HMH completed a Maccabi GB Southern Football League (MGBSFL) League and Cup double in the most dramatic of fashion on Saunday evening.
The Premier Division Champions were up against fellow top-flight side Yallatasary, and a tense encounter had seen them leading 1-0 for most of the tie tanks to a goal from man-of-the-match Thomas Prais.
However, in the most dramatic of final minutes, Yallatasary levelled from Max Davis’ penalty with one minute remaining, only for Oscar Wagner to then score the winner in the 95th minute to secure a famous 2-1 win.
Delighted with the effort of the side, Jake Norton, one of a trio of their management team, said: “It was a great performance from a wounded HMH side. After 20 minutes, we were left with only one fit player on our bench, we were missing three or four key players from the team, but this didn’t phase the boys.
“We were solid in defence and moved the ball well controlling large parts of the game. Yalla without doubt threw some big punches and we relied on the ever-present Jake Lewis to pull of some big saves. But as the game went on, our quality and experience showed all over the pitch. It was a chaotic end to the game with them equalising and then us snatching it at the death, it certainly got my heartrate going but was a great spectacle!”
With more silverware to reflect back on after another successful campaign, fellow joint-boss Alex Moss said: “It’s been another wonderful season. It was always going to be so tough to reset and go again after last season’s historic success, but without doubt our aim was to retain the league and fight on all fronts for as long as possible. We have done this and have come home with a double, this team has become a winning machine and we’re still hungry for more.”
As to what it means to keep adding to the club’s trophy cabinet and what they’re looking to achieve next year, the third of the managerial trio, Eli Wegrzyn added: “To put HMH at the top of Jewish football’s pyramid is a great feeling. This is a fabulous club providing a welcoming and competitive space for young Jewish boys and girls to play their football. Our moto of Play. Grow. Belong. is truly how we live our footballing lives, with focus on competitive football, but not losing sight of what’s truly important. Community and belonging.
“This team without doubt has stated its claim amongst the best to play in this league and we look forward to partaking in another competitive league next year. Until then, we’ll have a wonderful summer.”
Delighted with the performance of his players, even in defeat, Yallatasary manager Buddy Smith said: “I couldn’t be prouder of my boys, the first half was the best football we’ve ever played as a football club. We were so dominant physically, created countless clear-cut chances but just couldn’t find the back of the net. They came out a different team I the second half, but I honestly believe if that game is played 10 more times, we win eight of them. But that’s football, the beauty of the sport and why we all love it so much.
“I feel we deserved to win which is why this really hurts, but I’m really proud of my group for how much they've given me this year and for those boys who’ve stepped up for injured players that we’ve been missing.”
Still with plenty to play for – including a Peter Morrison Trophy final this coming Sunday, he added: “There is no bigger tournament you can win as a Jewish club so the time for reflection will come after that game.”
Also celebrating on Sunday were Sukkotingham Forest, who completed the second part of a potential league and cup treble by beating Rapid Viennas 2-0 to win the Barry Goldstein Trophy. Goals from Dillon Caine and Eytan Millan saw the Division One champions land their second piece of silverware for the season, and they will face 40 Year Wanderers in the final of the David Wolff Division One Cup at the end of the month where they will be hoping to claim an historic treble.
Manager Sam Nagioff said: “It wasn’t our most convincing performance against a motivated Viennas, however our quality on the day showed as we were still comfortably able to get the result.
“We came into the season wanting to win silverware again, and I’m very proud of the boys for another brilliant season so far, especially showing our worth knocking out a premier division side in the process.”
And with the possibility of more silverware on the horizon, he added: “A treble in our second season would be a great achievement for the club, especially to win the David Wolff Division One Cup, which would be that extra bit special and we’re confident we can get the job done against Wanderers.”
Viennas manager Louis Jays said: “We couldn’t have tried any better, we were the better team for the last 75 minutes of the game but just couldn’t finish our chances. On another day we would have scored three or four, but it wasn’t meant to be.
Satisfied with their season overall, he added: “We would have liked to finish with some silverware but will have a brilliant pre-season and be back even stronger next year. Next seasons our aim is to win the league.”
Meanwhile, the finalists for this season’s David Wolff Division Two Cup were also confirmed on Sunday morning with the staging of both semi-finals. Chopped Villa secured the more emphatic pathway into the final as they came away from Beitar Bushey with a 4-0 win. Mikhael Sassooni gave them a 15th minute lead, and the tie was all but wrapped up when Charlie Dagul added a second a minute before the break. The tie was put beyond doubt in five second half minutes when Jayden Groden and Oliver Dagul both added their names to the scoresheet.
They will meet Schlepfield Wednesday in the final, though their last-four tie against Redbridge Jewish Care B was a much closer-fought affair as they took the tie 5-4 on penalties after the sides played out a 2-2 draw, Ollie Rokenson’s last-gasp equaliser for Wednesday taking the tie to spot kicks. Hero of the shoot-out was Wednesday goalkeeper Jamie Gordon, who’s two stops saw the hosts progress. Daniel Gillary had scored both of Redbridge’s goals.
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