Sukkotingham Forest increased their lead at the top of the Maccabi GB Southern Football League (MGBSFL) Division One table to six points on Sunday morning as they beat Temple Fortune 3-0 in the clash of the top two.
Two goals from Josh Summerfield, coupled with Eytan Millan’s strike, saw them claim their fifth league win from seven games, with their first half performance in particular impressing interim manager Dillon Caine.
He said: “I was particularly pleased with the start today. We’ve been slow out the blocks in recent weeks, and a high press from the start worked well today as we went 1-0 up within five minutes, which we carried on building as we ended the half 3-0 up.”
Believing the overall scoreline was a fair reflection, Caine continued: “We had a very strong first half which we were rewarded for, and we wanted to make sure the game was over before they had the chance to come back into the game which we did, which meant we could dominate the second half fairly comfortably.”
Happy with their position at the top of the table, as they edge close to the halfway point of their league campaign, he added: “We’ve had a couple of poor results so far, but the must win games, we have won. We’re hoping for a good cup run, with our first round game of the Peter Morrison Cup coming up and are also looking to win the league cup as well.”
Fortune manager James Lee was left to lament a seriously depleted team which he felt contributed to the eventual outcome. He said: “It was a decent performance against very strong opposition, but unfortunately we’re in the middle of an injury crisis where we’re missing eight regular team members. But I was really happy with the way in which we kept to our principles, pressed them high up the pitch for large periods of the game and played really well through the thirds, but the lack cutting edge cost us today.”
Feeling Forest were well worth the win, but that the 3-0 score ‘may have flattered them’, he said: “I felt we restricted them to having to play the ball in behind but without our usual defenders we struggled with keeping our line where it needed to be and that’s where they found success. On a different day with a fully fit squad, I think the result would have been a lot closer.”
The defeat sees them drop to joint-third in the table, and reflecting on their season to date, he added: “We started the season strong, but have struggled with injuries in recent weeks. My main focus is to play in a way that’s going to give us the best chance of success going forward and with a fully available squad there’s no reason we can’t compete for some form of silverware.”
As a result of that match, Mill Hill Minyan moved up to second spot in the table after they came away from 40 Year Wanderers with a 2-0 win. Rapid Viennas claimed their second league win of the season as they won a seven-goal thriller, beat Brady FC 4-3. Noah Rosenthal scored twice, with Noah Stander and Jamie Steinberg netting their other two. Ben Myers, Facundo Bemaman and Saul Shimoni replied for Brady.
HMH moved joint-top of the Premier Division as they came away from Yallatasary with a 6-2 win. Thomas Prais scored twice, with Ethan Krell, George Goldberg, Zac Summerfield and Saul Norton all getting on the scoresheet.
Real Masmid now have a five-point lead at the top of the Division Two table after they were held to a 1-1 home draw against Chopped Villa. Sammy Letzer had fired the visitors ahead on the half-hour mark, before Avi Markiewicz drew the leaders level after the break.
Their lead has been cut to five points after Redbridge Jewish Care B came away from bottom side Scrabble with a 1-0 win. Harrison Nathan scored the only goal of the day, with manager Dani Sivan saying: “It was a tough one today, the game had its moments with plenty of emotion and a few strong challenges, but what mattered most was that we found a way to come through it. It wasn’t our most controlled performance, but the effort and desire to get the result were there, and that made the difference in the end. Even when things are not perfect, we’re still finding ways to win. The team is starting to build rhythm, the understanding is improving every game, and we are learning how to manage different kinds of matches. In the end, getting those three points was massive. The lads worked hard, dug in when they needed to, and turned a difficult game into another victory. It shows the character that is developing in the group, and that is what matters most.”
Scrabble manager Ollie Sugarman said: “I am proud of the lads. We played the better football, controlled long periods, and showed real discipline under pressure. A lucky bounce was the difference between the teams today.”
Beitar Bushey are up into third spot after they claimed a thrilling 3-2 win at Schlepfield Wednesday thanks to captain Lawrence Rosenberg’s last-minute winner. Nathaniel Fahidi scored their other two goals, the first of which was from the penalty spot. Oliver Rokenson and Benjamin Allen scored for Wednesday.
Bocher Juniors were knocked out of the London Sunday Cup after they were beaten 4-0 by HMT Samsunspor, the current holders of the Middlesex County Cup. Manager Joel Ucko said: “Despite the result we gave a great advert for the MGBSFL.”
Hendon United are out of the London Sunday Challenge Cup after they were beaten 3-0 by South West Alumni of Graveney First.
London Maccabi Lions maintained their 100% winning start in the Maccabi Masters League as they went joint-top of the table alongside Scrabble, after they won at St John’s Tigers. Goals from Steve Summers, Hadley Silver and James Abrams, along with Bradley Lazarus’ penalty earning them a 4-0 win.
EHRS Stonegrove sit below the top two following a thrilling 5-3 win over Hendon Harriers. Graham Meyer’s first half hat-trick had put Harriers 3-1 up, but Michael Patterson’s treble, coupled with strikes from James Cartmell and Steve Krieger saw them to the points.
Temple Fortune claimed their first league win of the season as two goals from Wayne Davidson, along with Stefan Simons’ strike, saw them beat Brady 3-2. Jamie Kent scored twice for the beaten hosts.
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