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.
April 20, 2017 09:34
Jacobs cranked up the mind games following RJC’s crushing 7-0 semi-final win against Finchley City by suggesting the Lions would “throw in Saturday players Austin Lipman, Josh Kennet and Max Kyte” for the crunch clash at Wingate & Finchley.
But he is confident his close-knit squad will deal with the challenge as the east Londoners attempt to secure the first piece of a possible league and cup double.
“We’ll go to Wingate to win,” said Jacobs. “We have enough quality in our squad all over the park to compete and then impose our game on a talented Lions squad.”
Redbridge have scored 97 goals in all competitions this season, with Dean Nyman top-scoring with 22. They will also be looking to utilise the pace of 15-goal Daniel Garfinkle and England futsal star Russell Goldstein, who has chipped in with 12 strikes.
There are also three sets of brothers in the RJC squad, with Ben, Sam and Nathan Sollosi producing a series of commanding performances, while Matt and James
Berkley are pushing for a place in the starting XI. The experience of Adam and Danny Hakimi has also been crucial, especially in the high-profile matches. Jacobs described them as “great men to have around the club”.
Zac Neiman and Darryl Rubin have forged an excellent partnership at the heart of the defence, while marauding full-back Ryan Cole is a leading contender for Player of the Year.
It has been a successful campaign for the Redbridge club, with the B-team crowned champions of Division One earlier this month, while the C’s are flying high in Division Two.
Under Jacobs, the A-team have lost only two games this season and victories over Hendon United and North London Raiders over the coming weeks will see them clinch the MGBSFL crown.
“This is the first of three finals for Redbridge that will hopefully turn a good season into a great one,” said Jacobs.
The Lions have saved their best football for the cup competitions this season. They remain on course to secure a respectable top-four league finish under manager Ryan Spinger.
Goals from Adam Arnold, Jack Mattey and James Gold helped Lions A conclude their league season with an impressive 3-1 win over Peter Morrison Trophy finalists Raiders A.
Springer said: “Hopefully this positive display will give the boys some momentum ahead of what promises to be a thrilling finale at Wingate.”
The goalkeeping department has been something of an issue for the Lions, with Herts Senior County League top-scorer James Gershfield filling in during a run that has seen them beat Redbridge C, holders Hendon A and Lions B. But he has been ruled out of the showpiece match through injury.
Mexican stopper David Sacal is expected to line up in goal following successful surgery in Detroit.
The Lions have been goal-shy at times this season, so all eyes will be on Twitter ahead of kick-off to see if their big Maccabiah trio are involved.
Follow @DjCaro for live updates from Wingate & Finchley on Sunday.
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ROUTE TO WINGATE
REDBRIDGE
Semi-final: bt 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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LIKELY LINE-UP:
Redbridge: Lee, Berg, Neiman, Rubin, Cole, , Goldstein, B. Sollosi, N. Sollosi, S. Sollosi, Garfinkle, Nyman. Subs: M. Berkley, J. Berkley, McCarthy, Summers
Lions: Sacal, Hassell, Taylor, Smith, Beresford, Ellis, Lampert (capt), Arghebant, Jackson, Burchell, J. Gold. Subs: Kennet, Lipman, Kyte, Arnold
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