Danny Caro looks ahead to tonight's Jewish FA Cup showdown between the highly-fancied Maccabi London Lions and Blizzard Storm at Rowley Lane.
PETER MORRISON TROPHY ROUND THREE
BLIZZARD STORM vs MACCABI LONDON LIONS
The Lions, one of the favourites for the competition, will feature several players from their Herts Senior County League Premier Division team for their rearranged tie against Blizzard at the Lane. The reason being is that they “want to win the Morrison,” according to a source.
Andy Landesberg, who was recently appointed manager of the Team Maccabi GB Open Football squad at next year’s Maccabiah Games, has put together a strong group who are still vying for promotion in their Saturday League and they will mean business against the MGBSFL strugglers tonight.
But Landesberg is taking nothing for granted. He told JC Sport: “This will be a difficult tie this evening, with a few out through illness and injury and a couple not available, the squad will be a mixture of the whole spectrum of the senior section of the Club. Obviously mixed in with our Sunday players, we will give the competition the respect it deserves and will play five Saturday players in our squad of 14.
"We expect the Rowley Lane playing surface and the stand and Floodlights to act as an incentive to Blizzard Storm and cannot be anything but 100 per cent focused on this evening’s game. This won't be easy and I can assure you that will be the clear message to the players tonight.
"We will see a debut for 16-year-old James Harpin in goal and 18-year-old Nathan Schindler; it's a shame the under-16's had a match last night or I would have definitely included the likes of Jack Mattey and Alex Rose.
"We are looking forward to a good game and hopefully a performance that can take us through to the last eight of the competition."
The Blizzard boys lie bottom of the Premier. They have lost nine out of 10 matches – their only victory came, you guessed it, against the Lions, at Rowley Lane. Shai Revivo sealed a famous win by firing a deadly double.
It's important Blizzard treat this like just another game and are not overawed by the occasion.
Boss Simon Linden told JC Sport: "It has been a tough season for us, so it's nice to get away from league action. It's a big cup tie and should be a great occasion.
"Lions will be at full-strength, I'm being told they will feature a lot of the Saturday boys which I still can't get my head around - you have to feel for those regular Sunday players not included - however, I know my lot and how much it would mean for them to get a result on Wednesday, and we are more than capable.
"We have shown five or six times this season that we can compete and have been unfortunate to lose by the odd goal.
"I have my strongest squad possible bar Michael Woolfe who faces a late fitness test and Avi Markowitz will be a late decision.
"Bring it on, let's make headlines - I have two 35-year-olds in the camp, Adam Levene and Adam Speck who would love a day out at Wingate. Me personally, a cup run would be a great help in what's been a tough season."
Will lightning strike twice? I don’t think so.
Venue – Rowley Lane, Ref - Mark Jacob, KO – 8pm
JC star man: Max Kyte (Lions)
DC Prediction: Lions 3 Blizzard 0
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