and won, every ball. We played some great football in places and the energy and commitment levels were 100%. Whilst we can't play Boca Jewniors every week, we can certainly have the same approach and desire to win every week."
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Hendon United Sports Club A Oakwood A
This friendly was abandoned after 43 minutes due to a series injury to a Hendon player who suffered a broken and dislocated ankle following an awkward fall.
Oakwood joint-manager Ric Blank told JC Sport: "Oakwood extend deepest sympathies to Yoel Nael who got very seriously injured playing for Hendon in a friendly against us today. We wish him speedy recovery and all the best."
Referee Ian Viner said: "The player was in a bad way but the Ambulance service were fantastic."
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SPEC 3 North London Raiders Masters 2
SPEC defeated Raiders Masters 3-2 with a brace from Dan Cohen and another from Craig Cohen.
Elliot Wallis was in superb form whilst Michael Rhodes made a couple of excellent saves in goal to help SPEC to the win.
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Shirley Park 6 Team JLGB 1
Playing with nine men proved no obstacle for Shirley Park as they crushed Team JLGB 6-1, with goals from Stefan Benfredj (2), Dave Lusman (2), Dan Beckwith and Jamie Bushell.
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Brixton Old Boys 2 Southgate Harmen A 1
Brixton beat Harmen in a shortened friendly due to an injury.
Brixton Robert Blackman told JC Sport: "Best wishes to the Southgate player who went off in an ambulance."
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Shirley Park 8 Maccabi Masters Select XI 2
A hat-trick from Simon Shelley, a double from Nicky Plotnek and further strikes from Dan Oade, Jamie Bushall and Jon Summers helped Shirley Park to a comfortable 8-2 win over a Maccabi Masters Select XI.
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Norstar A 2 North London Raiders B 2
Eli Houri scored twice as Norstar A held Premiership new boys NL Raiders B at Ark Academy.
David Dinkin gave Raiders the lead, against the run of play, by winning and scoring a penalty at the end of the first half.
Raiders started to impose themselves far more in the second half with the introduction of Adam Joselyn in midfield but Norstar pegged them back after Jonny Kay slotted the ball through a tiny gap in the Raiders defence for Houri to score with a neat finish.
The visitors regained the lead through David Esterkin after a mix-up in the Norstar defence before Houri again brought Norstar level tapping in from a Josh Green cross at the back post.
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Jewventus 1 Norstar B 5
Despite going a goal down, Norstar clawed their way back to claim a comfortable 5-1 victory over Jewventus at Chase Lodge.
The home team scored first after some suspect marking from a set piece, but a fired-up Norstar B then proceeded to fill their boots scoring some exceptional team and individual efforts.
Jonathan Kay equalised to make it 1-1 at the break and in the second half Harry Abrams, Nick Benson and a Simon Perlmutter brace completed an emphatic victory - the B's first of pre-season.
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SPEC 7 UJIA 2
The Bananas continued their pre-season preparations with a comprehensive win over Division 3 hopefuls UJIA at Rowley Lane.
Midfield terrier Elliott 'Hothead' Wallis got SPEC off to the best possible start with a 25-yard bullet into the bottom corner after the Bananas had started brightly.
A fine team move set up by C.Cohen and finished with aplomb by D.Cohen followed shortly after with a Simon Murray rocket into the top corner putting SPEC 3-0 up within 20 minutes.
Murray’s celebration showed all the passion that Conway will be expecting from his players this season and from then on there was no looking back.
A penalty gave UJIA hope before a Lesner solo effort saw him embark on a mazy run from inside his own half and ended with a delightful lob.
A Berlin bullet put the game more or less out of reach at half time with Spec four goals clear.
A much-improved UJIA came out of the tunnel for the second half with Jeremy Teacher giving his midfield compatriots a strict lesson in pass and move! However it was SPEC again who showed ruthlessness in front of goal, this time Bookatz smashing into the roof of the net to open his account for the season.
UJIA pulled a goal back with a powerful Matt Radstone header, but the combative
midfielder decided not to celebrate against his former side.
Prolific frontman Adam Lenz had the game’s last laugh, beating the offside trap to slot SPECs seventh goal of the day.
The Bananas, watched/inspired by Rhodes's Mum, Director of Football Paul Lesner and trillionaire tycoon sponsor Jeremy Lawrence, will again be pleased with their morning’s work.
Rhodes, Levy, Berlin, Hecht and Lee at the back were solid whilst Yuval and Adam 'bulldog' Wilson will be giving Conway a selection headache as the season proper fast approaches.
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FC Team A 5 Temple Fortune A 0
Strikes from Craig Edwards (2), Richard Salmon, Shai Davidi and Jake Weiner eased FC Team A to a 5-0 success over Temple Fortune A
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Brixton A 2 Southgate Harmen 1
Brixton A beat Southgate Harmen A 2-1 in a shortened friendly Sunday due to an injury. Best wishes to the Southgate player who went off in an ambulance.
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Old Albanians 0 North London Raiders A 3
Two goals from Jamie Wolfson plus an own goal earned the Raiders a deserved victory at Chase Lodge.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 12
FC TEAM A 6 OAKWOOD 0
Hat-tricks from Craig Edwards and Richard Salmon earned FC Team a comfortable win at Gosling Park.
FC Team player-manager Mitch Young told JC Sport: "This was a superb performance full of great football, great levels of fitness and great team play. To put a performace out like that against a fairly decent Oakwood side at this early stage was very pleasing."
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11
North West Neasden A 3 Camden Park 0
Neasden played a young energetic and well-organised Camden side on Wednesday night at Hatfield. Neasden dominated play for the majority of the game and created a whole host of chances. They could not break their stubborn opponents down until midway into the second half - a 25-yard strike from Jonny Haik and two goals from Lee Cash completed the win.
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SPEC 0 North London Raiders B 0
MSFL new boys SPEC and Premier Division newcomers North London Raiders B played out a well-contested and hard fought goalless draw on a mild evening under the Borehamwood FC 3G pitch floodlights.
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 7
North West Neasden A 2 Chigwell Athletic 3
Strikes from Richard Slater, Dan Castle and Jamie Fox helped Chigwell come from behind twice to beat a mixed Neasden team.
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Faithfold A 6 Camden Park 1
A brace from Mike Pearson eased the Superhoops past a new-look Camden team.
With new summer signings Paul Sammeroff and Shuey Mirwis making their debuts for Faithfold, further strikes from Daryl Phillips with a long-range special, Alex Kaye and two own goals completed the win.
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Temple Fortune A 0 Hendon United Sports Club A 7
The Hammers warmed-up for the new season with an emphatic victory over a makeshift Fortune team that featured several trialist at Clitterhouse Playing Fields.
New signing Danny Kon (2), Alex Rosenthal (2), Greg Corin (2) and Avi Korman were the marksmen for Hendon.
Hendon boss David Garbacz told JC Sport: "We have completed our second pre-season signing in snapping up Danny Kon from Los Blancos.
"We tend to score a lot of goals from midfield but maybe the one position we have been lacking recently is a true out and out goal-scorer. We think Danny will be able to fill that role this year. He is young and hungry with a great eye for goal and a natural finisher. Together with Ben Lauffer, they both are tremendous additions to the squad this year.
"We hope to complete our pre-season business this week with one more signing but will only confirm once that has been done."
Fortune manager Lee Fegan: "It was a very difficult fixture to throw players who had never played together into but this is all a learning curve and shows them what to expect if we are to reach the Premier in time. There were positives to be drawn from it despite the result. But that's why we play these games – to find out what people have to offer."
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FC Team 4 A Los Blancos 2
FC Team A won a six-goal thriller against ambitious Los Blancos.
Shai Davidi, Richard Salmon, Jon Breger and Craig Edwards were the marksmen for Team.
Ariel Weinstein and Joel Kutner were on target for Joel Minsky's Whites.
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Glenthorne United B 2 Redbridge Jewish Care XI 0
Glenthorne B ran out comfortable 2-0 winners against an RJC XI which included three Premier League winners from last season. Team GB bronze winner Steve Summers, RJC captain Adam Hakimi and midfield engine Danny Hakimi all played but could not contain the disciplined and solid Glenthorne.
New Signing Andy 'Cousin' Levy opened the scoring after a great through ball from Craig Sandford which saw Levy take a great touch and guide it beyond Ben Rosenthal.
Glenthorne kept knocking at the door but missed a hatful of chances due to the brilliance of Rosenthal. Another new signing, James Rubin secured the victory after good work from Jamie Crawford.
Thornes joint-manager Sam Rosenthal told JC Sport: "The boys were fantastic today. We defended extremely well and kept their big names quiet. We are getting stronger and we feel a great togetherness already. We are working on things in training and then taking them on to the pitch which is great to see."
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Dynamo 6 North London Raiders A 2
The Raiders were well-beaten by a Dynamo team from the London Cypriot League Division One at Old Chomleans. Andrew McMaster and Jamie Wolfson netted for Raiders.
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Brady Maccabi A 3 Redbridge Jewish Care A/B 2
Two goals from Josh Hershman plus one from summer signing Jonny Ellis helped Josh Rosenfeld's Brady overcome a combined team from Redbridge.
Brady boss Josh Rosenfeld told JC Sport: "We send our best to one of the Redbridge boys who we believe broke his arm. Everyone from Brady wish him a safe recovery."
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North London Raiders B 4 Glenthorne United A 3
Two goals and two assists from David Dinkin helped Raiders B overcome the Thornes in a seven-goal thriller.
Dan Lipman, Garry Tiller and Dan Lassman were the marksmen for Glenthorne who also missed a penalty through Scott Jay.
Thornes joint player-manager Dan Lipman told JC Sport: "It was a tight game but we gave a great account of ourselves and once again proved that we are more than capable of competing at a higher level.
"We bossed the first half. Made a poor start to the second. But pushed for 90 minutes and could have walked away with a draw in the dying moments of the game. It was a very promising start."
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Norstar A 7 Norstar B 3
A sensational second-half performance saw the A's come from 3-1 down to win 7-3 in Norstar's annual curtain-raiser.
Eli Houri put the A's ahead with a stunning strike from outside the area before Jonathan Kay equalised from the penalty spot after new signing Jono Gaon had been fouled.
The B's forged ahead after Houri scored an own-goal from a long Dan Caplan throw, and extended their lead when Kay completed a fine team move with a super strike passed stand-in keeper Ben Cherkas.
Within 10 minutes of the restart the A's were level after strikes from Jonny Isbitt and player-manager Phil Peters.
A combination of tired legs and injuries took its toll on the B's who struggled through the last 20 minutes with a make-shift team and two more Houri goals, to complete his hat-trick, as well as one from David Shamash saw the A's to a comfortable victory.
Lots of positives for both teams to take from the game but plenty of work still to do.
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North West Neasden C 3 Team JLGB 1
A first ever Neasden goal from Daniel Langer, who won and converted a second half penalty, was one of the highlights in this pre-season friendly. Two goals from player manager Louis Taylor sealed the win.
Prior to the match, Neasden unveiled new signing Olli Joseph from the now defunct Heath Banta. Taylor told JC Sport: "Ollie played really well in his first game for the club."
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L'Equipe 1 Temple Fortune B 5
Two goals from the evergreen David Sawyer steered Temple Fortune B to a comfortable win at Woodford Park.
An encouraging performance from Fortune, who led 4-0 inside the opening 19 minutes, was capped by further strikes from debutant Saul Stern, Byron Watkins and Dan Markeson.
L'Equipe grabbed a consolation on the stroke of half time.
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3
North West Neasden A 4 North London Raiders A 0
Strikes from Jonny Haik, Lee Cash, Bradley Sharp and Jamie Shaw earned Neasden an emphatic victory at Hatfield.
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London Maccabi Lions 1 North London Raiders B 3
Premier Division new boys Raiders B warmed-up for the new season with an impressive victory at Rowley Lane.
Strikes from David Dinkin, Jonny Hesselberg and Gilad Kestenbaum saw them home.
Yoav Lebens replied for the Lions.
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SUNDAY, JULY 31
FC Team A 4 Borehamwood 2000 1
Goals from Matt Drage, Danny Moss, Richard Salmon and an own goal earned Premier Division new boys FC Team A a comfortable win over opponents from the Barnet Sunday Premier Legaue at Clitterhouse. Borehamwood had made it 1-1 with a first-half penalty.
FC Team manager Mitch Young said: "I'm pleased with the result. The most important thing was our fitness. We gave the opposition no time to play and when we had the ball we looked to punish them. There are many things to work on though and we look forward to our next friendly match."
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North London Raiders A 3 Brixton Old Boys A 2
A Nicky Woolf double, including a late winner, saw the Raiders get pre-season off to a winning start as they edged past last season's Division two runners-up Brixton at Borehamwood 3G. James Fattal scored the other.
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Brady Maccabi A 9 Hendon United Sports Club B 1
New signings Jonny Ellis, Jon Green and Alex Hershman were among the scorers as Brady warmed up for the Premier Division season with an emphatic victory over the Hornets. It was something of a family affair as Alex and Josh Hershman claimed hat-tricks.
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Send details on your club's pre-season to dcaro@thejc.com