JC MSFL Matchday 29 review

PHILLIPS POWERS FAITHFOLD TO 9TH WIN
FAITHFOLD A 1 FC TEAM A 0
Daryl Phillips moved Faithfold to within a point of leaders Hendon with the only goal in a hard-fought win over FC Team.

Stalwart Phillips clinched Faithfold's ninth league win of the season and they remain firm favourites to win the championship with games in hand on the teams above them.

Faithfold boss Zuriel Solomon told JC Sport: "It was more of game how many chances we could miss. We created numerous chances and squandered lots of final balls in the final third."

FC Team boss Mitch Young told JC Sport: "Faithfold deserved the win - they created a number of chances but their finishing was tremendously poor. We kept the score at 1-0 and created at least three clear-cut easy chances ourselves which we should have taken to nick a draw."

DC Prediction: Faithfold 3 FC Team 1

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REDBRIDGE GET THE BETTER OF OAKWOOD
OAKWOOD A 0 REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A 1 (DOUBLE-HEADER)
REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A 1 OAKWOOD A 1
Redbridge came away with four points from a double-header against Oakwood to keep alive their title hopes.

Jack Van Gelder was the matchwinner for Eilon Kennet's men in the opener.

Then it was the turn of top-scorer Adam Stolerman to find the net as part two finished honours even.

RJC boss Eilon Kennet told JC Sport: "I know they are an evil necessity, but I really hate double-headers.
Firstly, it's very hard to play as well in the second game as in the first. It's a psychological thing, but very hard to overcome.

"Secondly, if you are chasing the game for a winner, the missing half hour is a massive factor. That's exactly why we dropped two points, by drawing the second game, having comfortably won the first."

Oakwood joint-manager Alex Schock told JC Sport: "Normally I would be disappointed to only take one point from a double-header, but to be honest I'm proud of the boys today and we did deserve more. We went into today's game with 13 first team players missing through injury, suspension and just the general Passover holidays - most teams would struggle, but we have a strong squad to cope and the 11 players who played the whole 120 minutes were fantastic."

DC Prediction: Oakwood 1 Redbridge 2/Redbridge 3 Oakwood 1

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DIVISION ONE

CLASSY CHIGWELL DO THE BUSINESS
FAITHFOLD B 0 CHIGWELL ATHLETIC 3 (DOUBLE-HEADER)
CHIGWELL ATHLETIC 4 FAITHFOLD B 2
Chigwell kept alive their promotion hopes with maximum points from a double header against struggling Faithfold B.

Dean Ben Yosef, Russell Yershon and Brad Gayer wrapped up a comfortable 3-0 win in part one.

The second game was tighter but Chigwell took the points thanks to a rare strike from Lee Hyams plus one apiece from Ben Yosef, Doron Weinstein and Jamie Fox.

Jubilant Chigwell player-manager Richard Slater told JC Sport: "We kept out good form up today. We were excellent and did what we had to do. There were some cracking goals too. Credit to Faithfold they have some talented players."

DC Prediction: Faithfold 1 Chigwell 3/Chigwell 2 Faithfold 0

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SHIRLEY DENIED LATE ON
SHIRLEY PARK 2 CAMDEN PARK 2
Promotion rivals Shirley Park and Camden finished honours even following a four-goal thriller at Norseman FC.

Saul Conway and Gideon Gold were the marksmen for Shirley who have moved six points clear.

Guy Marks had put Camden in front and it needing another goal from top-scorer Richard Silver to break Shirley's hearts in the dying stages.

Camden player-manager Josh Marks told JC Sport: "It was a game we controlled. They equalised through a soft free-kick and we were in shock at conceding a second goal. Between these two events we missed chance after chance including miss of the season by Sam Bennett who apart from that was outstanding and my MOTM. All in all a good point considering the league table."

Shirley player-manager Dave Lusman told JC Sport: "A win for Shirley looked like it was on the cards as we were 2-1 up and waiting for the final whistle, but Camden hit us hard in the dying seconds to level up and share the points which was a real shame for us as we looked the better team and deserved more than a point from the game.

"All in all this was a great game for the few spectators and solid performance from the Park faithful bar the odd few who could only blame there lack off fitness due to the festive season."

DC Prediction: Shirley 2 Camden 3

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HEROIC HARMEN WIN FIVE-GOAL THRILLER
SOUTHGATE HARMEN 3 GLENTHORNE UNITED A 2
A hat-trick from LEE GREENFIELD saw Southgate Harmen caused one of the shocks of the day as they won a five-goal thriller against highly-fancied Glenthorne at Ashmole.

Glenthorne's goals came through Richie Rosenthal and top-scorer Craig Sandford.

Jubilant Harmen boss Dan Uzan told JC Sport: "This was another good result by Harmen who are growing in confidence every week. In the last three games we have taken seven points from the top three teams."

Thornes boss Sam Rosenthal told JC Sport: "It was a tight game, we had chances to score more, but can't win them all. We have to pick ourselves up for next week."

DC Prediction: Harmen 0 Glenthorne 2

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UJIA 0 NORTH WEST NEASDEN A 3 (DOUBLE-HEADER)
NORTH WEST NEASDEN A 3 UJIA 1
Neasden gave their fans some much-needed cheer by claiming an impressive six points in this relegation 12-pointer against the U's.

DC Prediction: UJIA 2 NWN 1/NWN 2 UJIA 1

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WOODFORD WANDERERS 1 TEMPLE FORTUNE A 3 (DOUBLE-HEADER)
TEMPLE FORTUNE A 2 WOODFORD WANDERERS 2
Temple Fortune came away from this double-header with four precious points after getting the better of Woodford in a two-hour football extravaganza.

The in-form Kane Gilbery scored twice and Shai Davidi once as Fortune took the first game with a good performance.

Woodford marched into a 2-0 lead in part two, but Fortune hit back to earn a point with strikes from Gilbery and Josh Marlow.

In Lee Fegan's absence, Jonathan Cohen was in charge of Fortune. He said: "Superb. I'm absolutely delighted with the outcome considering we really struggled to get a team out all week and at one point feared we might have to concede. It was a real gutsy performance, especially in the second game when we were up against it, so full credit to the team."

DC Prediction: Woodford 1 Fortune 3/Fortune 1 Woodford 2

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DIVISION TWO

LUCKY 13 FOR BRADY B
ATHLETIC BILBAUM 1 BRADY MACCABI B 3
Leaders Brady B notched up their 13th and arguably one of the most important wins of the season as they overcame the Baums thanks to goals from Sam Sinclair, James Joseph and Reiss Mogilner at Copthall.

James Mandell registered for the Baums with a stunning goal of the week contender.

Brady boss Josh Dagul told JC Sport: "It was a very important win against a determined Bilbaum. The pitch wasn't great but I felt that we were always in control of the game and the team most likely to score. We were unfortunate to go into half time at 0-0 but their goalie made some fantastic saves. In the second half we added the goals and deservedly won the game."

Baums joint-player-manager Mark Pasha told JC Sport: "It was not a vintage Baum performance but certainly not our worst. Brady are definitely the best team in the division and deserved the win on the day, effectively wrapping up the title contest."

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DC Prediction: Bilbaum 2 Brady 3

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FOUR-MIDABLE BLANCOS SEAL 10TH WIN
CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI 0 LOS BLANCOS 4
Los Blancos boosted their promotion hopes with goals from Josh Gaon (2), Adam Hersh and Adam Waters steering them to their 10th win of the season as they ripped Catford & Bromley to shreds.

Blancos chairman Joel Minsky told JC Sport: "We're at the business end of the season now, so of ultimate importance is getting the three points, but we are also very happy with our performance today. To keep a clean sheet and put away four against a well-organised team is a credit to how we played from front to back - with a particular highlight being how we used the counter.

"Catford gave us a good fight today, and over our two games against them this season I'm surprised they're in a relegation battle - they're much better than that."

Catford captain Adam Luria told JC Sport: "We struggled for a team this week and had no subs. We missed three one-on-ones in the first half and then didn't play well enough to deserve anything from the game after that. On to next week ..."

DC Prediction: Catford & Bromley 2 Blancos 2

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FC TEAM B HIT HIGH FIVES
FC TEAM B 5 BLIZZARD STORM 1
FC Team B piled more pressure on relegation threatened Blizzard Storm after running out convincing winners.

DC Prediction: FC Team B 3 Blizzard 1

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RAMPANT RAIDERS ON SONG
GLENTHORNE UNITED B 0 NORTH LONDON RAIDERS B 4
Raiders B claimed their eighth league win of the season with a classy performance in east London capped by goals from Jonny Blain, Ethan Zone, Sam Morell and Rob Samuelson.

Raiders assistant-manager Rich Abrahams, who was in charge in the absence of boss Oli Shorts told JC Sport: "Despite the lengthy drive over to Ilford and the loss of the extra hour of sleep, I don't think any Raiders fan can deny this was a result worth getting out of bed for!

"The pitch cut up quite a lot which made any kind of passing game quite difficult, but both team tried to play football in the right way and the game was played in a great spirit. Hopefully we can kick on with another good result next weekend against the old rivals SPEC."

DC Prediction: Glenthorne 3 Raiders 2

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REDBRIDGE B LEFT RED-FACED
REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B 1 NORSTAR B 4
Oh dear. Where to start with this one? Having made a rare Redbridge B to win prediction - Jon Jacobs' men saw their good run come to a grinding halt as they were ultimately well beaten by rock bottom Norstar B.

Jon Kay opened the scoring for Norstar before Rob Blackman opened up a 3-0 lead with a quickfire double, including a stunning chip from 23 yards. Jordan Grant sealed the win with a breakaway goal.

Saul Green fired the consolation for RJC.

Norstar Club Chairman, linesman and only spectator Phil Peters told JC Sport: "It was a great game to watch from the sides today with everyone working so hard to get the result. Redbridge are a very good team who had an off-day today but credit to our boys we really capitalised."

DC Prediction: Redbridge 4 Norstar 0

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DIVISION THREE

HUSTLERS IN GOOD ELF
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB C 5 TEMPLE FORTUNE B 0
A stunning four-goal blast from top-scorer ALEX ELF inspired Hendon C to a big win over Temple Fortune B.

It was something of a family affair as David Elf completed the rout.

DC Prediction: Hendon 3 Fortune 1

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STARS GIVE FAITHFOLD C AN ALMIGHTY SCARE
NORSTAR C 2 FAITHFOLD C 2 (DOUBLE-HEADER)
Norstar C dented Faithfold C's hopes of a top four finish after taking a point from each game in a double-header.

Ali Gordon and Tom Orr guided the Stars to a 2-2 draw in part one. Faithfold's goals came through Stefan Simons and Dave Sherman.

Faithfold went ahead through top-scorer Ben Simons in match two but a goal from Nick Haringman ensured Norstar a share of the spoils.

With manager Zack Gothelf away, no. 2 David Domb took charge of the Norstar team. He told JC Sport: "The boys are disappointed not to have come away with a win in at least one of the games. We showed great commitment, desire, and willingness to work together as a unit, and gave a well-organised Faithfold side an almighty scare.

"Things that hampered us in recent games weren't present today. All the boys put a shift in today. Hopefully we can finish our first season strongly as we continue to build for the future."

DC Prediction: Norstar 1 Faithfold 3/Faithfold 4 Norstar 1

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OAKS COMPLETE WIN DOUBLE
OAKWOOD B 1 L’EQUIPE 0 (DOUBLE-HEADER)
L'EQUIPE 1 OAKWOOD B 2
Oakwood B's title hopes gathered momentum as they came away from this double-header with all six points.

A solitary strike from top-scorer Ben Polak was enough to see off L'Equipe in part one.

Polak was on target again in the follow-up, with player-manager Ian Tussie popping up with a rare goal to earn a crucial three points.

Tussie told JC Sport: "To a man we were excellent, but in particular Jack Sultan was magnificent in centre mid, breaking up play from start to finish. Polak was very good and both our centre backs, Blanky and Jamie Beale were rock solid.

"I'm very happy today, to dig in with a squad of 13 for 120 minutes. I feel like Jesus, with my 12 disciples by my side."