YOUR WEEKEND PREVIEW STARTS HERE:
CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP FINAL
HENDON UNITED SPORTS vs OAKWOOD A
Greg Corin believes Hendon United go into Sunday’s Cyril Anekstein Cup final with a psychological advantage over Oakwood as they look to secure the double.
Hendon were crowned MGBSFL champions following their recent 3-1 victory over Oakwood — a team they have beaten home and away in the league this season.
JC team news: Oakwood will give late fitness tests to several players, so "it may not be until an hour before kick-off where the line-up is confirmed. Several key players are battling against the clock to be fit".
Venue - Rowley Lane, KO - 4pm
Officials: Match referee - Luke Steele, Assistant-referees - Phil Peters and Marc Rister. Fourth Official - Richard Jaye
JC star man: Zac Lewis (Hendon)
DC Prediction: Hendon 2 Oakwood 1
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BARRY GOLDSTEIN TROPHY FINAL
TEMPLE FORTUNE A vs FAITHFOLD B
Simon Linden has challenged his players to put a season of torment behind them and finish it with silverware, as they prepare to tackle second division Faithfold B in the final of the Barry Goldstein Trophy at Rowley Lane on Sunday night.
Former winners Faithfold B will be looking to give outgoing player-manager David Garson the perfect send-off.
So, something has to give …
A high-scoring contest is on the cards, in what could be survival of the fittest on a big pitch befitting the final.
JC team news: Faithfold’s noticeable absentees are Chaim Bordon, who is in Israel, Ben Kfir and Gav Lewis. Aron Luftig will provide cover at full-back.
FORTUNE (from): Joel Carlowe, Lee Fegan, Adam Speck (capt), David Brown, Lee Hyams, Rob Jay, Josh Klepper, Daniel Vandemolen, Gideon Wetrin, Conor Brand, Gab Stone, Steven Black, Simon Cohen, Michael Goldberg, Simon Linden (player-manager), Gab Saul, Declan Spiro, Brett Stead, Jacob Kalms, Mike Woolf, Darren Zitren, Ami Wynbourne, Lloyd Becker, Gideon Caplin
FAITHFOLD (from): David Garson, Aron Luftig, Stuart Haring (capt), Nick Stern, Tony Plaskow, Josh Barnett, Josh Lewis, Naftali Dove, Josh Martin, Mark Singer, Yoss Brownson, Jon Kay, David Prager, Zalmy Cohen, Gav Lewis, Sam Garson, Jonathan Marrache, Dan Yossman
OFFICIALS: Referee - Dan Fox, Assistant-referees - Stuart Ansher, Bob Caplin. 4th Official: Robert Benardout
JC star man: Lee Hyams (Fortune)
DC Prediction: Fortune 3 Faithfold 2
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MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
TOP 2
1. Hendon Utd (CHAMPIONS) Pl. 14, W. 12, Pts. 37
2. Oakwood A Pl. 13, W. 8, Pts. 26
CAMDEN PARK vs REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A
The Premier Division season is scheduled to finish on Sunday, with Camden Park hosting Redbridge in Arkley.
Both teams have forfeited matches in recent weeks, so let’s hope football is the winner this weekend.
A draw should be enough for Redbridge to salvage a top four finish. They had high hopes of silverware at the beginning of the season, but they have fallen short.
Camden have suffered from personnel problems, but they gave an excellent account of themselves in two recent matches against champions Hendon United.
No doubt they will be looking to finish the season with a bang.
Venue – Hadley FC, Ref – Lee Browne, KO – 10am
JC star man: Dan Orgel (Camden)
DC Prediction: Camden 3 RJC 2
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DIVISION ONE
TOP 2
1. Faithfold A (CHAMPIONS) Pl. 14, W. 10, Pts. 33
2. NL Raiders B (Runners-up) Pl. 14, W. 9, Pts. 29
OAKWOOD B vs LOS BLANCOS
Sunday is effectively a third place play-off for both Oakwood and Los Blancos.
Jason Stein’s troops hold a far superior goal difference going into the game, so a draw will be enough for them.
With all eyes on the club’s A-team this weekend, Stein spoke of the focus he expects from his players.
Oakwood cruised to a 4-1 victory over Blancos in November – when Jacob Richler-Kleiman, Ben Loofe and Sam Modlin registered. And with home advantage, they are a good shout to complete the double.
I caught up with gaffer Stein earlier this week. He told JC Sport: “Thanks for coming. Sparsely attended B-team press conference this week isn’t it. Looks like I’ve over catered really.
“Of course I have to begin by just acknowledging it’s a massive week for the club. You can feel the excitement around the building ahead of Sunday. We had the lads in yesterday picking up their suits and our preparation for the final is nearly done. Was a bit awkward when Blanky turned up to HQ for the first time since retiring to find Dan Kristall hadn’t ordered a suit for him. Even I got one and all I do during A-team games is slouch in the dugout and occassionally shout something about Toby Levy!
“And, of course, we have a game … a big one as well. A draw would be enough for us to seal third spot - our highest-ever finish. Of course, we’d love and will be aiming to repeat our fantastic win over Blancos back in November.
“Blancos come into the game level with us on points. And I’m happy for them. But, while it is nothing to do with them, I am disappointed that in the last few weeks they benefitted from Redbridge C twice forfeiting against them.
“I think Redbridge C need to think about how that distorts the integrity of the league. In January we travelled to Essex for a fantastic game against them. Led by Mitch Hahn they edged a top contest 2-1. That was a great game and day. But when it comes to Blancos they just lie down and gift them six points. It’s a shame.
“On Sunday my boys will go and have to earn that third spot and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Blancos have been in forfeited matches in three out of their last four games. It’s been impossible for them to gain any kind of momentum, so their fans will turn up more in hope than expectation.
JC team news: Dean Caplin will keep goal for Oakwood while Dan King will captain the side as per usual. Attacking options include Dan Ash, Dan Seligman and the exciting George Goldberg. Midfield dynamo Louie Libbert will line up against his old club.
Venue – Nicholas Breakspear, Ref – Neal Cohen, KO – 10am
JC star man: George Goldberg (Oakwood)
DC Prediction: Oakwood 3 Blancos 1
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SCRABBLE FC vs REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE C
In all honesty, Ray Abrahams and his Scrabble squad will be glad to see the back of what has been an incredibly difficult season.
They have ultimately failed to recover from the exit of a number of key players and the replacements have been unable to fill the void.
Scrabble will be eyeing revenge against a Redbridge team who beat them 2-1 earlier in the season.
Redbridge have pulled out of their last two matches, so let’s hope they are able to cobble together an XI of some description.
Venue – Capital City, Ref – Steve Russell, KO – 10am
JC star man: Ben Bowers (Scrabble)
DC Prediction: Scrabble 2 RJC 0
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DIVISION TWO
TOP 4
1. Bayern Mincha Pl. 20, W. 15, Pts. 47
2. Fairlop FC Pl. 17, W. 13, Pts. 41
3. Mill Hill Dons Pl. 18, W. 13, Pts. 40
4. FC Team Pl. 20, W. 12, Pts. 38
MILL HILL DONS vs FAIRLOP FC
Fairlop require four points from three games to be crowned champions – and I wouldn’t bet against them.
This is the toughest game of their run-in, with matches against Temple Fortune B and Raiders B to follow.
The east Londoners are bang in form, with nine consecutive league victories under their belts, and I have a feeling Daniel Garfinkle will be in the goals on Sunday.
Beaten 3-1 in Essex in March, the Dons can still clinch promotion, but it will take a super-human effort to stop a Fairlop team with their tails up.
Venue – Aycliffe Park, Ref – Mark Jacob, KO – 10am
JC star man: Daniel Garfinkle (Fairlop)
DC Prediction: Fairlop 4 Dons 1
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REAL HENDON vs HERTSWOOD VALE
A top five finish will be the reward for the victor of Sunday’s tussle between Real and Vale.
The top four teams have raised the bar high this season, so fifth would be a respectable effort for either camp.
Real will be reflecting on what might have been. When I saw their squad at the start of the season I though ‘hello’ – dark horses possibly? But they have dropped points at crucial stages of the season and the end of season report will undoubtedly read ‘should have done better’.
"We were very frustrated last week by the folding of Straw Hat Pirates - and are hoping that this week's fixture against Hertswood Vale in Borehamwood will go ahead," Real's Rafi Addlestone told JC Sport.
"We have a bit of a scratch team for our penultimate game of the season, but our spine of Zysblat, Smulovitch, Shooter, Goldberg, Goldberg and Noe should be enough to see off Vale."
Vale are finishing the season with a flourish. Their squad is looking really strong and balanced now, and having shared the points with Real in September, I expect them to come out of the blocks all guns blazing.
Managers Jacob Emanuel and Danny Hirschberger have done a grand job. Ahead of kick-off, Emanuel told JC Sport: "Sunday is our last game of this season and we’d love a win, to not only boost our chances of finishing fifth by reaching 30 points, but also to get a victory against a team that we have have yet to beat in the league in the last two seasons.
"When we faced them at the start of the season, we deserved a win, only to be pegged back by a bicycle kick from their player-manager to equalise in the last minute ... to be fair it was a great goal.
"We're looking forward to this one and hopefully, ending a much-improved second season on a high."
JC team news: Vale will be missing "quite a few of the lads that have seen us on such good form coming into this game". Ben Chiltern, Jordan Harris, James Millet and Jonti Schogger lead that list, but Bradley Lobetta, James Neidle and Elio Elia return ... whilst there are rumours that Ollie Brill may return for just his second appearance of the season.
Venue – West Hendon, Ref – Paul Dobkin, KO – 10am
JC star man: Simon Englander (Vale)
DC Prediction: Real 2 Vale 3
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CUP FINAL DETAILS
PETER MORRISON TROPHY FINAL
Maccabi London Lions White vs Haroldeans - Sunday, May 6. Venue: Kings Langley FC, KO 2.30pm
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MGBSFL ROLL OF HONOUR
PREMIER DIVISION: CHAMPIONS - Hendon Utd, Runners-up - Oakwood A
DIVISION ONE: CHAMPIONS - Faithfold A, Runners-up - North London Raiders B
DIVISION TWO: Champions - TBC, Runners-up - TBC
