London Maccabi Lions A were toasting cup success after coming from 2-0 down to beat Redbridge, Brady B were crowned champions in Division Two, while Faithfold A and Oakwood B moved a step closer to winning their respective divisions on a bumper Matchday 32 programme in the JC MSFL. Danny Caro looks back on all the action.
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LATEST: LIONS LAND ANEKSTEIN CUP
ANEKSTEIN CUP FINAL VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
BRADY B WIN DIVISION TWO TITLE
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JC MSFL MATCHDAY 32 HEADLINES
JC CAC – Five-star Lions crush Redbridge
Prem Div – Oaks hit Brixton for six
Div 1 – Lions B and Chigwell claim a win apiece
Div 2 – Brady B crowned champions
Div 3 – Oakwood B two good for Mill Hill
JC HAT-TRICK HEROES
Prem Div - Mike Pearson (Faithfold A)
Div 2 - Adam Hersh (Los Blancos)
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DANNY CARO'S GOAL OF THE WEEK - ADAM LEVENE
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JC SAVE OF THE WEEK
Daniel Lipman (Lions A) - brilliant, agile finger-tip save to push a screamer from Dean Nyman over the bar
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JC QUOTE OF THE WEEK: THE CONTENDERS
1. Andy Landesberg (Lions A) - trailing 2-1 at the break, I said to the boys in the dressing room that we'd win 5-2" - and they did, in the JC Cyril Anekstein Cup final, noch!
2. Ricky Lawrence (SPEC FC) - "Next Sunday we as a club are volunteering at a Jewish Care home which is also the charity we have raised money for throughout this season. These are the sort of things we at SPEC FC want to be known for and not for shameful behaviour like today. We offer an unreserved apology to the league and to the ref and will ensure our behaviour is impeccable every Sunday from now on"
3. James Joseph (Brady B) - "The emotion of the day has caught up with me. What a day for everyone associated with Brady. It's a deserved reward for what has been a pretty decent season"
4. Miguel Hildebrand 5. Josh Dagul (Brady B) - "I'd also like to say thanks to our incredible supporters, who have followed us through thick and thin this season, as far away as Borehamwood and Essex"
6. Adam Hakimi (Redbridge JC A) - "I just feel a bit of a nebach that I personally spent the last three weeks running around getting a full new kit after we lost the toss to play in Blue only for Lions to turn up in red!"
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JC REFEREE OF THE WEEK
Laurie Benson (AC Mill Hill vs Oakwood B)
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PETER MORRISON TROPHY FINAL
South Manchester Sports Club 1st vs Brady Maccabi A
April 28, KO: 3pm at Boundary Park, Oldham Athletic
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YOUR WEEKEND REVIEW STARTS HERE:
JC CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP FINAL
FIVE-STAR LIONS COME BACK TO CRUSH REDBRIDGE
LONDON MACCABI LIONS A 5 REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A 2
Goals from Bradley Lander, David Nezri, Nick Lewis, James Gershfield and Jordan Marks helped the Lions come from two goals down to win the JC League Cup at Wingate & Finchley on Sunday night.
WATCH CUP FINAL VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
RJC forged ahead in controversial fashion after top-scorer Adam Stolerman was brought down in the area as he attempted to go around LML keeper Daniel Lipman. The loose ball was converted but referee Tony McEvoy had already halted play to award RJC a penalty, but he only produced a yellow card when many expected red. Stolerman confidently rolled home the penalty. An own goal from Ollie Leslie following a dangerous cross from Jack Van Gelder put RJC 2-0 up.
But the Lions halved the deficit in the 44th minute when Lander put Lions back in the game and with the bit between their teeth, they stepped up a gear in the second half, scoring four times.
Nezri's volley was too hot for RJC keeper Dan Lee to handle, and they stepped up a gear, with substitutes Lewis and Gershfield opening up a 4-2 lead. And it was left to Marks to finish the job to spark wild celebrations.
Lions boss Andy Landesberg told JC Sport: "We've come a long way this season and I'm proud of the boys. It was really important to get something out of the season and I think we have a bright future."
DC Prediction: Lions 1 Redbridge 2
IT Prediction: Lions 3 Redbridge 2 AET
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JC MSFL PREMIER DIVISION
TOP-SCORERS
18 - Lee Cash (LM Lions A - 10 for Neasden A)
17 - Adam Stolerman (Redbridge JC A)
14 - Daryl Phillips (Faithfold A), Brad Wine (Oakwood)
IMPORTANT WIN FOR TEAM
FC TEAM A 3 NORTH LONDON RAIDERS A 2
Goals from Marc Harris, Richard Salmon and Simon Peterman moved FC Team clear of the danger zone as they claimed three important points against Raiders at Meadow Park.
Elliot Espinoza and Mike Hershman replied for Raiders who remain in the drop zone.
FC Team A gaffer Mitch Young told JC Sport: "It was a game we had to win, and we did. My players were highly motivated and tactically listened to all my instructions. We scored an excellent footballing goal and won most of our individual battles. We created the better chances and overal deserved to win the game.
"I think my players simply wanted it more than them today. They gave us a good battle, but today was our day. It has been too long since we last won so we can all enjoy our Sunday and look forward to finishing off the season next week in a double-header against Redbridge."
DC Prediction: Team 2 Raiders 1
IT Prediction: FC Team A 1 Raiders 4
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FAITHFOLD CLOSE IN ON DOUBLE
NORSTAR A 1 FAITHFOLD A 6
MIKE PEARSON was the hat-trick hero as Faithfold stormed five points clear at the top to move a step closer towards the title.
Further strikes from Daryl Phillips, Dan Perkins and Jonny Haik sealed Faithfold's 12th win of the season in a game they trailed in.
Norstar's registered for Josh Pistol.
Faithfold boss Zuriel Solomon told JC Sport: "It took us a while to get started as Norstar played very well first half and we struggled to find a controlled footing and went behind. We then scored after we stepped it up.
"I would have been a bit happier if our possession was better, but can't complain as we scored six and got another three points which sets up next week's clash against Hendon."
DC Prediction: Norstar 1 Faithfold 4
IT Prediction: Norstar 1 Faithfold 3
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OAKS SHOW OFF THEIR SIX PACKS
OAKWOOD A 6 BRIXTON OLD BOYS 1
Oakwood hit Brixton for six with goals from Brad Wine (2), Toby Levy, Josh Rose, Carl Peters and Dave Woolman.
Alon Hershkorn grabbed a consolation for Brixton in a game Oakwood finished with 10 men after Dan Geey was sent off.
Oaks joint-manager Ric Blank told JC Sport: "Sunday was an amazing day for the club with the Bs securing promotion and the As assuring Premiership football next season with a thumping win over Brixton. There were celebrations a-plenty yesterday afternoon as we are beginning to see the all our hard work pay off in spectacular fashion."
DC Prediction: Oakwood 3 Brixton 2
IT Prediction: Oakwood 5 Brixton 0
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DIVISION ONE
TOP-SCORERS
35 - Jamie (Shirley Park)
16 - Richard Silver (Camden)
15 - Yishai Last (Hendon B), Max Kyte (Lions B + 2 for A)
IT'S IN OUR OWN HANDS NOW, SAYS MARKS
CAMDEN PARK 1 HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B 0 (DOUBLE-HEADER)
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B 1 CAMDEN PARK 3
Camden Park boosted their promotion hopes by taking maximum points from a double-header against Hendon.
Left-back Greg Mellor fired the winner in match one.
Hendon went ahead in match two, but Camden showed great determination to hit back with goals from Richard Silver and Rob Hershkorn, who both linked up very well up front and in the end were too much for Hendon to handle.
Delighted Camden boss Josh Marks told JC Sport: "It was a brilliant team performance on the day and big boost to our promotion hopes. It’s in our own hands."
DC Prediction: Camden 3 Hendon 2/Hendon 2 Camden 2
IT Prediction: Camden 1 Hendon 1/Hendon 1 Camden 1
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AVITAL ON TARGET AGAIN
FAITHFOLD B 1 UJIA 1
Relegation rivals Faithfold B and UJIA shared the points following a hard fought 1-1 draw.
UJIA top-scorer Assi Avital was on target for the visitors.
DC Prediction: Faithfold 0 UJIA 0
IT Prediction: Faithfold 1 UJIA 1
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CHIGS STILL IN THE RACE, SAYS SLATER
LONDON MACCABI LIONS B 2 CHIGWELL ATHLETIC 0 (DOUBLE-HEADER)
CHIGWELL ATHLETIC 3 LONDON MACCABI LIONS B 1
It finished honours even at the Lane as Lions B and Chigwell claimed a win apiece in a double-header.
Jamie Kyte's Lions ran out worthy 2-0 winners in match one.
But Chigwell hit back in part two, with penalties from Anthony Mendel and Brad Gayer plus another strike from Dean Ben Yosef helping them exact revenge.
Chigwell led 1-0 at half time and forged into a 3-0 lead before the Lions snatched a last-minute consolation.
Chigs boss Richard Slater told JC Sport: "Lions deserved the first game, but we totally dominated the second and deserved the three points.
"I'm happy with the lads today. We're still in the race."
DC Prediction: Lions 1 Chigwell 1/Chigwell 0 Lions 1
IT Prediction: Lions 1 Chigwell 0/Chigwell 0 Lions 2
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WOODFORD WANDERERS P SOUTHGATE HARMEN P
Match postponed
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DIVISION TWO
TOP-SCORERS
28 - Reiss Mogilner (Brady B)
23 - Adam Hersh (Los Blancos)
16 - Dan Hildebrand (Brady B)
14 - Jake Gilbert (Athletic Bilbaum), James Joseph (Brady B)
BRILLIANT BLANCOS HIT HIGH FIVES
BLIZZARD STORM 0 LOS BLANCOS 5
A hat-trick from player-manager ADAM HERSH inspired promotion-chasing Blancos to an easy win over lowly Blizzard in west Hendon.
Blizzard went into half time full of regrets after Joel Kutner headed in a superb cross from Julian Gertner in the last attack of the half for Blancos. Kutner refused to celebrate out of respect to his former club.
The second half, however, was one-way traffic. Hersh, playing off the shoulder of the last defender was a constant pest and netted himself a 15-minute hat-trick to improve his impressive form in front of the home crowd.
Sami Birnbaum put the icing on the cake after another flowing move.
DC Prediction: Blizzard 1 Blancos 4
IT Prediction: Blizzard 0 Blancos 4
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BRADY MACCABI B 5 NORSTAR B 1 (DOUBLE-HEADER)
NORSTAR B 0 BRADY MACCABI B 8
Brady Maccabi B were crowned champions of Division Two after claiming maximum points from a double-header against lowly Norstar B.
Two goals from Reiss Mogilner plus one apiece from Dan Hildebrand, Nathan Harrod and an own goal steered them home 5-1 in the opener.
REISS MOGILNER (4) and DANIEL HILDEBRAND were the hat-trick heroes as they romped home 8-0 in the follow-up. Scott Benson put the cherry on top.
Brady player-manager Joshua Dagul told JC Sport: "We did it, and we did it in style. Two great wins to cap off what has been a terrific season. I'd also like to say thanks to our incredible supporters, who have followed us through thick and thin this season, as far away as Borehamwood and Essex. Without them, I don't know if we could have made it."
Brady's Jonny Meltzer told JC Sport: "This is one the youngest men’s team I have seen in the league, yet they have conducted themselves superbly for two seasons and now they can grow even more character year on year. Hopefully this league title can be a building block for next year."
Norstar boss David Lubczanski told JC Sport: "It was a tough couple of games against a very good team, the best we have played this season. We didn't help ourselves at times, but we only had 11 for each of the two games, so we were naturally going to tire and Brady managed to exploit that during the second game. Congrats to Brady who are an excellent team with some superb players."
DC Prediction: Brady 4 Norstar 0/Norstar 0 Brady 3
IT Prediction: Brady 3 Norstar 4/Norstar 0 Brady 0
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CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI 2 GLENTHORNE UNITED B 0 (DOUBLE-HEADER)
GLENTHORNE UNITED B 2 CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI 0
Catford & Bromley Maccabi claimed three vital points in their battle against the drop as they claimed a win apiece against Glenthorne B.
Jeff Gotch and Jamie Sinai were the goal men for the Cats as they won match one 2-0.
But there was a role reversal in part two, with the Thornes exacting revenge by the same scoreline, with Jamie Crawford among the scorers.
Catford captain Adam Luria told JC Sport: "We bossed the first game and could have been out of sight at half-time, missing two open goals and their keeper pulling off some wonderful saves. Second half Glenthorne came back into it, but we killed the game off."
Luria was high in praise for the Glenthorne keeper in both games. He added: "A win each was a fair result. Or two fair results."
Thornes joint-player-manager Jordan Sapler told JC Sport: ""It was a real game of two different games today! The first Catford deserved the win and in the second it was all us. Although I think half the blame should go to the birthday boy and acting captain for the day Liam!
"Overall it was a deserved one win each today."
DC Prediction: Catford 1 Glenthorne 3/Glenthorne 1 Catford 2
IT Prediction: Catford 4 Glenthorne 4/Glenthorne 1 Catford 1
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SPEC FC MAKE THEIR POINT
NORTH WEST NEASDEN B 2 SPEC FC 2
Dave Newman and Elliot Wallis maintained SPEC FC's promotion challenge with a hard earned point at Neasden B.
NWN's goals came through player-manager Adam Levene and James Abrams.
However, the match will be remembered for referee Aaron Djanogly sending off four SPEC FC players.
NWN boss Adam Levene told JC Sport: "I'm proud of the Neasden team this season, with most of us over 30 we've done well and against all the young whippersnappers in many of the other teams. Louis Taylor also deserves a mention for his help in running the club as he's now devoting more time to his family committments.
"Finally, I'd like to add a mention to Richard Starr who seemed to badly injure his knee today and we all wish him a speedy recovery."
SPEC FC's Ricky Lawrence told JC Sport: "Today we disgraced and embarrassed ourselves as a club. We've gone from picking up one red card in two seasons to picking up four in one game. We pride ourselves on not just being a well run club on the pitch but off of it too.
"Next Sunday we as a club are volunteering at a Jewish Care home which is also the charity we have raised money for throughout this season. These are the sort of things we at SPEC FC want to be known for and not for shameful behaviour like today. We offer an unreserved apology to the league and to the ref and will ensure our behaviour is impeccable every Sunday from now on."
DC Prediction: Neasden 2 SPEC 2
IT Prediction: Neasden 3 SPEC 1
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FC TEAM B P REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B P
Match postponed - FC Team defaulted due to a shortage of players
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DIVISION THREE
TOP-SCORERS
33 - Ben Zloof (AC Mill Hill)
25 – Alex Elf (Hendon Utd SC C)
24 - Jono Gaon (Tottenham Chutspah)
17 - Ben Polak (Oakwood B)
16 - Terry Jeffries (Temple Fortune B)
OAKS TWO GOOD FOR MILL HILL
AC MILL HILL 0 OAKWOOD B 2
Oakwood B won another title six-pointer as they following up victory over FC Team C with their 16th of the season against AC Mill Hill to move on to 49 points.
Oaks boss Ian Tussie told JC Sport: "Shame for mill hill but I hope they come up too. They're a good bunch of lads and a good team too ... and If Jewve hadn't folded they'd have been within three points of us too. Mind the gap ..."
Mill Hill boss Joe Levy told JC Sport: "Unfortunately we were second best and Oakwood deservedly won the game.
"We are disappointed that the withdrawal of Jewventus from the league effectively ended our title challenge, but we are still hopeful that we will gain promotion.
"Congratulations must go to Oakwood who were the better team and deserved winners. We hope that we will be given the opportunity to extract revenge in the second division next season."
DC Prediction: Mill Hill 1 Oakwood 1
IT Prediction: Mill Hill 3 Oakwood 0
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GREEN HELPS LOUGHTON MAKE THEIR POINT
L’EQUIPE 2 LOUGHTON ORIENT 2
A double from Barry Green helped Loughton Orient come from 2-0 down to earn a point at L'Equipe.
Loughton manager Dan Curtis told JC Sport: "I'm proud of the lads battling qualities today. It's not easy to come back from being two goals down. It shows how much we have improved as the season has gone on that we were disappointed not to have won in the end."
DC Prediction: L’Equipe 3 Loughton 2
IT Prediction: L’Equipe 1 Loughton 2
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FORTUNE B ARE FIVE ALIVE
TEMPLE FORTUNE B 5 BOCA JEWNIORS 0
TERRY JEFFRIES fired a treble as Fortune B crushed Boca.
Further efforts from Lee Fegan and Dave Sawyer sealed the win.
A delighted Jeffries told JC Sport: "We finally ended the terrible losing streak we were on. It was a great game and dominated from start to finish."
DC Prediction: Fortune 4 Boca 1
IT Prediction: Fortune 4 Boca 0
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FC TEAM C P TOTTENHAM CHUTSPAH P (DOUBLE-HEADER
Matches postponed - Chutspah defaulted
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CHALLENGE CARO RESULT
Week 1: Caro 4, Rob Richman 5
Week 2: Caro 14, Mitch Young 10
Week 3: Caro 20 (incl. 2 correct scores), Richard Slater 15 (inc. 1 correct score)
Week 4: Caro 15 (incl. 2 correct scores), Phil Peters 5
Week 5: Caro 1 Loz Newman 8
Week 5: Caro 6 Josh Dagul 4
Week 6: DC 9 Motti Korman 14 (incl. 1 correct score)
Week 7: DC 4 Josh Marks 3 (Prem Div and Div 1 predicted only). DC scored 18 points overall incl. 3 correct scores)