ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
3 min read
Goals from Kyle Bentwood, Daran Bern and captain Alex Levack earned the Maccabi League Rep Team a 3-0 victory over the North London League as they started the London Inter-League Cup competition in style at the Abrahams Stadium at a foggy Wingate & Finchley.
The Maccabi team went into the game on the back of an eventful 2010 campaign, where they won last season’s Inter-League final, only to lose out after fielding ineligible players. It was clear that the team were out to prove a point with Levack and Babai, two players who also played last season, catching the eye once more.
SEE PHOTOGALLERY FROM THE GAME
But it was North London who made the better start with Maccabi keeper Dan Lee called into action inside the first five minutes, producing a tip over the bar from a speculative strike from outside the box.
Maccabi gradually got into the game with Steve Summers firing wide.
The hosts forged ahead after 12 minutes when a Levack free-kick was headed goalwards by Bentwood. The North London keeper spilled the ball and Bentwood was on hand to bundle the ball home from close range.
Maccabi’s joy was short-lived, however, when centre half Adam Hakimi limped off with a hamstring injury that makes him doubtful for Sunday’s JC Cyril Anekstein Cup tie against Brady Maccabi.
Danny Berg’s troops pressed on though and they doubled the lead midway through the half when a corner from the impressive Alex Olcot was flicked on at the near post by North London Raiders teammate Jamie Wolfson for Bern to nip in and fire in off the underside of the bar. It was no more than Maccabi deserved.
Bern did not last much longer however, as he was forced off with an arm injury following a crude lunge by a North London defender.
Maccabi continued to dominate in the second half and they clinched the match when Babai won a penalty, allowing Faithfold teammate Levack, who had a spot-kick saved by Lee in Sunday’s Premier Division match against Redbridge, to fire home confidently from 12 yards.
Maccabi League manager Danny Berg said: “The performance was excellent from front to back. We matched North London physically, won all our tackles, ran at them and scared them. It could have been four or five.
“North London were very good technically and we knew that we had to match them physically. The game opened up in the last 20 minutes and we looked by far the fitness side."
"This year’s Rep squad looks very strong. He have some good, young players coming through, playing with a core of experienced boys.
“I have a bunch of boys with no egos. They have all been performing well on Sundays in the MSFL and have come together as a unit."
The Maccabi squad are now one game away from reaching another final, and Berg is confident that his group can conquer the Turkish Federation Football League on February 22
Maccabi League: Dan Lee 8, Motti Colman 8, Alex Olcot 9, Alex Levack 8, Adam Hakimi 7 (sub: Josh Bentley 20, 7), Kyle Bentwood 9, Ben Sollosi 7, Paul Babai 8, Steve Summers 7, Jamie Wolfson 7 (sub: Ben Graham 75, 7), Daran Bern 8 (sub: Dovid Korman 38, 7). Subs not used: Dan Cohen, Jacob Gold.
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JC PHOTOGALLERIES:
PREM DIV: FAITHFOLD A vs REDBRIDGE A
PREM DIV: NW NEASDEN A vs HENDON A
DIV 3: FAITHFOLD C vs HOLY MOUNT ZION
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JC MANAGER OF THE WEEK
Alex Schock & Ric Blank (Oakwood)
JC REFEREE OF THE WEEK
Dean Jorden (Jewventus vs Temple Fortune B)
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JC GOAL OF THE WEEK:
1. Neil Tilley (Chigwell Athletic) starting wide left cut in, nutmegging two people across the by line, beat about four players in total and slid home
JC SAVE OF THE WEEK
Reuben John (Jewventus) - a right-handed save at near point blank range
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