The race for the MGBSFL title resumes on Sunday following a two-week winter break, with leaders HMH and defending champions Hendon United Sports both in action, as well as some big games in Division One and Two.
December 31, 2019 13:55
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MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
LEAGUE TABLE (TOP 3)
1. HMH Pl. 8, W. 5, Pts. 16
2. Hendon Utd Sports Pl. 6, W. 5, Pts. 15
3. Faithfold DocMM White Pl. 8, W. 4, Pts. 14
TOP-SCORERS 12 - Josh Cuby (Oakwood A), 9 - Akiva Solomon (Faithfold Doc MM White - plus one for Green)
FAITHFOLD DOCMM WHITE vs FAIRLOP FC
Faithfold go in search of their third consecutive victory as they look to start 2020 in style against basement battlers Fairlop FC.
The Superhoops beat the Essex boys 4-3 earlier in the season and another barn-storming contest is on the cards.
Akiva Solomon is just a goal shy of double figures and boss Avi Markiewicz is hopeful he can tie him down to a long-term contract soon.
Promotion apart, Fairlop will be glad to see the back of 2019. Manager Aaron Dias desperately needs to work some magic in the January transfer window as their search for that elusive first league win continues.
Fairlop have only played one away game in the league to date so they must come up with a new game-plan about how to frustrate their north-west London hosts in the second half of the season. Otherwise it’ll be a quick return to Division One.
Venue – Capital City
JC star man: Dovi Vogel (Faithfold)
DC Prediction: Faithfold 3 Fairlop 1
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HMH vs MLFC BLUE
At the halfway point of the season, HMH have thrown down the gauntlet to defending champions Hendon United Sports. And although they have played two games more than the reds, it’s a challenge manager Avi Goldberg and his players are relishing.
The Peter Morrison Trophy holders recovered from an opening day horror show to exact revenge on Hendon. And they have fared exceedingly well in the matches in between, with Max Foster their stand-out performer thus far.
To win the MGBSFL crown in May, HMH can ill-afford many more slip-ups. Oh, and they probably have to beat Hendon in the final league encounter. But before that they have a very tough game against a consistent MLFC side who have taken their game up a level this term.
That included a 1-0 win over HMH in November – which was a bitter pill for Goldberg and co to swallow. Part two will not disappoint.
Venue – The Hive
JC star man: Jake Norton (HMH)
DC Prediction: HMH 2 MLFC 1
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HENDON UNITED SPORTS vs OAKWOOD
Josh Cuby has been one of the players of the season so far, and he’s the man Hendon are going to have to stop as they bid to retain their crown.
Cuby has been Mr Consistent for Oakwood this season, scoring 12 goals in eight matches. But he’s crying out for a strike partner as there’s only so much he can do on his own in the goals department.
Oakwood currently lie in fifth position and we’ve yet to see the best of them under Andrea Fraquelli. It's taking him a lot longer to mould the team he wants. But Oakwood fans will be hoping the prospect of Hendon will bring out the best in them.
Hendon have shown they are human this season. In recent years they’ve been something of a winning machine, but Hertswood Vale and HMH have come away victorious in cup and league, so Jordan Sapler’s boys know they will have to up the ante to retain the title. But they remain in pole position to do so, with games in hand on HMH.
Manager Jordan Sapler only has 21 players to work with in his squad, but they are all uber committed and up for the fight. And their biggest qualities are spirit and the fact that they never know when they are beaten, even if their big-hitters don’t click into gear. As we saw in last season's cup final, just when you think you've got them where you want them, they find a goal out of nowhere.
Venue – Hadley FC
JC star man: Yehuda Korman (Hendon)
DC Prediction: Hendon 2 Oakwood 1
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DIVISION ONE
LEAGUE TABLE (TOP 3)
1. NL Raiders Pl. 8, W. 7, Pts. 22
2. Hertswood Vale Pl. 9, W. 6, Pts. 16
3. NL Galaxy Pl. 7, W. 4, Pts. 15
TOP-SCORERS 15 - Aron Gale (North London Raiders), 13 - James Millet (Hertswood Vale), 10 - Reiss Mogilner (Jewdinese), Zach Cohen (Mill Hill Dons)
JEWDINESE vs HERTSWOOD VALE
A Jewdinese win on Sunday would lift them above second-placed Vale, with three games in hand, and that would certainly get their fans believing they can finally end their way for Premier Division football.
The Zebras will be nice and fresh having only played six league games, and having edged past Vale 2-1 in November, they will hold a psychological edge and confidence is sky high after a run of six games without defeat.
Record signing Reiss Mogilner has been working hard in the gym during the winter break to ensure he hits the ground running in 2020.
Hertswood Vale had an excellent first half of the season in their first season in Division One. Defeats against leaders North London Raiders, North London Galaxy and Jewdinese shows there is still work to do, but they play with no fear and great freedom.
The battle between James Millet and Mogilner will be worth the admission fee alone and it’ll also be pivotal to the outcome.
Venue – St James’ Park
JC star man: Barney Rhodes (Nese)
DC Prediction: Nese 1 Vale 1
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NORTH LONDON GALAXY vs REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE
Title-chasing Galaxy couldn’t have asked for a better first game for 2020.
One of only two unbeaten teams in the division, Luke Lewis’s boys are odds-on extending their unbeaten run to eight games in what looks like a home banker.
A late goal cost them against Brook Farm Rovers last time out as they lost further ground on North London rivals Raiders, so the second half of the season will be about churning out results.
Although player-manager Lewis gets his fair share, the one area Galaxy are lacking is a goal machine, aka Aron Gale, Liron Mannie, Reiss Mogilner and James Millet. Either someone has to step up or Lewis must be prepared to splash the cash as they haven’t blown too many opponents off the park.
Redbridge have lost six out of their last seven and damage limitation could be their best bet on Sunday. That said, manager Daniel Jacobs doesn’t like to park the bus but I just can’t see them getting any joy.
Venue – East Barnet School
JC star man: Dan Brennan (Galaxy)
DC Prediction: Galaxy 3 RJC 0
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NORTH LONDON RAIDERS vs BROOK FARM ROVERS
Rovers go into the new year on a bit of a bounce following their late heroics against Galaxy last time out.
They showed a great never-say-die spirit against one of the promotion hopefuls, and will be looking for more of the same against the league leaders on Sunday.
Joint-player-manager Dan Cohen was unfortunate to have goals chalked off after Bayern Mincha folded, but both her and Philippe Auret have shown their qualities, and it’s clear the team belongs in this division. And with two meetings against Raiders in January, we’ll know a lot more about their credentials in the coming weeks.
Raiders have the look and feel of champions. Seven wins out of eight and a team that scores for fun, they are certainly going places.
Aron Gale and Liron Mannie is a partnership to scare the living daylights out of most defences, and it’s hard to spot a weakness in their ranks.
NLR’s brand of front-foot football is winning many new fans and it seems only a matter of time they are back in the top-flight.
Venue – East Barnet School
JC star man: Josh Bloom (NLR)
DC Prediction: Raiders 2 Rovers 1
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DIVISION TWO
LEAGUE TABLE (TOP 3)
1. FC Team Pl. 8, W. 7, Pts. 22
2. Borussia Barnet Pl. 9, W. 7, Pts. 22
3. Temple Fortune Pl. 10, W. 6, Pts. 19
TOP-SCORERS 17 - Jono Gaon (Hampstead Ducks), 13 - Daniel Garfinkle (Club De Chigwell), 12 - Saul Green (Club De Chigwell), Danny Sherman (Temple Fortune), 10 - Simon Cohen (Temple Fortune)
BORUSSIA BARNET vs FC TEAM
One of the games of the day sees title rivals Borussia Barnet host FC Team in a contest that really ticks all the boxes.
Most people expected FC Team to be challenging for a top-two finish, especially after they drafted in Jonny Haik to fill the void left by the injured Connor Perl.
Mitch Young’s troops have been ruthless, efficient and effective at both ends of the pitch, and in truth they haven’t been tested too often.
That could all change when they take on a Borussia team boasting similar ambitions. On paper they look like one of the few teams capable of rubbing shoulders with FC Team, with some big-hitters of their own in Michael Kenley, Adam Lipman and Joe Botchin.
A big crowd is expected for a game which could be settled by a moment of magic. Borussia would make a big statement if they came away with maximum points, though the onus perhaps is on them having played a game more.
Venue – Bridgestone Arena
JC star man: Adam Bowman (Borussia)
DC Prediction: Borussia 2 FC Team 2
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NORTH WEST LONDON BEARS vs CLUB de CHIGWELL
The Bears finished 2019 with mixed feelings. There were times they felt rock bottom as having had a decent pre-season, results did not go their way until the beginning of December.
Slowly, slowly, we are seeing the green shoots of a recovery for a team in need of experience in key areas.
They couldn’t have asked for a tougher start to 2020 than free-scoring Chigwell. The Essex boys are well-placed to kick on in the new year, with strikers Saul Green and Daniel Garfinkle locked in an almighty battle for the club’s Golden Boot award.
Unlike the Bears, Chigwell ooze goals, and they are also capable of mixing it up when needed. They showed great bouncebackability skills to beat PSJ last time out, following the heavy defeat against FC Team, and all the signs point towards a Chigwell win.
Venue – London Academy
JC star man: Joel Poole (Chigwell)
DC Prediction: Bears 1 Chigwell 3
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PARIS SAINT-JEWMAIN vs TEMPLE FORTUNE
Simon Linden has been searching frantically to find out if PSJ sensation Amit Shabtai is still in London on Sunday when Temple Fortune are the visitors.
The Israeli hot-shot hit the MGBSFL running, with five goals in two games, including two games Chigwell last time out. And with a little more composure, he could’ve had a third in the 4-3 defeat.
PSJ had an inconsistent first half of the season. Five wins and five defeats has left manager Elio Elia with plenty of thinking to do. Lots of plus points, but also several areas to work on.
Fortune sit four points ahead of PSJ. Striker Danny Sherman is their answer to Bobby Firmino, as he scores and assists, but has yet to master the no-look finish!
Linden’s troops average four goals a game and are living up to his pre-season promise of pushing for promotion. But they have to take it one game at a time and hope other results go their way.
Venue – Brunel Uni
JC star man: Gabriel Saul (Fortune)
DC Prediction: PSJ 3 Fortune 4