Hendon United have vowed to do ‘everything they can’ to win silverware this season – with their sights set on winning a cup double to make up for a disappointing Maccabi GB Southern Football League (MGBSFL) Premier Division campaign.
A powerhouse of Jewish football, the club could finish their league campaign as low as fifth, though are now 90 minutes away from landing a trophy after they booked their place in the final of the Super Cup on Sunday morning.
A stunning six-goal salvo from Jack Naftalin inspired them to a thumping 9-0 win over Bochur Juniors, with goals from Chaim Korman and Josh Harris, coupled with an own goal completing the rout.
Delighted with the team’s performance, acting-manager Rocky Spitzer said: “It was a very strong performance. We turned up with a great attitude and lots of energy, discussed taking the game to the opposition from the start, we successfully did that and kept it up throughout 90 minutes. Overall it was a very dominant display.”
Set to meet Geez Park Rangers in the final, a side who they’ve already faced three times this season, drawing their two league encounters and losing on penalties in the Cyril Anekstein Cup, Spitzer is shutting down any talk of revenge being in the air. “It’s always a great game against them and we are looking forward to it.”
Hoping more that a win will make up for a frustrating season, he added: “It has been a disappointing league campaign where a few bad results in January really hurt us. We always want to win every game we play and it’s no different with this competition and the David Wolff Premier Division Cup, and will be doing everything we can to add those trophies to our cabinet.”
Juniors manager Joel Ucko took full responsibility for his side’s defeat, saying: “It’s on me because I got the midfield shape wrong, I got the balance wrong, and I did not use the squad as well as I should have done. When you are the one who picks the team, sets the game plan and delivers the instructions, and it goes as badly wrong as it did today, especially against a side like Hendon, you get punished. I’m the one who has to take that on the chin, not the players.”
Reflecting back on a season which has seen them regain their Division One status, he added: “I’d say we’ve definitely had a positive season, although the middle part of the campaign nearly put us in a difficult situation in which we had too many poor results and an injury crisis.
“The London Sunday Cup was a brilliant experience for us, and I definitely want us to have another proper run next season. But the big lesson is that we need to start the season properly and sustain performances over 90 minutes, because if we had done that earlier this year, we would have been much higher up the table.
“I’m proud of my team this season. I am hugely grateful to Rabbi Andrew Shaw, who has been an absolute colossus alongside me on the touchline, and to the squad for their application, commitment and willingness to keep going, even when things were difficult.
The plan for next season is to keep growing and to hopefully reach our first cup final, challenge for the Division One title, and above all, have another enjoyable season of football.”
Geez Park Rangers booked their place in the final as Aron Gale’s early strike proved to be the difference as they came away from Yallatasary with a 1-0 win. Rangers’ Max Diamond said: “It was a comfortable and controlled 1-0 win. We should have definitely scored more goals, missed a host of chances but deservedly progress to the final.
“It was a big win for the boys as we advance into our second final of the season. We have a busy May ahead and silverware is well and truly in our sights.”
As to facing Hendon again, he added: “They’re a good side and I’m sure it will be a very competitive final. They’re well organised and always work hard as a collective, so we will need to bring our A game to ensure we come away with the trophy.
“When the spirit is high in the GPR camp, we are confident that we can beat anyone, especially with the quality of our squad at the moment. I am sure we will be right up for the final and we have full belief that we will be lifting the Super Cup this season.”
The four ties in this season’s Barry Goldstein Trophy were also staged on Sunday morning. Rapid Vienna booked their place into the last four, though needed a penalty shoot-out to edge past Temple Fortune. Noah Rosenthal scored twice for Viennas to take them into the penalty shoot-out, where goalkeeper Dan Rose saved one of Fortune’s spot kicks, before Joe Freedman stepped up to convert the winning penalty, as they went through 5-4. The defeat brought to an end to Fortune's 50th season in the MGBSFL, Ben Krieger and Adam Grossman getting their two goals.
There was also a thumping 7-1 win for Brady Maccabi, who comfortably saw off Hampstead Ducks 7-1. Jordan Nathan scored twice, with Jared Garfield, Jordan Sapler, Zak Lewis, Saul Shimoni and Dean Cramer all on target. Elsewhere, a 10-goal thriller saw Stopinsky prevail 6-4 against 40 Year Wanderers.
Two Ben Conway penalties, along with strikes from Dexter Purton and Matti Benedyk replied for Wanderers, for whom manager Sam Anderson said: “A really strong performance against a top side. Plenty of positives to take with us into our last few games.”
Sukkotingham Forest are also through to the last four, and progressed without kicking a ball as Mill Hill Minyan pulled out of their match, therefore forfeiting the tie.
Beitar Bushey consolidated a top-four spot in the Division Two table as Laurence Rosenberg’s hat-trick saw them beat Schlepfield Wednesday 3-1. Wednesday goalkeeper Jamie Gordon played outfield in the second half and netted their consolation. Manager Josh Bond said: “I was disappointed with the result. We put up a good fight with a very depleted team and special mention should go to Jamie.”
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