MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
NORTH LONDON RAIDERS A 4 REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A 2
Rob Richman insists North London Raiders A must remain focused after a hat-trick from Player of the Year Liron Mannie put them within touching distance of retaining the title after a 4-2 win over closest rivals Redbridge.
Mannie, who has missed a large chunk of the season due to his studies, was at his predatory best to fire a first-half treble to put NLR on course for their 11th win in 12 league matches.
Top-scorer Jordan Marks added the gloss for Rob Richman's men who require to wins to be crowned champions again.
RJC's goals came via Sam Sollosi and Daniel Garfinkle but Mannie's first-half heroics left them with too much to do.
NLR boss Rob Richman told JC Sport: "It was a great display and a really good performance. Redbridge, along with Oakwood, are our closest competitors and we have great respect for both sides.
RJC's goals came via Sam Sollosi and Daniel Garfinkle but Mannie's first-half treble put them within two wins of the title.
"Redbridge have a lot of talented players and I am not surprised to see them fighting right at the top of the table.
"We knew we'd have to be somewhere close to our best today to get a result and our first-half performance was really top quality. We moved the ball well, attacked with pace and gave Redbridge so many problems.
"What was most encouraging was our finishing and in particular Liron Mannie's was super clinical and that gave us a three-goal cushion at half time.
"We did what we had to do in the second half and came away with a very important three points.
"We are at the business end of the season where every game is important and we try and perform to the best of our abilities every single week.
"If we keep performing like we have done then I'm sure the rewards will come but we must remain focused and grounded and then we will see how far that takes us."
RJC manager Jon Jacobs conceded that it's only a matter of time until NLR are crowned champions again. "Raiders are now nailed on for the League and deservedly so," he told JC Sport.
"They have quality all over the park and are well drilled by Rob. We gave silly errors at critical times which killed any momentum we may have had.
"The last few weeks has seen our squad at its thinnest and I think injuries and lack of depth has killed us at a most inopportune time.
"I have no doubt that my strongest team would have given Raiders a good run for their money but am proud of the achievements we have attained this season.
"We are an exciting and developing side and just need some more depth in the squad to challenge over a sustained period."
With one hand on the title, NLR will now turn their attentions to both cup competitions in their pursuit of a first-ever treble. They take on Oakwood A in the final of the Cyril Anekstein Cup on April 17 and travel to the highly-fancied Maccabi London Lions A in the Peter Morrison Trophy 11 days earlier.
Richman said: "We now don't have another league game until May. So we will put the league to one side as we face some big cup games in the next three weeks.
"First up is Lions at Rowley Lane under floodlights and we can't wait for that game, it promises to be a really good test of our abilities."
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