MGBSFL Matchday 15 preview

TEAM OF THE WEEK

TOP-SCORERS

YOUR WEEKEND PREVIEW STARTS HERE:

(matches KO at 10am unless stated)

MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION

LEAGUE TABLE (TOP 3)

1. HMH Pl. 8, W. 5, Pts. 16

2. Hendon Utd Sports Pl. 6, W. 5, Pts. 15

3. MLFC Blue Pl. 8, W. 3, Pts. 12

TOP-SCORERS 12 - Josh Cuby (Oakwood A), 8 - Oscar Wagner (HMH), 7 - Avi Markiewicz (Faithfold DocMM White), Chaim Korman (Hendon Utd Sports)

HENDON UNITED SPORTS vs FAIRLOP FC

Hendon will return to the summit if they beat a Fairlop team that has yet to register a league win this season.

Josh Bharier (2), Josh Harris (2) and Zac Garbacz eased Hendon to a 5-0 win over Fairlop in September, and their fans will be expecting a repeat performance.

But having bowed out of the Peter Morrison Trophy and lost two HMH in their last two games, they might not be at their fluent or confident best.

Fairlop go into the game on the back of a handsome cup win over Mill Hill Dons. But they are underdogs to pinch something on their outing in north-west London.

Venue – Hadley FC

JC star man: Rocky Spitzer (Hendon)

DC Prediction: Hendon 3 Fairlop 0

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OAKWOOD vs FAITHFOLD DOCMM WHITE

Oakwood will be looking to leapfrog Faithfold when the teams meet in Wembley on Sunday.

Andreas Fraquelli’s troops have had a tough couple of weeks, with a 4-3 defeat against defending champions Hendon United following by a 3-2 loss against new leaders HMH.

Josh Cuby has been Oakwood’s best and most consistent player thus far. He’s scored virtually every week and is a real handful for defences. He’s definitely an early contender for Player of the Year.

But it’s important Oakwood stop leaking goals, as Faithfold are an attacking team, with threats from several areas. Avi Markiewicz, David Leiwy and Joe Cohen are their biggest goal threats and they will be looking to impress once more.

At the back, goalkeeper Gideon Rabstein has produced some stellar displays and I have a feeling he will be kept busy on Sunday.

I’m predicting goals for both teams, and Oakwood to edge it.

Venue – Ark Academy

JC star man: Ben Peppi (Oakwood)

DC Prediction: Oakwood 3 Faithfold 2

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DIVISION ONE

LEAGUE TABLE (TOP 3)

1. NL Raiders Pl. 7, W. 6, Pts. 19

2. Hertswood Vale Pl. 8, W. 5, Pts. 16

3. NL Galaxy Pl. 7, W. 4, Pts. 15

TOP-SCORERS 12 - James Millet (Hertswood Vale), 10 - Reiss Mogilner (Jewdinese), Aron Gale (North London Raiders), Zach Cohen (Mill Hill Dons)

HERTSWOOD VALE vs NORTH LONDON RAIDERS

The top two teams in the division are ready to rumble as leaders North London Raiders visit Hertswood Vale in what promises to be a rip-roaring affair.

Aron Gale was the chief tormentor for Raiders last weekend, and both he and Liron Mannie will be hungry for more goals, especially after having some chalked off after Bayern Mincha folded.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s tussle, NLR joint-manager David Isaacs told JC Sport: “After last week’s big win against the Dons, our focus now goes towards Hertswood Vale.

“From looking at their results this season, we can see that this won’t be an easy game, especially as they knocked out the best team in Jewish football only ten days ago.”

Raiders go into the game with a three-point lead, and they have a game in hand on Vale. Isaacs went on to say: “We will have to try and keep Vale’s star man Adam Morrow quiet, he’s been one of the standout players in the MGBSFL in the last few years and we know if we stop Morrow we stop Vale.

“We haven’t beaten Vale in any of our previous encounters with them albeit in three friendlies and Sunday will be a chance to end the hoodoo. We are still unbeaten in the league and we are looking to carrying this in to the new year.”

As Isaacs rightly points out, Vale are flying after beating double winners Hendon in the cup. They followed that up with a hard-earned 3-1 win over MLFC. It looked like one of those days as they trailed after 60 minutes, but they showed real quality to turn the game on its head and eek out three important goals.

Having lost to Galaxy earlier in the season, it would be the Vale boys will be up for the challenge this weekend. Joint-manager Jacob Emanuel told JC Sport: “Sunday represents our last game in 2019 - our most successful year so far in Vale’s short history.

“Regardless of what happens on Sunday, I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve achieved in such a small space of time.”

Vale have won five out of eight league games in their first season in Division One. Emanuel went on to say: “Without having played them, we’re very much aware of the strength of Raiders and their almost inevitable title win come the end of the season, but I’ve no doubt that Jewdinese and Galaxy will be praying that we do them a favour on Sunday.

“They’ve got some outstanding players, and have had a brilliant start to the season, but the boys love a challenge and we’ll be looking to put the sword to Raiders - no doubt it will be a cracker of a match.”

I don’t expect there to be much between the teams on Sunday but can see a moment of magic from someone in L’Orange to swing it.

JC team news: Vale team news is a little sketchy ahead of Sunday – they’re without a number of players, including Tony Gold, Zach Mandel, Jack Green, Dan Reuben, Jack Winton and Jack Shulman, while a number of players face late fitness tests. Emanuel added: “We’ll have a team out, I’m just not sure which one at the moment!”

Raiders welcome back Tal Cohen to the squad following a cold.

Venue – East Barnet School, KO – 9am

JC star man: Alex Jacobs (NLR)

DC Prediction: Vale 1 NLR 2

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REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE vs MILL HILL DONS

Mill Hill Dons desperately need a result from somewhere right now. The team has plummeted to the foot of the table, but you have to give them half a chance ahead of the long trip to Redbridge on Sunday.

Poor defending has resulted in 24 goals flying in during their last four matches, and they need some inspiration to end their losing streak.

Dons boss Jamie Nagioff told JC Sport: “The whole squad want to end 2019 on a high and three points this Sunday will be a wonderful early Chanukah present.

“We've had a tricky few weeks and points are always needed, but in games against those who will be around you come the end of the season, we really do need to be coming out on top.

“We've had some great games against Redbridge sides in the past, including our dramatic penalty shoot-out win in the Peter Morrison quarter final last season. I'd love for us to channel that same energy and enthusiasm that we had that day to get the win on Sunday.”

RJC were beaten 3-0 by Jewdinese last weekend. Manager Daniel Jacobs knows they must pull a result out of somewhere as they approach this relegation six-pointer with trepidation.

JC team news: Mill Hill’s injury list continues to grow, with Olly Goodman (hamstring) the latest victim of some bad luck.

Venue – Fairlop

JC star man: Marc Charles (Dons)

DC Prediction: RJC 1 Dons 1

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SPEC FC vs MLFC RED

SPEC have had a short break to recover from heavy defeat against North London Galaxy and Jewdinese.

The early signs were that they were capable of mustering a promotion challenge, but those two drubbings have been a setback.

It’s not a case of going back to the drawing board, though. It’s a case of getting back into good habits, no-nonsense defending and making the right choices going forwards.

Zack Neiman and Jamie Smaje were banging in goals for fun for the first couple of months, but now it’s about the work-rate and energy of the midfield engine room, as SPEC try to finish 2019 with a bang.

Player-manager Ricky Lawrence told JC Sport: “After three defeats in a row we’re looking to end the year on a high.”

MLFC huffed and puffed against Hertswood Vale. After taking the lead, they were pegged back in the final 30 minutes, conceding three times.

They remain a work in progress but on Sunday I can see SPEC’s experience and dead-ball prowess earning them a positive result.

Venue – St James’ Park, KO – 10.15am

JC star man: Scott Gurvitz (SPEC)

DC Prediction: SPEC 3 MLFC 1

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DIVISION TWO

LEAGUE TABLE (TOP 3)

1. FC Team Pl. 8, W. 7, Pts. 22

2. Borussia Barnet Pl. 9, W. 7, Pts. 22

3. Temple Fortune Pl. 9, W. 5, Pts. 16

TOP-SCORERS 14 - Jono Gaon (Hampstead Ducks), 12 - Saul Green (Club De Chigwell), 11 - Danny Sherman (Temple Fortune), 10 - Daniel Garfinkle (Club De Chigwell)

HAMPSTEAD DUCKS vs TEMPLE FORTUNE

Simon Linden is targeting three points as Temple Fortune try to get their promotion bid back on track.

Defeat at home to Scrabble last time out means they are now six points away from the second promotion berth, so a win is essential on Sunday.

Ahead of kick-off, Linden told JC Sport: “It’s important we get a result on Sunday to finish the year on a high. We need to bounce back from two weeks ago against Scrabble.”

Hampstead Ducks have conceded 20 goals in their last two outings, but their fans believe they can still achieve a top-five finish.

They currently lie in seventh place, with four wins from 10 matches, with Jono Gaon still flying high at the top of the goal charts.

But the onus is on a win for Fortune as they try to stay in touch with the leaders. They have a plethora of goal threats in Simon Cohen, Danny Sherman, Benji Gourgey and Jacob Kalms, so I make them favourites to win.

Venue – Silver Jubilee Park

JC star man: Josh Lewis (Fortune)

DC Prediction: Ducks 1 Fortune 3

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CLUB de CHIGWELL vs PARIS SAINT JEWMAIN

PSJ fans are talking about new hero Amit Shabtai, who enjoyed a dream debut against Hampstead Ducks.

Rarely has there been so much excitement about a new player in the bottom division. However, the Israeli loanee may not be here for too long so my message to PSJ fans are enjoyed him while it lasts.

Can he do it on a cold, dark morning in Essex? That’s the next question Shabtai has to answer, as he goes head to head with two of the division’s leading marksmen in Daniel Garfinkle and Saul Green.

The result and performance delighted PSJ boss Elio Elia who will take his men to E17 with their tails up.

“We’re excited and motivated to put in another strong performance after last week’s victory,” Elio told JC Sport.

“Our season has been marked by inconsistency but that’s to be expected with a new team and such a large squad.

“There is a long way to go but I’m very proud of how the boys have done so far and hope we can end 2019 with another win.”

Asked about Shabtai, Elia went on to say: “We have a strong squad this week and this is boosted even further by our Israeli loanee Amit Shabtai, who was the stand-out player against Ducks, scoring a hat-trick on his debut.

“We are lucky to have him available again this Sunday and I think he’ll be the difference against a strong Chigwell side.”

CdC had a morning to forget in north-west London last weekend as they were put to the sword by co-leaders FC Team.

It was the first time Garfinkle and Green drew a collection blank, something they will be determined to put right on Sunday.

Co-manager Adam Conway told JC Sport: “The result last week was incredibly disappointing, however how the referee deemed that pitch playable, when both sides thought otherwise, I’ll never know.

“We’ve already played PSJ this season and know they are a very good side but I have faith in the boys to get the result needed.”

PSJ go into the game with a slight psychological edge having beaten CdC 3-2 in September, and part two promises to be just as exciting.

JC team news: Team news: Like Liam Gallagher would say. As you were.

Venue – Seven Kings

JC star man: Amit Shabtai (PSJ)

DC Prediction: CdC 3 PSJ 4

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FC TEAM P FAITHFOLD DOCMM GREEN P

Match postponed – Faithfold forfeited

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