Treble fever will hit Wingate & Finchley on Sunday as a bumper crowd is expected for the Peter Morrison Trophy final, as newly-crowned MGBSFL champions North London Raiders A attempt to register a clean sweep of domestic honours while Hendon United Sports Club A will be looking to win the Jewish FA Cup for the third year in a row.
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YOUR WEEKEND PREVIEW STARTS HERE:
PETER MORRISON TROPHY FINAL
NORTH LONDON RAIDERS A vs HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A
David Garbacz insists Hendon United are ready to shatter North London Raiders A’s treble dreams as they look to extend their domination of the Peter Morrison Trophy into a third year.
The reds will be looking to halt the Raiders who completed a double-double last weekend by adding the MGBSFL title to their Cyril Anekstein Cup.
Hendon boss Garbacz described his team “underdogs” for the showpiece match at Wingate & Finchley, even though they will be at full-strength. Moses Seitler, last season’s cup final match-winner, Alex Rosenthal, Greg Corin and Chaim Korman have been included in a 16-man squad.
Although Garbacz is the master of the mind games, NLR joint-manager Jonathan Green turned up the heat on his counterpart by telling JC Sport: “Hendon will probably feel a little more pressure as it’s their only chance for silverware this season. They are a great and experienced side so I’m sure that won’t have much of an impact and we will be set for a big and exciting game.”
SQUADS:
HENDON: Russell Corin, Ben Kon, Rafi Kon, Ari Nevies, Alex Rosenthal, Ethan Zone, Gav Krieger, Simon Peterman, Ari Last (capt), Avi Korman, Yoav Kestenbaum, Dovi Fehler, Zac Lewis, Greg Corin, Moses Seitler, Israel Lewis, Chaim Korman
RAIDERS: Jake Doffman, Alex Bloch, Josh Morris, Justin Spiro, David Rhodes (capt), Josh Pistol, Ben Rosenblatt, Elliott Moslawy, Jonny Kay, Adam Joselyn, Oscar Wagner, Alex Moss, Ricky Engleman, Nick Lewis, David Dinkin, Josh Green, Jordan Marks, Ben Ellis, Matt Stock, Liron Mannie, Nyv Bogaire
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Martin de la Fuente, Asst Refs: Callum Foster, Asst Ref: Neal Cohen, 4th Official/Reserve Referee: Neil Cooper
DC Prediction: Raiders 2 Hendon 1
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MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
TOP-SCORERS
25 - Dovi Fehler (Hendon A)
24 - Daniel Garfinkle (Redbridge JC A – including 3 for RJC B)
No matches scheduled
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DIVISION ONE
TOP-SCORERS
29 - Reiss Mogilner (Brady Maccabi)
17 - Jacob Richler Kleiman (Oakwood B), Richard Salmon (FC Team B including one for A team)
BRADY MACCABI vs REAL SOSOBAD
There will be a real end-of-season feel around Rowley Lane as Brady host Sosobad.
Brady are likely to finish fourth which would fall below expectations and it wouldn’t surprise me if several players are playing for their place in the squad for next season.
Reiss Mogilner has been the success story of Brady’s season and he will be looking to rubber-stamp his Golden Boot credentials. He needs just one more to hit the magical 30 goals mark.
Consolidation was the name of the game for Sosobad at the start of the season. Five wins and six draws is a solid return from their first season in the division and, under boss Dan Shafron, I expect them to kick on again next season.
Shaf will know the areas in which he needs to strength over the summer. He has some good strikers on his books but it’s in defence where they must tighten up.
Indeed the Sosobad boss felt his team “dominated the majority of the match” in the 2-2 draw against Brady in February and a draw would see them leapfrog Los Blancos and finish seventh.
Venue – Rowley Lane, Ref – Andy Myerson
JC star man: Sam McCarthy (Sosobad)
DC Prediction: Brady 2 Sosobad 2
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BRIXTON OLD BOYS vs FC TEAM B
This is one of the more meaningful MGBSFL matches this weekend. FC Team are still going for the title and nothing less
than three points will do on Sunday ahead of their potential title-decider against leaders Woodford next week.
The division’s top-scorers warmed up for their visit to lowly Brixton with a 5-0 demolition of Oakwood. Lorian Madanes was at his majestic best, with David Grossman registering the JC Goal of the Week. Jake Weiner grabbed the other in a performance that boss Mitch Young described as the “best of the season”.
Richard Salmon was the destroyer of Brixton when the sides met in October. He hit the target twice in a 6-1 win and led the Brixton defence a merry dance.
Brixton produced a good, battling performance against Brady last time out, so FC Team can take nothing for granted. I expect there to be some good battles around the park but ultimately the visitors will come away with the result they need.
Venue – Clowes, Ref – Daniel Fox
JC star man: Jake Weiner (Team)
DC Prediction: Brixton 1 FC Team 3
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DIVISION TWO
TOP-SCORERS
25 - Zak McLeod (Scrabble FC), Josh Bloom (ML Lions B)
L’EQUIPE vs FAITHFOLD C
Competition for places are up for grabs ahead of L’Equipe meeting with Faithfold.
Manager Nick Stern was in reflective mood at his pre-match press conference and he ensured me there will definitely be no end-of-season flavour about this game.
"This season has been a bit of a case of what if,” Stern told JC Sport. “We started off on fire going on a long unbeaten run and then due to a tough run of fixtures and then a number of key absences our promotion challenge sadly faltered.
"However, the true L‘Equipe spirit has been shown in the last six weeks and that has been evidenced by a six-game unbeaten run. I can’t stress how proud I am of the whole squad with the way that they have bounced back. It really does set up well for the end of season bonus in the form of the invitational cup.
"I also would like to thank Mr Wolff who has come under a lot of pressure this year. His decision to push forward with the Invitational Cup was extremely appreciated by all at L’Equipe.
"Onto Sunday. It is a bit of a no-lose situation for us. We are going to use this as a bit of practice for the upcoming cup as this game, like the cup, will be played on a 4G pitch.
"Though we are not fans of it to get the practice against Faithfold will be very useful. I have a very small squad this weekend which is a shame especially as we are coming up against a Faithfold side that seems to be their folded Premier team these days with the likes of Jamie Kent, Craig Cole and Shai Davidi, many of whom I have played with and against, dropping down the divisions as the season ends.
"It will be a very, very tough challenge for us but I know the squad that I have will be competitive and show the L’Equipe spirit that they have shown the last six games.
"Our squad is still being confirmed but we’re glad to have Mark Smith available just before his upcoming marriage which I am sure you like everyone at L’Equipe wish him all the best for. He has been a real star for us this season and it is just a shame I haven’t been able to have his services every week. A couple other thank you if I may, namely to Daniel Cordell and Richard Mail who are once again helping us out this week and David Brown who joined us mid-season and has fitted into the L’Equipe way from week one. The commitment shown by many players this year has been brilliant and I just hope we all stick together for a special year next year; it being L’Equipe’s 10-year anniversary."
I’ve received several comments about the strength of Faithfold’s respective B and C teams in recent weeks. Temple Fortune were stunned into submission by the sight of Jamie Kent and Shai Davidi last week but manager Rob Shooman was keen to play things down ahead of kick-off.
He told JC Sport: "Most of my guys are ‘on the beach’ as they say, but we WILL get a team out and try to give L’Equipe a decent game."
Shooman expressed relief that the Superhoops have “only two games left in what has been a very disruptive season”.
Much depends on the personnel that turns out for Faithfold on Sunday, but I’m going for a high-scoring draw.
Venue – TBC, Ref – Paul Dobkin
JC star man: David Brown (L’Equipe)
DC Prediction: L’Equipe 3 Faithfold 3
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HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B vs MACCABI LONDON LIONS B
The top two places are already confirmed, but I’m sure the Lions will be looking to finish as close to champions as possible.
They will also be determined to finish the season as the division’s top-scorers, with Josh Bloom going into the game lifted by his award as Players’ Player of the Year at the recent MLL awards.
Daniel Fattal snapped up the team’s other internal accolade and I expect them to go for the jugular in what should be a high-scoring contest.
Hendon had an excellent first half of the season but they were unable to maintain those high standards after Chanukah.
Revenge will be on the minds of the Hendon boys who were crushed 5-1 by Lions in March The Reds haven’t won since early February and I can’t see them getting any joy against the rampaging Lions.
Venue – TBC, Ref – Richard Jaye
JC star man: Ben Winters (Lions)
DC Prediction: Hendon 1 Lions 4
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REAL HENDON vs TEMPLE FORTUNE
Bouncebackability is the name of the game for Temple Fortune who conceded 10 at the hands of Faithfold C last week.
Aron Barnes fired another goal since his shock move to the club but it will need a big team effort to stop a strong Real Hendon side.
The Real boys shared the goals around in last week’s comfortable 3-0 win over Boca Jewniors. Rafi Addlestone, Lolu Hibbert and Doron Shooter eased them to their 10th win and three points on Sunday would cement fourth place.
Venue – Powerleague Finchley, Ref – Mike Cowan, KO – 10am
JC star man: Doron Shooter (Real)
DC Prediction: Real 4 Fortune 2
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REMAINING FIXTURES
MAY 15
Prem Div – Oakwood vs Raiders
Div 1 – FC Team B vs Woodford Wanderers
Div 2 – Faithfold C vs NL Raiders C, FC Team C vs Boca Jewniors, Temple Fortune vs ML Lions B
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MAY 22
Prem Div – Redbridge vs Raiders
Div 1 – Brixton vs Oakwood
Div 2 – Raiders C vs Hendon B
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MAY 29
Prem Div – Hendon vs Raiders
Div 1 – FC Team B vs Redbridge B
Div 2 – Catford & Bromley vs Raiders C, Temple Fortune vs Scrabble FC
