By, Danny Caro
5 min read
ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
The focus on Matchday 34 turns to the race for the Division One crown as title rivals Woodford Wanderers and FC Team A go head-to-head, while there is also action in the Premier and second division.
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PETER MORRISON TROPHY FINAL COVERAGE
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SEASON 2015/16 ROLL OF HONOUR
Peter Morrison Trophy: Winners – Hendon Utd, Runners-up – NL Raiders A
Cyril Anekstein Cup: Winners – NL Raiders A, Runners-up – Oakwood A
MGBSFL Premier Division – Champions – NL Raiders A, Runners-up – TBC
Division 1 – Champions – TBC, Runners-up – TBC
Division 2 – Champions – Scrabble FC, Runners-up – ML Lions B
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YOUR WEEKEND PREVIEW STARTS HERE:
MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
TOP-SCORERS
25 - Dovi Fehler (Hendon A)
24 - Daniel Garfinkle (Redbridge JC A – including 3 for RJC B)
OAKWOOD A vs NORTH LONDON RAIDERS A
NLR’s walking wounded still have three matches left as they look to finish the league season unbeaten.
The double-double winners were unable to push their treble ambitions through in the Morrison final against Hendon last week, and they will find themselves up against a motivated Oakwood team gunning for the runners-up slot.
David Dinkin broke Oakwood’s hearts in the recent Cyril Anekstein Cup final and no doubt revenge will be on the minds of the Oaks who have were denied victory in the first league meeting against a stoppage time effort from Nyv Bogaire.
Like Raiders, Oakwood have had a terrific season. Next year will be a big one for them as they look to make the big step up to the top table in terms of silverware, having been the bridesmaids for the last few seasons.
A close encounter is on the cards and I can’t see Oakwood losing this time.
Venue – Nicholas Breakspear, Ref – Martin Lavender
JC star man: Alex Lee (Oakwood)
DC Prediction: Oakwood 1 Raiders 1
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DIVISION ONE
TOP-SCORERS
29 - Reiss Mogilner (Brady Maccabi)
19 - Richard Salmon (FC Team B including one for A team)
FC TEAM B vs WOODFORD WANDERERS
It’s the clash of the titans in Walthamstow on Sunday as Woodford look to seal the title against FC Team – the only side that can stop them.
Woodford haven’t played since April 10 and they have looked on anxiously as FC Team have reduced their lead. Mitch Young’s boys have been rattling in the goals in recent weeks, and they will be looking to avenge December’s defeat when strikes from Martin Sales and Tom Alexander earned Woodford a 2-1 victory.
Lorian Madanes scored for FC Team that day and he has been a key figure for them once again this season, especially in the last three games when they have smashed 22 goals. They have also kept things much tighter at the back too.
Young knows something has to give on Sunday, knowing only a win would take them into their final match against Redbridge in contention for the title. Failure isn’t an option.
Young told JC Sport: “'It's a big one and will be a very close game. We have to go all-out attack and obviously must win the game.
"Woodford have the best defensive record so will be tough to break down and they only need a draw so it is likely to be very tense.
"We have the momentum but cannot let the occasion get to us. We just have to treat it as a normal game of football and enjoy a competitive match."
FC Team have scored almost twice as many goals as Woodford this season, but that will count for little once that first whistle blows. As Young mentions, the east Londoners have the finest defensive record in the division so it promises to be an intriguing battle.
Adam Shafron has been an absolute revelation since joining Woodford from Redbridge. His battle against Richard Salmon will be key. There’s also Alex Aviram up against the red-hot Madanes in a game that will come down to who wins their individual and collective battles.
JC team news: FC Team are at full-strength with the exception of James Korn.
Venue – Douglas Ayre, Ref – Neil Cooper
JC star man: Adam Shafron (Woodford)
DC Prediction: Team 2 Woodford 2
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DIVISION TWO
TOP-SCORERS
26 - Josh Bloom (ML Lions B)
25 - Zak McLeod (Scrabble FC)
FAITHFOLD C vs NORTH LONDON RAIDERS C
The first meeting with Faithfold was arguably NLR C's low-point of the season as they were crushed 5-2. Needless to say, revenge is the name of the game.
Having secured third place, the Raiders are confident of finishing the season on a high. David Domb is confident they can clinch nine points between now and the end of the season, starting with Faithfold.
"There's no danger of us letting the season peter out into nothing," he told JC Sport. " We have three games left and we want the maximum number of points on offer. Plus we need to stop Faithfold securing a league double over us."
Ninth place is not good enough for a team of Faithfold's quality. They were destroyed 4-0 by L'Equipe last week and a number of their players will go into the NLR game feeling they have a point to prove.
But with two key defenders back in the NLR squad I'm going for an away win.
JC team news: David Domb, Josh Daniels and Scott Waissel all miss out for NLR, but Liam Stein and Jake Yudelowitz both return.
Venue – The Hive, Ref – Robert Benardout
JC star man: Jake Yudelowitz (NLR)
DC Prediction: Faithfold 1 Raiders 3
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FC TEAM C vs BOCA JEWNIORS
The Boca boys are still fighting to avoid being the league's bottom team. The signs look ominous however as they have failed to score in more than 270 minutes and were ultimately well beaten by Real Hendon last week.
But a week is a long time in football and there was fighting talk coming out of the changing room in the build-up to this game.
"Anything but the wooden spoon in a must," Anton Nyman told JC Sport. "We have a decent squad available and we need to get back scoring. I think we can achieve something
James Milman and Josh Cooper helped FC Team edge past Boca in October and another close encounter is on the cards.
Team have little more than pride to play for so I'm predicting goals.
JC team news: Key midfielders Adrian Leibovitch, Gab Stone and striker Josh Goodman miss out for Boca.
Venue – Old Camdenians, Ref – Neal Cohen
JC star man: Josh Webber (Boca)
DC Prediction: Team 3 Boca 3
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TEMPLE FORTUNE vs MACCABI LONDON LIONS B
Promoted Lions will be looking to finish their season on a high when they visit Temple Fortune.
Dean Rosenthal was their hat-trick hero in their last meeting with Fortune this season. It finished 8-0 and I fear for the hosts on Sunday.
Sam Marchant has put together a top-quality squad and if they can keep everyone together, I can see them being there or thereabouts again next season.
Fortune were hit for six against Real Hendon last time out. They have only scored 22 goals in 20 games, and conceded 103 in the process.
If Lions are at full-strength, we could have another cricket score on our hands.
Venue – Roger Bannister, Ref – Robert Caplin
JC star man: Charlie Cohen (Lions)
DC Prediction: Fortune 1 Lions 5
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REMAINING FIXTURES
MAY 22
Prem Div – Redbridge vs Raiders
Div 1 – Brixton vs Oakwood
Div 2 – Raiders C vs Hendon B
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MAY 29
Prem Div – Hendon vs Raiders
Div 1 – FC Team B vs Redbridge B
Div 2 – Catford & Bromley vs Raiders C, Temple Fortune vs Scrabble FC
