There were wins for Norstar London Raiders A and B, while Redbridge Jewish Care B started 2014 in style with a big win at Blizzard Storm boosting their title credentials in Division Two on Matchday 17 of the MGBSFL. Danny Caro looks back on a programme hit by the weather.
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MATCHDAY 17 HEADLINES
Prem Div - Relentless Raiders overpower champions
Div 2 - Four-midable Redbridge B march on
Div 3 - Five-star Whetstone crush Boca
JC HAT-TRICK HERO
Div 3 - Philippe Auret (AC Whetstone)
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VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS - BLIZZARD STORM vs REDBRIDGE JC B
PHOTOGALLERY - BLIZZARD STORM vs REDBRIDGE JC B
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THE CONTENDERS
GK - Brad Grant (Redbridge JC B)
DEFENDERS - Noah Bier (AC Whetstone), Alex Bloch, David Rhodes, Josh Pistol, Justin Spiro (all NL Raiders A)
MIDFIELDERS - Alex Kaye, Benjy Dymant, Rocky Spitzer (all Faithfold A), Guy Helman (Oakwood A), Jonny Shapiro (NL Raiders B), Ben Moss (Faithfold B)
STRIKERS - Philippe Auret (AC Whetstone), Craig Sandford (Redbridge JC B), Nicky Woolf (NL Raiders B)
MANAGER - Phil Peters (NLR A), Ric Blank & Alex Schock (Oakwood A), Jon Adelman (NLR B), Rob Shooman (Faithfold B), Clive Nathan & Anthony Jacobs (AC Whetstone)
REFEREE - Richard Jaye (Blizzard Storm vs Redbridge JC B)
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DANNY CARO'S MATCHDAY 17 OSCARS
GOAL OF THE WEEK
Adam Posner (NL Raiders B) - a collectors item - a lob volley - his first goal of the season
SAVE OF THE WEEK
Noah Bier (AC Whetstone) - a headed clearance on the goal-line from point-blank range
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CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Camden Park vs AC Mill Hill
Los Blancos vs Norstar London Raiders A
Oakwood A vs Faithfold A
LM Lions Blue or Woodford Wanderers vs Chigwell Athletic or Hendon Utd SC A
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YOUR WEEKEND REVIEW STARTS HERE:
MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
TOP-SCORERS
10 - Mike Pearson (Faithfold A)
9 - Richard Salmon (FC Team A)
RELENTLESS RAIDERS CHARGE ON
NORSTAR LONDON RAIDERS A 2 FAITHFOLD A 0
NLR A continued their relentless charge towards their first-ever title success with a 2-0 victory over defending champions Faithfold A at Brunel.
Having beaten the Superhoops at the beginning of December, Phil Peters' men returned to winning ways with a victory that takes them on to 30 points, thanks to strikes from Josh Green and an own goal.
NLR boss Phil Peters told JC Sport: "It was a much more comfortable victory than the score line suggests and it feels fantastic to have completed the double over last year’s champions."
Faithfold manager Zuriel Solomon told JC Sport: "Our performance was OK - I thought we controlled the game, but maybe not enough to actually win it."
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MIGHTY OAKS HIT HIGH FIVES
LONDON MACCABI LIONS BLUE 0 OAKWOOD A 5
Oakwood started the year with a real statement of intent as they came away from Rowley Lane with a handsome 5-0 victory over Lions Blue.
Doubles from Brad Wine and Guy Helman plus one from goal-poacher Anthony Kintish completed the rout.
Oaks boss Ric Blank told JC Sport: "It was a comfortable win today as the scoreline suggests. In fact it could have been more had we not been profligate in front of goal throughout. But we'll take 5-0 - not just for the goals, but also the clean sheet.
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MGBSFL DIVISION TWO
TOP-SCORERS
17 - Ben Zloof (AC Mill Hill)
15 - Nicky Woolf (Raiders B)
SUPER SANDFORD INSPIRES REDBRIDGE B
BLIZZARD STORM 1 REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B 4
Craig Sandford made an impressive start on his debut for RJC B with a goal capping an excellent performance for Jon Jacobs' men who ran out deserved winners at Hertswood Leisure Centre in Borehamwood.
There were also goals for Sam Sollosi, James Berkley and Jimmy Castle as the east Londoners registered their 10th league win of the season.
RJC boss Jon Jacobs told JC Sport: "We have five more cup finals to come and promotion is ours."
Blizzard boss Simon Linden told JC Sport: "Redbridge B, on their day, are the best team in the league- a class outfit. I was proud of my team for putting in a good performance and up until the 40 minute mark we were 1-0 up."
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RED-HOT RAIDERS DO THE BUSINESS
ATHLETIC BILBAUM 1 NORSTAR LONDON RAIDERS B 4
NLR B remain the only unbeaten in the MGBSFL after they completed a 4-1 demolition of the Baums.
Bilbaum's consolation strike came through Jake Gilbert.
Jubilant NLR boss Jonathan Adelman told JC Sport: "Credit to Bilbaum - they changed their shape at half time and the second half was end to end. Redbridge and FC Team will have something to say about the title race so we can't rest on our laurels for one moment, but we've put ourselves in a great position to get promoted and we know if we keep working hard we have a chance to win the league."
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FAITHFOLD WIN BATTLE OF THE STRUGGLERS
LONDON HAROLDEANS 2 FAITHFOLD B 3
Faithfold B won a relegation six-pointer against London Haroldeans thanks to strikes from Doron Hershkorn, Ben Moss and Eric Hovelsen.
Marcus Mann bagged a brace for Haroldeans who finished with 10 men following the controversial dismissal of Oli Joseph.
Haroldeans boss Jonathan Abrams told JC Sport: "Although the game ended 3-2 and could have gone either way at the end, this sending-off decision took the wind out of Haroldeans sails and marred the game."
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DIVISION THREE
TOP-SCORERS
23 - Richard Fogelman (L’Equipe)
18 - Dan Gordon (Faithfold C)
PHILIPPE POWERS WHETSTONE HOME
AC WHETSTONE 5 BOCA JEWNIORS 2
PHILIPPE AURET was the star performer as AC Whetstone started the year with a bang, with a crushing victory over Boca.
Auret smashed home a hat-trick, including two from the penalty spot, in an excellent team performance in Hatfield, with Aaron Benjamin (2) cementing the points.
Boca top-scorer Dovi Fehler was among the scorers for the visitors.
Whetstone joint-manager Clive Nathan told JC Sport: "
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MATCHES OFF
Prem Div
FC Team A vs Camden Park
Redbridge JC A vs Hendon Utd SC A
Div One
Brady Maccabi B vs Shirley Park
Los Blancos vs Hendon Utd SC B
NW Neasden vs SPEC FC
Southgate Harmen vs Chigwell Athletic
Woodford Wanderers vs Brixton Old Boys
Div Two
FC Team C vs AC Mill Hill
Oakwood B vs FC Team B
Div Three
Faithfold C vs L'Equipe
Hendon Utd SC C vs Catford & Bromley Maccabi
King Crown vs NL Raiders C
Loughton Orient vs Temple Fortune
