It's been quite some week for L'Equipe and boss Nick Stern.

I tipped them to lose 5-0 against double winners North London Raiders A, but they arrived with a game-plan to frustrate and almost executed it to perfection.

Reflecting on the 3-2 defeat, Stern told JC Sport: "Though a moral victory is not something I normally count, coming so close to beating the reigning champions on their own pitch certainly counts as a victory in my eyes. Everyone who turned up should be proud of themselves and put in a shift like never before"

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BEST OF THE REST

- DAVID GARBACZ (Hendon A) - "The boys can enjoy their last couple of days of the festival season still unbeaten so we'll allow them a couple of drinks"

- ROB SHOOMAN (Faithfold C) - "Faithfold - the club, was the loser today - to have multi teams play each other in the early rounds is ridiculous but the rules are the rules and I feel sorry for the players"

- ANTON NYMAN (Boca Jewniors) - "We scored five of them, and we lost by 9 goals to 1 - was rather tempted to nominate a couple of the bullet header own goals for goal of the week!"

- JASON STEIN (Oakwood B) - "Over the moon to be through to the next round and to see out the high holidays without defeat for another year"