It was a three-horse race from start to finish in JC MSFL Division Three. In the end, Oakwood B won by a short nose, much to the delight of manager Ian Tussie.
1. OAKWOOD B
Record: Pl, 20, W. 17, D. 1, L. 2, F. 61, A. 16, Pts. 52
Best league result: 1-0 vs FC Team
Biggest league win: 7-1 vs Boca
Worst result: 2-2 vs Hendon
Clean sheet: 10
Games failed to score in: 0
Star men: Oren Hury, Ben Polak, Dave Eden, Eric Lewis
Best signings: Oren Hury, Ben Polak, Dave Eden, Eric Lewis
Top-scorer: Ben Polak 20
DC Rating: Crucial wins over title rivals FC Team C and AC Mill Hill during the run-in pushed the Oaks over the line in a memorable first season. Manager Ian Tussie produced some world-class quotes and on the odd occasion he wasn’t around, results remained strong under Dave Eden. With Oren Hury excelling in between the stick, the mighty Oaks kept 10 clean sheets – the best record in the entire league – and scored in every game. 10/10
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2. FC TEAM C
Record: Pl, 20, W. 16, D. 3, L. 1, F. 70, A. 21, Pts. 51
Best league result: 4-3 vs Oakwood
Biggest league win: 10-1 vs Loughton
Worst result: 1-0 vs Oakwood
Clean sheet: 3
Games failed to score in: 1
Star men: Adam Aminoff, Jacob Symons, David James Cohen, Eitan Ben-Zion
Best signings: David Cohen
Top-scorer: David Joseph Cohen 23
DC Rating: Lost a game less than the champions and believe the only reason they lost the title was because Jewventus folded. A well-oiled machine – the joint-top-scorers in the division – but in the end it just wasn’t meant to be. The main thing is they will be playing second division football and keen to put one over the Oaks. 9/10
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3. AC MILL HILL
Record: Pl, 20, W. 15, D. 2, L. 3, F. 70, A. 24, Pts. 47
Best league result: 2-1 vs Oakwood
Biggest league win: 9-2 vs Chutspah
Worst result: 5-0 vs FC Team
Clean sheet: 6
Games failed to score in: 3
Star men: Ben Zloof
Best signings: Ben Zloof
Top-scorer: Ben Zloof 32
DC Rating: Ben Zloof was the star of the show for ACM who were title contenders from start to finish. Like FC Team C, they beat the champions in a season where a serious injury to player-manager Joe Levy dampened their spirits. A top three finish was rewarded with promotion and Division Two will be all the better with them in it next season. 8/10
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4. FAITHFOLD C
Record: Pl, 20, W. 9, D. 4, L. 7, F. 40, A. 30, Pts. 31
Best league result: 3-0 vs Hendon C
Biggest league win: 7-1 vs Boca
Worst result: 2-2 vs Chutspah
Clean sheet: 6
Games failed to score in: 4
Star men: Boris Simons, Dave Sherman, Farrell Monk
Best signings: Stefan Simons, Farrell Monk
Top-scorer: Ben Simons 13
DC Rating: The most experienced strikeforce in the league was unable to inspire the Superhoops who were never in promotion contention and will be playing in the bottom division again next season. However, there were many positives for manager David Garson whose team could be bolster by the addition of Dan Gordon next season and I’ve heard that as and when that happens, the bookies will make the favourites to win the title. 6/10
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5. HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B
Record: Pl, 20, W. 8, D. 3, L. 9, F. 39, A. 42, Pts. 27
Best league result: 2-2 vs Oakwood B
Biggest league win: 9-1 vs Norstar C
Worst result: 8-3 vs Mill Hill
Clean sheet: 4
Games failed to score in: 5
Star men: Alex Elf
Best signing: Alex Elf
Top-scorer: Alex Elf 26
DC Rating: It was a funny old season for Hendon C. Record signing Alex Elf was in a league of his own, but he lacked support up top in a season where they lost more than they won and conceded more than they scored. Craig Miller’s men offered five-star entertainment week in, week out and it’s no surprise the gaffer needs a rest after 20 epic matches. 5/5
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6. L’EQUIPE
Record: Pl, 20, W. 8, D. 2, L. 10, F. 21, A. 32, Pts. 26
Best league result: 1-0 vs Hendon C
Biggest league win: 2-0 vs Boca and Fortune B
Worst result: 3-2 vs Chutspah
Clean sheet: 3
Games failed to score in: 6
Star men: Josh Lewis
Top-scorer: Andy Burke
DC Rating: Only Boca and UJIA scored fewer than L’Equipe, and the U’s folded several weeks before the season finished. Consistency was the goal for David Prager’s men but after a bad start, that never materialised. Defensively they were okay, but Prager was left hugely frustrated that they didn’t fulfil their potential. 5/10
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7. TEMPLE FORTUNE B
Record: Pl, 20, W. 7, D. 2, L. 11, F. 33, A. 38, Pts. 23
Best league result: 1-1 vs Mill Hill
Biggest league win: 7-1 vs Boca
Worst result: 7-3 vs FC Team C
Clean sheet: 2
Games failed to score in: 5
Star men: Terry Jeffries
Best signings: John Kemp
Top-scorer: Terry Jeffries 16
DC Rating: A 5-0 win in their last-ever match was a fitting end for a Fortune team that ultimately failed to deliver. At times, they promised much. After the 6-0 thumping of Loughton, player-boss Terry Jeffries told me “we have a squad capable of competing for the league,” but the problem was that one good result was followed by a very bad one in what was in essence a very mixed bag results-wise. 4/10
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8. NORSTAR C
Record: Pl, 20, W. 6, D. 3, L. 11, F. 45, A. 68, Pts. 21
Best league result: 2-0vs L’Equipe
Biggest league win: 8-1 vs Boca
Worst result: 9-1 vs Hendon C
Clean sheet: 1
Games failed to score in: 1
Star men: Nick Haringman, Will Ufland, Dan Tannenbaum
Top-scorer: Nick Haringman 8
DC Rating: It would have been a very different story had the wonderful Will Ufland played three quarters of the season for the Stars. He was the man with the midas touch when he played and his partnership with Nick Haringman terrorised defences, but the Oranges just didn’t get enough match time out of him. Overall they struggled against the top teams and conceded too many, but it will be interesting to see how they go after merging with North London Raiders. Watch this space … 4/10
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9. LOUGHTON ORIENT
Record: Pl, 20, W. 6, D. 2, L. 12, F. 38, A. 55, Pts. 20
Best league result: 1-0 vs Mill Hill
Biggest league win: 7-2 vs Boca
Worst result: 3-1 vs Boca
Clean sheet: 2
Games failed to score in: 5
Star men: Marc Jacobs, Dean Silver, Josh Hambling
Best signings: Josh Hambling, Barry Green
Top-scorer: Barry Green 11
DC Rating: A win over third-placed Mill Hill was the highlight for Dan Curtis’ men. One of the most experienced squads in the division claimed some big wins but they were also on the wrong end of a couple of heavy defeats. With 20 games under their belts I’m predicting big things from them next season and a couple of marquee signings would certainly help them get off on the right foot. 4/10
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10. TOTTENHAM CHUTSPAH
Record: Pl, 20, W. 4, D. 2, L. 14, F. 36, A. 59, Pts. 14
Best league result: 3-2 vs L’Equipe
Biggest league win: 9-2 vs Boca
Worst result: 9-2 vs Mill Hill
Clean sheet: 0
Games failed to score in: 2
Star man: Jono Gaon
Best signing: Jono Gaon
Top-scorer: Jono Gaon 24
DC Rating: Mid-table was the target but they fell well short of that in the end. I’m sad to see them go after just one season in which they won many fans, both here and in Europe, for their name as well as brand of football. Jono Gaon earned hero status with the Chutspah faithful who will now go back to spending their Sunday mornings in Brent Cross. 3/10
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11. BOCA JEWNIORS
Record: Pl, 20, W. 2, D. 0, L. 18, F. 15, A. 83, Pts. 6
Best league result: 3-1 vs Loughton
Biggest league win: 3-1 vs Loughton
Worst result: 8-1 vs Norstar C
Clean sheet: 1
Games failed to score in: 6
Star men: Jamie Weinrich, Parys Hammond, Ryan Monk
Best signing: Parys Hammond
Top-scorer: Jamie Weinrich
DC Rating: An improvement on last year. Conceded fewer goals and earned more points and managed to do what they didn’t in 18 matches in 2012/13 – win a game. But that was generally as good as it got. Keeper Ryan Monk was their star man most weeks. Read into that what you like … 2/10