Stopinsky won their first-ever Peter Morrison Trophy tie on Sunday morning, though the Maccabi GB Southern Football League (MGBSFL) side were made to battle to the end to secure their place into the second round of the competition.
Only formed in the summer, though parachuted straight to the Premier Division, the new boys raced into a three-goal lead thanks to Joe Bregman’s double and Romeo Mimouni’s strike, though for all their dominance, were left to hold on for the win after Rapid Viennas scored twice in the last ten minutes to set up a grandstand finish, only to ultimately fall just short.
Reflecting on their performance, Stopinsky manager Jacob Brand said: “We absolutely blew them away in the first half and should have been five or six-nil up at the break. Our heads dropped in the second half which I wasn’t too happy about, but we dug deep and got the win.”
Believing the final 3-2 scoreline flattered their opponents, he said: “We had enough chances to make it double figures, but were unfortunate. The difference on the day was the quality of the two sides, and us being capable to keep the ball on the floor and produce some good attacking moments. They are a nice side and we thoroughly enjoyed the battle today.”
Commenting on their start to the season, which currently sees them sitting in sixth place in the top-flight table, he added: “It’s been an extremely tough start, tougher than we could ever have imagined. The division is extremely strong and being a fresh new team, a lot of teams don’t want us to come in and run the show. If we carry on taking our chances, I’m confident we’ll finish in the top-three this season, we have enough threat to beat anyone for example our opening day win at Hendon which no one expected. We’re a good group of lads and we’ll stick together in the difficult times too.”
Viennas, who are currently embroiled in a title race of their own at the top of the Division One table, made a tie of it through late strikes from Jamie Steinberg and Tom Miler and although they weren’t able to complete a spectacular comeback, Louis Jays was proud of the display his teammates put in. He said: “Overall, very happy with the team’s performance. Facing a Premier Division side was never going to be easy, but we stuck to the game plan and maintained our structure throughout the match.
“Trailing 2-0 at the break, we knew we needed to remain committed to our approach, but also be more aggressive and take a few more risks. Having got back into the tie, we unfortunately were down to ten men for the final five minutes, and despite a few more chances, couldn’t find the equaliser.”
While disappointed with Sunday’s result, he is pleased with how their league campaign is going, where they sit eight points off top spot, but with two games in hand. “Key players, Max Aston, Jack Warren, Noah Rosenthal and Tom Miler have been outstanding and have really impressed,” he said. “Our manager Josh Novack has been really pushing the players and making sure we fight every week to give us the best results possible. Our focus remains on taking it one game at a time, and we’ll see where we are in the title race as the season progresses.”
Nine other ties were played, with Sukkotingham Forest being the most emphatic winners, beating Temple Fortune 8-1. Eytan Millan and Josh Summerfield scored two each, with Adam Cahn, Toby Anthony, Jonah Hirschel and an own goal sealing the rout. Stand-in manager Ben Bloomfield said: “It was a dominant and clinical display.” Adam Grossman scored for Fortune, for whom manager James Lee said: “It was a strange game. We matched them for 30 minutes then gave away seven goals in a 25-minute spell. Then we matched them again, but they’re very good.”
A hat-trick from Jack Naftalin inspired Hendon United Sports Club to a 6-1 win over Brady. Rocky Spitzer, Josh Cuby and Yarden Sharifian scored their other three goals.
Stoke Salmon also scored six times as Jamie Smaje’s double helped them on their way to a 6-2 win at Bochur Juniors. James Barnett, Josh Cohen, Adam Burchell and Nathan Schindler also finding the back of the net. Juniors manager Joel Ucko said: “Whilst we were really poor for large spells of the first half, and the game was arguably done as a contest at half-time, I’m proud of the character and freedom that we displayed in the second half.”
One tie went to penalties as Schlepfield Wednesday and Scrabble played out a 3-3 thriller, before the former prevailed 4-2 on spot kicks. Oliver Rokenson scored twice for the victors, with Zack Obrart also on target, before Rokenson, Oliver Simble, Oliver Krushner Joshua Black all successfully converted in the shoot-out. Tommy Rudoni, Zack Morris and Max Cohen scored for Scrabble, with manager Ollie Sugarman saying “I’m very pleased with the performance, it was a well-fought battle that went to the wire. Either team could have won and if the three shots that we had hit the bar were a bit lower, it would’ve been a completely different game.”
Redbridge Jewish Care B comfortably booked their place in the next round as goals from Aytan Cohen, Harrison Nathan, Shai Carmel Brown and Oliver Mehlman saw them ease past 40 Year Wanderers 4-1. Manager Dani Sivan said: “It was total Redbridge domination from start to finish, we were simply unstoppable today.” Sam Holden scored for Wanderers.
Elsewhere, Geez Park Rangers came away from Hampstead Ducks with a 7-4 win, Maccabi London Vets won 2-1 at Chopped Villa, while London Athletico saw off Real Masmid 4-2.
It’s as you were at the top of the Maccabi Masters Football League as the top three sides all secured wins.
Scrabble stay top on goal difference as Oli Kenner’s hat-trick helped them to a 6-1 win at Hendon Harriers. Jamie Kaye scored twice, with Mark Wagman heading in their sixth. Nick Roman grabbed Harriers’ consolation. Maccabi London Lions join them on 15 points, as they continued their 100% winning start, Bradley Lazarus’ double along with strikes from James Abrams and Craig Sandford securing a 4-1 win over Temple Fortune. Simon Black had fired Fortune ahead midway through the first half.
EHRS Stonegrove completed the win for the top trio as Adam Sandzer’s strike and Malcolm Joseph’s penalty saw them beat St John’s Wood Tigers 3-1.
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