PETER MORRISON TROPHY FINAL
South Manchester Sports Club 1st vs North London Raiders A
May 7 – West Didsbury and Chorlton AFC
-------------------
CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP FINAL
Maccabi London Lions A vs Redbridge Jewish Care A
April 23, 10.30am – Wingate & Finchley FC
-------------------
MGBSFL ROLL OF HONOUR
Prem Div – TBC
Div 1 – CHAMPIONS – Redbridge Jewish Care B, Runners-up – ML Lions B
Div 2 – CHAMPIONS - L’Equipe, Runners-up – Temple Fortune
-------------------
YOUR WEEKEND PREVIEW STARTS HERE:
CAMDEN PARK vs FC TEAM A
Camden Park will be looking to secure a quickfire double over an FC Team side they thumped 4-0 last month.
A deadly double from David Smouha eased Stirling Kay’s men to maximum points and they will be looking to finish the season with back-to-back victories for the first time this season, finishing their campaign against SPEC FC.
Defeats against Raiders and Brady have not dampened the mood in the Camden camp, and finishing the season with two home matches gives them an opening to say a big thank you to the loyal supporters that have stuck with them through a testing season.
FC Team are crawling over the line. Defensive frailties have bitten them in the bottom over the second half of the season and manager Mitch Young has some big decisions to make over the summer.
2016/17 will be remembered as a season of transition for the Team who will be relieved to hear Mark Jacob blow his final whistle to bring down the curtain on a season in which they have been stretched to the limit.
Venue – Hadley FC, Ref – Mark Jacob, KO – 10am
JC star man: Sacha Nusenbaum (Camden)
DC Prediction: Camden 3 FC Team 0
-------------------
-------------------
MACCABI LONDON LIONS A vs NORTH LONDON RAIDERS A
Raiders players will be excused for being a little heavy-legged as they return to the scene of their famous Peter Morrison Trophy victory seven days ago.
Goalkeeper Jake Doffman had a worldie, while captain David Rhodes and Alex Bloch played out of their skin in a titanic battle against Lions Masters, while a first-half penalty from David Dinkin took them into the Jewish FA Cup final.
Three points will be the target on Sunday as they look to extend their one point advantage over the Lions.
Indeed Dan Shafron’s men know maximum points from their last two matches could see them pip Hendon United to third place.
But the Lions will be looking to bounce back from last week’s woeful showing against Woodford. That’s two games on the spin they have lost and Ryan Springer will be looking for some big performances from his Lions ahead next week’s League Cup final.
A handful of his squad are playing for places in his starting XI at Wingate, as the Lions go in search of a notable league double scalp.
Venue – Rowley Lane, Ref – Daniel Fox, KO – 10am
JC star man: Nick Lewis (Raiders)
DC Prediction: Lions 0 Raiders 2
-------------------
-------------------
FINCHLEY CITY vs REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B
Finchley City know victories in their last three matches would likely see them pip Scrabble FC to third place, which would be an excellent return in their first season in the MGBSFL.
But newly-crowned champions Redbridge B stand in their way – a team that has lost just once in the league this season.
Redbridge go into the game on the back of a terrific run that has seen them beat Lions B, Scrabble FC twice – and the league winners will be looking to finish off the job following a 3-1 win over Finchley in February.
Finchley were missing their notorious front three of Oli Sade, Jono Gaon and Daniel Polak that day. So no doubt they will be keen to prove a point and show the champions what they are capable of.
This is definitely one to keep an eye on.
Venue – Capital City, Ref – Richard Jay, KO – 10am
JC star man: Scott Shear (RJC)
DC Prediction: Finchley 1 Redbridge 2
-------------------
-------------------
NORTH LONDON RAIDERS B vs ATHLETIC BILBAUM
Some things are certain in life. And Jake Gilbert scoring against his former team-mates last month were something of a dead-cert.
Gilbert has been in top form in 2017, showing why Raiders paid such a generous transaction for his services. I’ve heard rumours of somewhere around the 20 smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels, but we should probably park that until after Passover!
Raiders don’t want the season to end. They looked sharp against the Lions last weekend and would have taken maximum points had it not been for the reflexes of James Harpin – a contender for the Safe Hands award.
Bilbaum have shown great character this season, pushing Scrabble and Oakwood all the way in recent outings.
But over the course of the next 90 minutes, I think Raiders will boss it.
Ref – Steve Russell, KO – 10am
JC star man: Rob Benson (Raiders)
DC Prediction: Raiders 3 Bilbaum 0
-------------------
-------------------
DIVISION TWO
BOCA JEWNIORS vs REAL HENDON
The Boca boys have two bites of the cherry left to climb off the foot of the table.
Defensive errors have been punished in recent defeats against Faithfold, Temple Fortune and L’Equipe, and they must keep things simple at the back against an efficient Real side on Sunday.
That said, they did beat Chaim Gothold’s men only a few weeks ago, when Josh Cinna and Sam Simon were the marksmen.
But they face a real battle to keep hold of Cinna over the summer. I’ve heard rumours several clubs in Division One want the versatile player who has excelled at the back during the second half of the season.
But Real are targeting a top four finish and if they can breach the Boca defence early doors, I can see them running away with it.
Venue – Chase Lodge, Ref – Robert Benardout, KO – 10am
JC star man: Martin Smulovitch (Real)
DC Prediction: Boca 1 Real 4
-------------------
-------------------
RC UK FC vs CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI
RC UK exorcised some demons when they produced a five-star showing against the Dons last weekend.
They now have third place well within their sights as they prepare to host a Catford team, with revenge on their minds.
It finished 4-1 to Jeff Gotch’s boys in October – a game in which the Cats ran away with it during the second half.
But the Cats have lost their last three and I can see them find things much tougher second time around.
Ref – Neal Cohen, KO – 10am
JC star man: Jake Lewis (RC UK)
DC Prediction: RC UK 3 Catford 1
