Hampstead Ducks’ hopes of playing top-flight Jewish football next season was reinforced on Sunday morning as they closed in on a top-two spot in the Maccabi GB Southern Football League (MGBSFL) Division One table.
Zack Cowan’s second half strike proved to be the difference as they came away from Temple Fortune with a 1-0 win, the victory seeing them move to within two points of second place Fortune, though also having a game in hand over them.
Believing they’re now in control of their own destiny in terms of playing Premier Division football next season, Ducks manager Jacob Summerfield said: “A top-two finish is now ours to lose. We know how big of a result today was and will take it game by game to ensure we finish as high as possible. We next face leaders Sukkotingham Forest and given the way we’re playing, we feel like we could beat anyone on our day.”
Beating Fortune by the solitary goal suggests a tight game, though Summerfield doesn’t believe that was the case. “It was less close than the scoreline suggests”, he said. “I feel we were in full control all game and but for some excellent goalkeeping and wasteful attacking, it could have been more. Temple Fortune are a top-quality side so to win here at their home is a huge boost.”
Speaking of his side’s performance and what in particular pleased him about it, he added: “We changed to a midfield five to deal with the large pitch and it worked a treat. The boys worked tirelessly off the ball and listened to the imperious James Remo, who ran the show in centre midfield. Having five in the middle allowed him to manage the game, everything flowed through him. He was touch and go with a back injury so to have him put in a man-of-the-match display was the most pleasing thing of all.”
Reflecting on his side’s loss, Fortune manager James Lee: “It was a tight game but we needed some quality up top which we lacked due to the severe injury list we have at the moment. Hopefully with the long break we’ve got now, we’ll get our regulars back in the New Year.”
Yallatasary moved up into third spot in the Premier Division table as they came away from Athletico Bears with a 4-2 win. Freddie Land scored twice, with Sammy Kebede and Sammy Garcia scoring their other two. Manager Buddy Smith said: “It was an incredible team performance and a really strong attacking display, we came into the game knowing they’d given us a tough time in pre-season, so we didn’t take this game lightly. We had a full squad, with a really strong bench, meaning we had great depth to bring on which is a great reflection of where we are right now. Today was about picking up our form and getting three points which we did.” George Saffer and Zacki Doumou scored for Bears.
Division Two leaders Real Masmid showed the true mettle of potential champions as they fought back from 2-0 down to claim a thrilling 3-2 win at Scrabble. Ethan Gold and Jake Rosenberg had fired Scrabble into a 2-0 lead, but second half strikes from Joshua Bharier, Josh Abraham and Mikey Selby – the latter two coming in the last ten minutes – sealed what could prove to be a pivotal three points. Jake Rosenberg and Ethan Gold scored for Scrabble, with manager Ollie Sugarman saying: “I’m incredibly proud of the team, for 70 minutes we were outstanding and fully deserved our 2–0 lead before fatigue set in.
Their nearest challengers, Redbridge Jewish Care B, continue to hang onto their coattails, as Charlie Marks, Ayton Cohen, Daniel Lewis-Green, Daniel Gillary and Harrison Nathan all scored in a 5-0 win at Schlepfield Wednesday. The win sees them stay four points behind Masmid.
Three teams booked their places into the semi-finals of the Cyril Anekstein Cup. Reigning champions HMH eased their way into the last four as goals from Bradley Dryer, Samuel Monjack and Clark Norton steered them to a 3-1 win at Mill Hill Minyan, while an all-Premier Division tie between Geez Park Rangers and Hendon United went the distance, before Rangers eventually prevailed 4-3 on penalties, after the sides played out a 1-1 draw, Michael Anthony Perkins scoring Rangers’ goal in regulation time.
Individual performance of the day was Theo Tobias, who scored four goals in Beitar Bushey’s 6-3 win at Chopped Villa. Lawrence Rosenberg and Daniel Salamon scored their other two, Jack Rodol’s double along with Cobi Jacobs’ effort hit back in reply for Villa.
It’s as you were at the top of the Maccabi Masters League as the top two picked up three points to extend their lead at the top.
Maccabi London Lions remain four points clear at the summit, though they had to rely on Danny Reuben’s strike to earn them a 1-0 win at Brady, converting Barry Silkman’s cross to maintain their 100% winning start.
Second-place Scrabble were more comprehensive in their win as a hat-trick from Oli Kenner saw them on their way to a 7-0 home win over EHRS Stonegrove. Mitch Young scored twice on his debut, with Jamie Kaye and Andy Miller also on target.
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