Chigwell Athletic made a big statement of intent with a 4-2 victory over defending champions North London Raiders A in Division One of the Maccabi Masters League.
A deadly double from Adam Stolerman plus one apiece from, Danny Sugarman and Steve Summers took Chigwell three points clear at the top.
NLR's goals came through Stefan Benfredj, scoring on his debut, and Tony Plaskow with a sublime free-kick.
The heroics of stand-in keeper, and player-manager David Garson could not stop Faithfold from going down to a 6-2 defeat against Brady Maccabi. Scott Warren (2), Paul Shamplina, Kevin Lotzof, Mark Wagman and Ashley Davidson earned Brady their first win of the campaign. Stefan Simons bagged a brace for Faithfold.
Two from James Temple and an own goal earned HMH a 3-2 win over Waldaf Town. Alex Bourne and Lloyd Becker replied for Waldaf.
Maccabi London Lions continued their seemingly inexorable march towards another title with a 6-0 demolition of Temple Fortune, thanks to goals from Simon Black, Michael Abraham, Arthur Duke and a 'perfect’ hat-trick from Marc Morris – one with his left foot, one with his right and one with his head.
And Gary Adams was also amongst the hat-tricks, as his treble – plus a penalty from Greg Morris – led Glenthorne to a 4-0 win over Brady B.
But it took a solitary strike from the warhorse Steve Krieger to earn EDRS Stonegrove the narrowest of victories over Marshside, and leapfrog their rivals into second place.
DIVISION ONE
Chigwell Athletic 4 North London Raiders 2
Faithfold 2 Brady Maccabi A 6
Waldaf Town 2 HMH 3
DIVISION TWO
Brady Maccabi B 0 Glenthorne 4
EDRS Stonegrove 1 Marshside 0
Temple Fortune 0 Maccabi London Lions 6
TABLES
DIVISION ONE
1. Chigwell Athletic Pl. 4, W. 4, Pts. 12
2. North London Raiders Pl. 4, W. 3, Pts. 9
3. Scrabble Pl. 3, W. 2, Pts. 6
4. Brady Maccabi A Pl. 3, W. 1, Pts. 3
5. Waldaf Town Pl. 3, W. 1, Pts. 3
6. HMH Pl. 4, W. 1, Pts. 3
7. Faithfold Pl. 3, W. 0, Pts. 0
DIVISION TWO
1. Maccabi London Lions Pl. 4, W. 3, Pts. 12
2. EDRS Stonegrove Pl. 4, W. 2, Pts. 7
3. Marshside Pl. 4, W. 2, Pts. 6
4. St John's Wood Tigers Pl. 2, W. 1, Pts. 4
5. Glenthorne Pl. 2, W. 1, Pts. 3
6. Brady Maccabi B Pl. 3, W. 1, Pts. 3
7. Temple Fortune Pl. 3, W. 0, Pts. 0
8. Hendon Harriers Pl. 3, W. 0, Pts. 0