Avi Goldberg says his young guns are determined to lift the Jewish FA Cup for the first time ahead of Sunday’s trip to Harrogate, where they will take on a Haroldeans team hoping to avenge last year’s final defeat.
May 15, 2019 09:01
A new name will be engraved into the Jewish FA Cup, with MGBSFL Premier Division runners-up HMH locking horns with a Haroldeans team on the up.
Having finished second in their first season in the MGBSFL, Goldberg revealed his team are “down to the bare bones” for the showpiece match, which will be played on a third generation artificial surface.
HMH have progressed through four rounds to reach their first Morrison final, beating Los Camden, Fairlop FC, Oakwood A and holders Lions. However, they will be missing Teddy Levenfiche, the two-goal hero who guided them past Lions, plus the suspended Sam Monjack and Adam Abadi, along with a host of other players who are travelling and hope to follow the match via social media.
Goldberg said: “We still have top-scorer Oscar Wagner, who has scored 20 goals this season, plus Ethan Krell and Clark Norton.” HMH's defensive unit of Sammy Kingston, Josh Goldstein and Thomas Prais have also stood out this season, and they are ready to become history-makers.
HMH will complete their preparations for the big match England’s training base at St George’s Park. Goldberg spoke of his respect for Haroldeans and said: “We know they will give us a very tough test as they reached the final last year, so they know the drill.
“Haroldeans beat league champions Hendon to get this far, but we have been in good form and had to beat two other top teams, Oakwood and Lions, to get to the final, so we will be ready come Sunday to give it our best shot.
HIGHLIGHTS: WATCH HMH'S SEMI-FINAL WIN OVER LIONS
“I am immensely proud of everything the lads have achieved this season. We finished runners-up in the Premier Division, are unbeaten against the top teams and are in the final of the National cup knockout competition.
“Winning the cup with our brand of football will be a fitting climax to a superb first season in men’s football for these young men.”
HAROLDEANS UNHAPPY WITH 3G VENUE FOR CUP FINAL
Haroldeans also go into the game in fine form. Max Barnett scored a hat-trick in their final game of the season – a 7-1 triumph over Sorrento UK – which confirmed third place in their first season in Division One of the Liverpool Business Houses League.
Boss Mike Bloomberg, who works closely with his assistant and club chairman Fraser Saville, hopes fortune favours the Merseysiders who lost 1-0 to Lions in the final last year, when they lost young goalkeeper Jared Clein to a broken arm and were defeated by a penalty.
Looking ahead to the game, Bloomberg said: “Finishing third in a 14-team division our first season in non-Jewish football is a great achievement.”
Haroldeans have won 18 out of 26 matches, losing six games, “five of which were by one-goal margins against the teams around us at the top of the division,” added Bloomberg.
“The move to another league has made us much more competitive and really challenged us. We also reached the semi-final of another cup competition so are definitely improving as a team.
2018 PETER MORRISON FINAL PHOTOGALLERY
Haroldeans started the competition with a hard-fought win over MGBSFL champions Hendon United. This was followed by a controversial quarter-final victory over Manchester Maccabi, which they won on penalties, but a replay was ordered by the National Football Committee due to an administrational error by the referee. Haroldeans went on to win the replay, also on penalties, before beating second division Mill Hill Dons with four second-half goals.
“The win over Hendon gave everyone a big lift,” said Bloomberg. “However, having to play Manchester twice set us back mentally for a couple of weeks, given the sense of injustice. But we’ve regrouped and are unbeaten.
Top-scorer Adam Shiffman and Clein, 16, have impressed this season, while Bloomberg predicts great things from midfielders Zack Goldsmith, Paul Harris and Maxim Green, along with central defenders Sam Kersh and Ben Kersh.
Bloomberg admits his players “are not thrilled” about having to play the final on an artificial surface. He said: “We train on it but don’t play on it regularly. We are also not over the moon about playing final in Harrogate and having to travel 70 miles, but we understand time has been lost due to our replay against Manchester.
“Travelling distance will impact on the number of supporters and the surface will probably make it a level playing field as HMH play home matches on the surface. I am expecting a very even game as we also like to get it down and play so it should be a great spectacle.”
Haroldeans chairman Fraser Saville also has his reservations about the location, and said: “Whilst we had hoped to get venue nearer to home or Manchester, there were no grounds available, so the Morrison Committee have chosen Harrogate Town as the venue for the final.
“Their pitch is 3G and in my opinion, this gives HMH an unfair advantage as they have played the majority of their games on 3G this season, while we have only ever played on the surface a couple of times.
“Whilst I understand that 3 and 4G pitches are the way forward and that most of grass roots football will be played on this surface in the future, it will be difficult to play on this when you are not used to it."
However, Bloomberg says nothing will stop Haroldeans from enjoying their second final in two years. “We’re just happy to be in the final again as three years ago we were close to folding the team.
"Now the boys have an unbelievable spirit and from a community point of view we’re punching above our weight, with only around 2,000 Jews in Liverpool.”
ROUTE TO THE FINAL
HAROLDEANS
Semi-final – bt Mill Hill Dons 4-0 – Barnett, Green, Cooper, Bookey
Quarter-final (replay) - bt Manchester Maccabi 1st on penalties (1-1 AET)
Quarter-final - bt Manchester Maccabi 1st on penalties (1-1 AET)
Round Two – bt Hendon United 2-1 – Shiffman 2
Round One - Bye
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HMH
Semi-final – ML Lions 4-0 – Levenfiche 2, Adabi, Monjack
Quarter-final – bt Oakwood A (2-2) on penalties) – Goldberg, Wagner
Round Three – bt Fairlop 9-0 – Wagner 4, Abadi 3, Winters 2
Round Two – bt Los Camden B 6-1 – Wagner 2, May, Moss, C. Norton, J. Norton
Round One - Bye
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