YOUR WEEKEND PREVIEW STARTS HERE:
CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP FINAL
REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A vs MACCABI LONDON LIONS A
Jon Jacobs insists Redbridge Jewish Care A have the quality to beat Maccabi London Lions A in Sunday’s Cyril Anekstein final, regardless of the personnel they to decide to play.
Follow @DjCaro for live updates from Wingate & Finchley on Sunday.
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ROUTE TO WINGATE
REDBRIDGE
Semi-final: bt Finchley CIty 5-0 - Ben Sollosi (2), Russell Goldstein (2), Daniel Garfinkle
Quarter-final: bt Camden Park 7-1 – Dean Nyman (4), Sam Sollosi, Nate Kashket, Daniel Garfinkle
Round 3: bt Oakwood B 4-3 AET - Danny Berg (pen), Ben Sollosi, Dean Nyman, Russell Goldstein
LIONS
Semi-final: bt Lions B on penalties (1-1 AET) - Arnold
Quarter-final: bt Hendon 4-2 - Arnold (2), Burchell, Lipman
Round 3: bt Redbridge C 3-1 - Craig (2), Arnold
Round 2: Redbridge JC C 7-1 Bowman, Taylor, Cohen, Arghebant, Goldberg, Cheniart, Lewis
Venue: The Maurice Rebak Stadium, Summers Lane, Finchley, London, N12 OPD
Kick-off: 10:30am
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SQUADS:
REDBRIDGE: Dan Lee, Danny Berg (capt), Zac Neiman, Daryl Rubin, Ryan Cole, Russell Goldstein,Sam McCarthy, Adam Hakimi, Danny Hakimi, Ben Sollosi, Nathan Sollosi, Sam Sollosi, Daniel Garfinkle, Dean Nyman, Matt Berkley, James Berkley, Steve Summers
LIONS: David Sacal, David Kosky, James Gershfield, Max Hassell, Alex Taylor, Nick Smith, Will Beresford, Harry Marlow, Jon Ellis, Cam Most, Richard Gold, Ben Lampert (capt), Sam Arghebant, Jamie Jackson, Adam Burchell, Adam Abadi, Jamie Gold, Josh Kennet, Austin Lipman, Max Kyte, Adam Arnold
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Officials - Referee: Mark Jacob, Asst refs: Neal Cohen and Laurence Thorne, 4th Official: Robert Benardout
JC star man: Sam Sollosi (Redbridge)
DC Prediction: Redbridge 2 Lions 1
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MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
LEAGUE TABLE (TOP 3)
1. Oakwood A Pl. 18, W. 14, Pts. 45
2. Redbridge A Pl. 16, W. 13, Pts. 40
3. Hendon A Pl. 17, W. 12, Pts. 37
CAMDEN PARK vs SPEC FC
Sunday will be an emotional day for everyone connected to SPEC FC who will be looking to win their last ever match before bidding farewell to the MGBSFL.
It has been a wonderful adventure for Ricky Lawrence’s troops who knew their one and only season in the top-flight would be a big ask, but they have enjoyed almost every minute.
SPEC have secured only one win in the top-flight and Camden won’t want to do them any favours. So they will have to earn the right to win the match.
A teary-eyed Lawrence told JC Sport: “Our last game … what can I say? Obviously it's a shame to finish by getting relegated but what a few years it's been.
“We've all enjoyed every minute of it and there have been some fantastic moments.
“We set the club up to play football with friends and that's what we've done. With too many of the core not being able to commit to next season we'd rather go out on like this rather than struggle each week to get a team out.
“We'll be doing all we can to finish with a win and hope to be back in some capacity in a few years."
Traditionally, you get a surprise result at the end of any season, and Stirling Kay will be on his guard to ensure his Camden players continue their good progress since he took charge.
They were good value for the points against FC Team last weekend, when captain marvel Johann Jordi fired them to their fourth win.
But Kay knows the expectation is on his players to win on Sunday. He told JC Sport: “This game against SPEC - although is worth three points – it’s a very big game for all my players as this will be the last chance for them to impress and show me they have what it takes in both ability and application to earn themselves a place in the squad for next year.
“Players who have not stepped in the last seven games have been asked to leave, and there will be more to follow after the game.
“We will be looking next season to look upwards, not down, as we start a new era at Camden as we build on the strengths we have.
“We will be looking to bring in players with great abilities and mental strength who want to be part of a set up of a club that’s on the up.
“So we have all to play for on Sunday and I’m looking forward to very good performance and result.”
I really hope bow out with a bang, and give Lawrence the send-off he fully deserves.
JC team news: Rick Harris returns for Camden who will give late fitness tests to David Kanzen and Mike Khalatschi.
Venue – Hadley FC, Ref – Martin Lavender, KO – 10am
JC star man: Ricky Lawrence (SPEC)
DC Prediction: SPEC 2 Camden 2
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DIVISION ONE
LEAGUE TABLE (TOP 3)
1. Redbridge JC B (CHAMPIONS) Pl. 17, W. 15, Pts. 46
2. Lions B Pl. 18, W. 12, Pts. 39
3. Scrabble Pl. 18, W. 12, Pts. 38
NORTH LONDON RAIDERS B vs FINCHLEY CITY
Raiders must beat Finchley in their final game of season 2016/17 in order to stand any chance of finishing in fourth position.
L’Orange boss Jonathan Adelman took time to reflect on a mixed season, and I could sense a tinge of regret in his voice when he spoke to JC Sport in the build-up to Sunday.
“For a season which started with such promise, it’s really fizzled out - a lack of consistent availability has hurt us badly.
“On the plus side we have a lovely spirit in the group and played some good football, we've ‘discovered’ some talented new players and we will look to have a real go at next season.
“As for the game against Finchley, we had a super battling draw with 10 men in the reverse fixture and we'll be looking to end the season with a win.”
Jake Gilbert has been one of the stars for NLR this season and his head to head with Finchley marksman Oli Sade will be worth the admission fee alone.
The City boys have won plenty of fans for their attacking brand of football. Manager Joel Holder knows the areas of the squad in which he needs to strengthen to ensure they challenge for the Division One title next season.
I’m expecting a wide open, end to end game, with Finchley looking to capitalise on NLR’s indifferent recent home form.
Venue – Ark Academy FC, Ref – Martin De La Fuente, KO – 10am
JC star man: Jamie Gurvitz (Finchley)
DC Prediction: Raiders 2 Finchley 2
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DIVISION TWO
LEAGUE TABLE (TOP 3)
1. L’Equipe (Champions) Pl. 19, W. 15, Pts. 47
2. Temple Fortune Pl. 20, W. 12, Pts. 42
3. Redbridge C Pl. 18, W. 9, Pts. 32
BOCA JEWNIORS vs RC UK FC
RC UK FC have registered 10 goals in their last two matches and Avi Markiewicz’s troops will no doubt be looking to fill their boots against basement battlers Boca on Sunday.
Jez Hammond bagged a brace in the destruction of Catford last weekend – their 10th win in 17 matches.
Win their last three matches and they will finish in third place – a decent return in their first campaign, but not the finish they wanted.
The signs look ominous for Boca on Sunday. They were crushed 7-0 by RC UK in November – when home fans were treated to a four-goal show by Jonti Aremband.
Boca have returned four wins this season, and the positives have outweighed the negatives, but RC UK will have too much for them.
Ref – Stuart Ansher, KO – 10am
JC star man: Avraham Levy (RC UK)
DC Prediction: Boca 0 RC UK 6
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L’EQUIPE vs REAL HENDON
L’Equipe will receive the Division Two trophy in Finchley on Sunday when Real Hendon are the visitors.
I expect the champions to be given the guard of honour as they walk on to the pitch as Nick Stern’s boys put the icing on their 10-year anniversary celebrations.
Simply put, this season could not have gone any better for L’Equipe. Victory on Sunday would see them finish eight points ahead of runners-up Temple Fortune, and no-one can argue they are worthy winners.
Ahead of kick-off, Stern told JC Sport; “Excitement is the only word to describe how we are feeling going into the final game of the season against an ever improving Real Hendon.
“Sunday is the day that we finally put a trophy into the cabinet that has been sitting rather bare for 10 years now.
“We know that we have not done ourselves proud the last two games but Sunday will be different. We have pretty
much a full strength squad but we will be fully prepared as no- one would like the feeling of picking up the trophy having suffered a loss.
“We applaud Real for ensuring that the game will go ahead and just can’t wait to get onto the pitch to celebrate our phenomenal and magical season.
Real pushed L’Equipe close in February and even though they may be missing some regulars, they won’t lay out the red carpet treatment once that first whistle blows.
Chaim Gothold’s warriors are a proud bunch and I expect them to give as good as they get.
But with a sell-out crowd guarantee, it’s L’Equipe for me.
JC team news: L’Equipe will be missing Max Martin, Gideon Chain and Tamir Grant.
Venue – Old Finchleians, Ref – Martin De La Fuente, KO – 10am
JC star man: Matt Gilbery (L’Equipe)
DC Prediction: L’Equipe 4 Real 2
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REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE C vs HERTSWOOD VALE
I’m sure Redbridge’s players would much rather be at Wingate & Finchley to cheer on their A-team in the League Cup final, but they have a job to do on Sunday when Hertswood make the long journey east.
Revenge will be on the menu for Josh Hambling’s men who were famously beaten 5-1 by Hertswood in February.
There were 8’s and 9’s plus a couple of 10 across the Hertswood squad that day, and the pressure could be off now that it appears they have avoided the wooden spoon.
Ahead of kick-off, Hertswood joint-manager Jacob Emanuel told JC Sport: “After a two-week break, the boys travel all the way to Essex looking to do the double over Redbridge.
“Despite sitting second bottom in the table, we feel we’re in a much better position to compete in the league than Boca who sit directly below us.
“After losing our first 12 games of the season, changes in tactics and personnel has seen four wins in our last six games, which sees us sit second in the form table, ahead of champions L'Equipe.
“If we can keep the squad together, bring in some new players in the summer, there’s no reason why we can't have the type of season next year that our squad potential demands.
“Despite buzzing from our 1-0 victory over RCUK a fortnight ago, plans for a second win on the bounce have been hit hard by unavailability and a general feeling of, ‘who wants to wake up early on a Sunday Morning and drive to Essex?’
“As such, three members of the defence that kept a clean sheet against RCUK are unavailable this weekend, whilst wonder kid James Millet and captain Josh Wood also miss out this week.
“Whether we turn up with more than a starting 11 on Sunday remains to be seen, but I’m confident that whatever team turns up will put in a shift, with an intention of pulling off another scalp in the league.
With that in mind, attack could be the best form of defence for the visitors and I’m predicting a game of goals.
Venue – Old Finchleians, Ref – Martin De La Fuente, KO – 10am
JC star man: Josh Goodman (Hertswood)
DC Prediction: Redbridge 2 Hertswood 3
