The leaders in the top two divisions are in action on Matchday 21 of the MGBSFL, while there's also an intriguing contest in store in the Peter Morrison Trophy where first division rivals Oakwood B and Real Sosobad lock horns. JC Sports Editor Here's Danny Caro's preview and predictions.
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PHOTOS OF THE "GREATEST MACCABI MATCH EVER" - HENDON vs REDBRIDGE
JC PODCAST - DANNY CARO TALKS TO TONY GOLD ABOUT THE DECLINE OF JEWISH & GRASS-ROOTS FOOTBALL
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SEE MORE MGBSFL PHOTOGALLERIES
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CUP DRAWS
PETER MORRISON TROPHY ROUND 3 DRAW
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YOUR WEEKEND PREVIEW STARTS HERE:
PETER MORRISON TROPHY ROUND THREE
OAKWOOD B vs REAL SOSOBAD
Opportunity knocks for first division rivals Oakwood B and Real Sosobad on Sunday, with a place in the quarter-finals of the Jewish FA Cup up for grabs.
Jason Stein’s Oakwood are determined to bounce back from last week’s defeat against title rivals Woodford and it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw one or two changes in his starting XI.
Speaking at his midweek press conference, Stein told JC Sport: “We were obviously very disappointed on the flight home from east London after the Woodford match last week and the boys were left to reflect on what could have been when the game was nicely poised at 2-2. We'll learn from it. It's an intimidating place to go Peter May and I'm a better manager for the experience.
"And I know some eyebrows were raised when pictures surfaced of half a dozen of the squad out on Sunday night, but they always had Monday off and people need to remember that the players are human beings as well. The lads asked me about the shwarma night out before the match and just because they are paid well doesn't mean they can't have a life as well.
"In other news, I know there was a lot of speculation surrounding Oaks on deadline day, but none of it was true. I saw the rumours about Dave Esterkin but it's just paper-talk that. Rob Richman will hunt me down if I ever go for that lad so I know better than that. In the end I had to send Kaveh Solhekol on his way home early. But I'll keep working the phones right up until the March 16 deadline for sure."
Ahead of Sunday's tie, he added: "I'm looking forward to the Sosobad game. The lads have been totally gripped by cup fever. We've no league game next week either so the break from the cut-and-thrust of the title race will do us some good.
"In a few weeks we'll be able to better assess where are rivals are and what we'll need to do with our close to a half dozen games in hand. I also hope by then we will have a historic Peter Morrison quarter-final match to look forward to.
"In other news we'll be off to Dubai straight after the Sosobad match for a few days of warm weather training."
Sosobad enjoyed their biggest win of the season last week, with Dan ‘the Apprentice’ Lassman and Ashley Stanton bagging braces.
Indeed this is the start of an important period in their season, with matches against Brady, Redbridge and Raiders to follow.
Speaking exclusively to JC Sport ahead of kick-off, Sosobad boss Dan Shafron said: "Oakwood B are a very good side and we are looking forward to this test.
"The last time we played, we scraped a 12-man squad together and were forced into an early change whilst 3-2 up. There was then a catalogue of errors in the final 25 minutes where we conceded four despicably sloppy goals.
"I'd like to think that we will have a little bit more to us this time around and I am excited about how this will play out.
"On our day, we are as good as anyone in this league. There are plenty of positives to take in to this weekend following our win against Faithfold so we must stay focused, be resilient defensively and relentless in our attacking play.”
Oakwood don’t lose many on their own patch and when all is said and done, I think home advantage will hold the key.
JC team news:Forwards Dan Ash and Dan Selwyn return from suspension and holiday respectively while Bobby Abrams will line up in what is expected to be his penultimate match for Oakwood. Experienced defender Jon Beilin will start in his first Oakwood match for 364 days.
Venue – Nicholas Breakspear, Ref – Mark Jacob, KO – 10am
JC star man: Jon Beilin (Oakwood)
DC Prediction: Oakwood 2 Sosobad 1
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MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
TOP-SCORERS
16 - James Gershfield (Harmen)
12 - Dovi Fehler (Hendon A)
FC TEAM A vs HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A
I’m surprised David Garbacz didn’t treat his Hendon players to a week in the sun somewhere to recover from the Match of the Millennium.
It will take the Reds some time to recover fully, both mentally and physically, so don’t be surprised if gaffer Garbacz tinkers with his line-up ahead of what will no doubt be another tough work-out against FC Team.
Garbacz spent much of the week analysing the Redbridge performance and he might have had one or two sleepless night reflecting on how they conceded six times.
But he knows FC Team offer a very different threat, one he sounds ready for. Garbacz told JC Sport: “It could have the feeling of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ this week after last week’s incredible match, but if anything, we feel so rejuvenated and full of confidence that the boys are simply raring to go again.
"There is a hugely renewed feeling of optimism and confidence running through the squad and our aim is to build on last week and go on a long unbeaten run from now until the end of the season.
"All of a sudden we are really enjoying our football again after not getting the run of the ball at all in the first half of the season, but if there is any team to bring you down to earth it can be FC Team.
"They have caused us problems in recent meetings and we are expecting another tough match.
"We need to avoid giving away free-kicks in dangerous areas which can give them the ability to pump the ball into our box, but assuming we can keep the ball on the deck we should be able to take the euphoria of last week into this match and get the win to enable us to reach a more respectable league position."
FC Team remain dangerous opponents for anyone. Inconsistency has held them back this season but they love the big matches and will be out to take a famous scalp.
They drew 3-3 against Hendon earlier in the season and have beaten Lions and Redbridge. But they don’t keep enough clean sheet andI can see both sets of players going home with something to show for their efforts.
JC team news: Only Rafi Kon and the University bound Moses Seitler are unavailable for Hendon.
Venue – Old Camdenians, Ref – Neil Cooper, KO – 10am
JC star man: Gav Krieger (Hendon)
DC Prediction: Team 2 Hendon 2
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HARMEN vs BLIZZARD STORM
Harmen crushed the Blizzard boys 8-1 earlier in the season, but they are reeling from last week’s battering at the hands of Lions A.
Sam Castle fired a consolation but that was about as good as it got in a game where they were second best by quite some distance.
Harmen are the top-flight’s top-scorers, thanks largely to James Gershfield, but the Lions result was a big setback following the excellent recent win over Hendon.
Blizzard Storm have turned into the Aston Villa of the MGBSFL. That’s not meant as an insult to Simon Linden, it’s just a sign of the times, with the other eight teams in the division having bigger and stronger squads.
But Linden loves the role of the underdog. He will be working on a special game-plan that probably involves Adam Levene trying to mark Gershfield out of the game in a contest where two former North West Neasden greats lock horns.
Man for man Harmen hold all the aces but don’t write off Blizzard altogether.
Venue – Hadley FC, Ref – Martin Lavender
JC star man: Sam Castle (Harmen)
DC Prediction: Harmen 2 Blizzard 1
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MACCABI LONDON LIONS A vs REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A
With their Anekstein hopes over for another season, Jon Jacobs must lift his players off the ground as Redbridge attempt to keep their title aspirations alive and kicking.
They had defeat snatched from the jaws of victory in the thriller against Hendon last week. None of their players deserved to be on the losing side, but their character and fitness levels will be tested by a rapidly improving Lions team.
Max Kyte’s deadly double lifted the Lions into second place after they put Harmen to the sword last week.
RJC have five games in hand on the Lions and victory on Sunday would lift them back above the boys from Rowley Lane – a team they thumped 4-1 in October with strikes from Jason Goldstein, Darren Brown, Nathan Sollosi and James Berkley.
But I have a strong suspicion things will be much closer second time around. The Lions have come a long way since then and it will need something special from the east Londoners to return to the M25 with maximum points.
JC team news: Dean Nyman has been added to the Redbridge squad for the trip to the Lane.
Venue – Rowley Lane, Ref – Andy Myerson
JC star man: Adam Hakimi (RJC)
DC Prediction: Lions 1 RJC 1
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NORTH LONDON RAIDERS A vs CAMDEN PARK
Raiders have had a fortnight to recover from the thriller against Oakwood and they hope to ease seamlessly back into the programme against Camden Park.
L'Orange will be looking to complete a league double over a Camden side who gave a good account of themselves against the defending champions in November. Strikes from Ricky Engleman – my Player of the Month for January – and David Dinkin guided NLR home.
Camden were missing several players that day and manager Will Castle hopes they’re nearer to full-strength for the rematch where even a point would be a right result for them and NLR’s title rivals.
NLR boss Rob Richman told JC Sport: “We are raring to go again after an unplanned week off last week. The postponement did give us an extra week to recover from a few knocks and bruises from a tough run of fixtures in January.
"We are starting to get people back from injury and that can’t come at a better timing with some big games coming up over the next few weeks and months.
"First it’s Camden on Sunday and we will be fully focused on producing a good performance if we do that the result hopefully will take care of itself."
Camden played some nice football against Oakwood last week. They were eventually over-powered but not until the second half. Castle will ensure they have dusted themselves down and are ready to go again.
They have taken 11 points from 11 matches and although they enjoyed a run at the top of the table early on it’s important they accumulate enough points to ensure they steer clear of the relegation scrap.
But as NLR showed against Oakwood, they have game-changers on the bench and I expect Sunday to be far more straightforward for them.
JC team news: Jonathan Rochwerger is in line for his belated debut. Oscar Wagner misses out.
Venue – The Ark, Ref – Martin Fox, KO – 10am
JC star man: Jonny Kay (NLR)
DC Prediction: NLR 3 Camden 0
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DIVISION ONE
TOP-SCORERS
23 - Reiss Mogilner (Brady Maccabi)
17 - Jacob Richler Kleiman (Oakwood B)
SPEC FC vs WOODFORD WANDERERS
There’s a great buzz around Borehamwood ahead of the visit of league leaders Woodford.
The east Londoners are expected to big following to the Wood after their excellent win over title rivals Oakwood last weekend.
James Ryan produced his “best performance in a Woodford shirt” as the former East London Knights star fired a brilliant brace.
But managers Daryl Kay and Jerome Marks will instruct the players to now forget about the Oakwood game and only look forwards.
Kay told JC Sport: “This weekend we face SPEC full of confidence after putting Oakwood to the sword last week.
"Granted the conditions weren’t great on Sunday which made it hard to play football, but we were dominant in every position, and we will have the same mentality this weekend.
"We said last week that every game now is like a cup final and this week’s game will really test our character, because last week’s win counts for nothing if we don’t win this week.
"We have a strong team to field and there’s even talk of Jerome Marks rolling back the years to make an appearance.
"We’ve already beaten SPEC once this season but we also know they’re no pushovers so once again we look forward to what should be a tough fixture."
Ricky Lawrence is as about as honest as Maccabi managers come. He told me that Woodford deserved to beat SPEC earlier in the season – when Tom Alexander scored twice in a 2-0 win – and he said much the same about Brixton last week. No doubt bouncebackability is the name of the game on Sunday.
Lawrence told JC Sport: "After a bitterly disappointing defeat last week I'm hoping to see a reaction at the very least.
"We went down with a bit of a whimper to Woodford at the beginning of the season and I'll be looking for more fight this Sunday.
"They're a very good side though so we'll have to be at our best to get anything out of the game."
When you’re looking for potential match-winners, it appears that Woodford have more. Mitch Hahn, Harrison Midda, Tom Alexander and James Ryan spring to mind immediately. That’s why I’m tipping them to edge it.
Venue - Hertswood, Ref – Keith Goodman, KO – 10.25am
JC star man: Jerome Marks (Woodford)
DC Prediction: SPEC 1 Woodford 3
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FAITHFOLD B vs FC TEAM B
FC Team B take on Faithfold for the first time this season and I expect Mitch Young’s men to register maximum points.
I am predicting an open game here, because I don't think Faithfold are a team who will try to close games down. That is just not the way they play.
Team showed their credentials by scoring four times against fellow promotion hopefuls Brady and manager Mitch Young will set his team up to dictate the pattern of play at the Hive. I'm tempted by the 20-1 price on James Korn scoring for the second week in a row.
Faithfold were hit for six by Real Sosobad last week and the games are starting to run out for them.
Don’t be too surprised if they try to park the bus but an early goal for the visitors would make it a very long morning for the boys in green and white.
Venue – The Hive, Ref – Robert Benardout
JC star man: James Korn (Team)
DC Prediction: Faithfold 0 Team 3
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LOS BLANCOS vs NORTH LONDON RAIDERS B
Goals are guaranteed on Sunday in a game between two teams blessed with attacking options.
Neither Blancos or Raiders will go up or down and with little at stake, I’m urging both sets of players to go for it.
Both sides have conceded 46 times in 14 matches so expect to see lots of photographers behind both goals!
It’s hard to believe NLR have only won three times this season. They are packed with quality all over the park but concentration levels have lapsed this season and every time they score, so do the opposition.
Blancos have yet to win in front of their own fans in the league this season but with the mercurial Simon Moses in the squad again, that could be about to change.
They finished ultimately well beaten at Redbridge last week but manager Jon Ison predicts a big reaction.
"Last week was a game to forget,” Ison told JC Sport. “The only positive being the goal-scoring return of last season’s top-scorer Simon Moses, who we're very happy to have back for a few weeks.
"We also welcome back Josh Hirschowitz this week. He has been out the game for a while but he was a fans' favourite many years ago and we’re hoping he can recapture his form from the last time he wore a Blancos shirt.
"All in all we have a good squad this week and are confident if a positive result."
It finished 5-5 the last time the teams met so I’m going for Blancos to win a nine-goal thriller on Sunday.
JC team news: Blancos’ regular no.1 Nick Grosse is unavailable this week, but they have a top notch replacement in newly - engaged Josh Gertner.
Venue – West Hendon, Ref – Neil Cohen
JC star man: Simon Moses (Blancos)
DC Prediction: Blancos 5 NLR 4
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REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B vs BRADY MACCABI
At one stage not so long ago, Brady had the title in the bag. But failure to win any of their last four league games means one thing to me – squeaky bum time.
I’ve heard rumours that Brady may not accept promotion if they go up – as champions or runners-up – but manager Josh Dagul must be pulling his hair out as they have conceded some pretty sloppy goals against Blancos, Faithfold, Oakwood and last week FC Team.
No doubt Redbridge will ask questions, especially after trouncing Blancos last week. They will give Brady a real test, especially on their own patch, and now that Ashley Stanton is back among the goals.
Boss Sam Rank inundated me with team of the week nominations last week and he’d be delighted if he has the same dilemma come Sunday lunchtime.
Ahead of the Brady game, Rank told JC Sport: “After last week’s impressive victory, it is about keeping momentum going.
“We know Brady are a good side, but once again I am very confident of a big performance from the RJC B boys.
“If David Dobrin, plays like he did last week, the Brady defence will have a lot of problems.”
As Rank says, Brady are a good side. But Sunday is the day for Redbridge to show they are also one, and they have to start doing it on a consistent basis.
The million dollar question for me is, can Brady do it on a parky February morning at Fairlop? Only time will tell …
JC team news: David Cohen and David Fialka are away on scouting trips for RJC, but Adam Noble returns to what is otherwise a full-strength squad.
Venue – Fairlop, Ref – David Lazarus, KO – 10am
JC star man: Daniel Bean (RJC)
DC Prediction: RJC 3 Brady 3
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DIVISION TWO
TOP-SCORERS
16 - Zak McLeod (Scrabble FC)
13 - Josh Bloom (ML Lions B), Danny Sherman (Scrabble FC)
NORTH LONDON RAIDERS C vs BOCA JEWNIORS
It is hard to stop Raiders at the moment and Boca will have a big task on their hands trying to keep the scoreline respectable on Sunday.
It doesn't matter how you dress this up, there is a big gulf in class between the teams and if L’Orange break the deadlock early on, a deluge is on the cards.
They crushed Temple Fortune 5-0 last week, with strikes from Charles Braunstein, Alex Elf, Oliver Telvi and Will Ufland and another one-sided contest is on the cards.
The mood in the NLR is good and home fans will arrive expecting another goal fest.
David Domb told JC Sport: "The guys have put a really good run together and it's thrown us right into the mix as we begin to make up the games in hand.
"Boca gave us a real game last time out and will look to give another good account of themselves. We'll have to focus for the 90 that's for sure."
The fixture list has been particularly unkind to Boca in recent weeks. They go into the NLR game with heavy defeat against Raiders and Lions under their belts. They have failed to score in six matches this season and have the signs look ominous.
That all said, the Boca boys played their hearts out against NLR last time out and the 2-0 scoreline was certainly respectable.
Boca’s Anton Nyman told JC Sport: "Surprisingly, we’re playing a game. Given it is on 3G it’s almost guaranteed to be played too. We’re in the habit of playing one every every weeks at the moment - due to various weather and pitch-related reasons - so we’re looking forward to our Sunday game this week and the three-week break that follows till the next.
"Last time out we kept it tight against NLR and I hope we can do the same again just with a bit more attacking intent. With the in-form Elio Elia at our disposal, we can all hope for goals from our magic man."
But such is NLR’s power my money is on a far more emphatic margin of victory.
JC team news: JC team news: Nick Haringman and David Domb are out, but Marc Woolfe and Alex Goodman return for NLR.
Boca have "a few injury doubts" for the weekend, including key defenders Gavin Fox and Jack Shulman. Anton Nyman is
"looking forward" to a first appearance since the beginning of December having recovered from injuries.
Venue - Brunel, Ref – Quentin Fox, KO – 10am
JC star man: Alex Goodman (Raiders)
DC Prediction: Raiders 4 Boca 0
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CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI vs ATHLETIC BILBAUM
"Can we play you every week?" That’s what Catford fans were singing to Maccabi London Lions long before the final whistle last week.
Danny Yeshua scored the goal that earned them a point which was the least they deserved, according to player-manager Jeff Gotch.
But it’s all good and well doing it against a top team such as the Lions. The challenge facing gaffer Gotch is that they must do it week in, week out and that’s exactly what he’ll be saying to his players in the dressing room before Sunday's game.
Catford’s home form has been good in general and they will fancy themselves in their first meeting with Bilbaum this season.
Gotch told JC Sport: “So on Sunday we are at home again - that will be 10 from 12 games in a row. It looks as though we’ll be doing some travelling over next couple months.
"We'll look to continue our good form. I don't know much about Bilbaum but we played them in the cup and got smashed! I played eight players who have now moved on and we are far better off.
"I expect another good performance and this week three points, although it won't be easy.
"We have a strong squad of 16 to choose from and I have some headaches to decide who should be involved, but this headache is a good headache."
The Baums haven’t won since mid-November but they produced a strong performance last time out against Faithfold and they will go to Harefield with no fear.
But if you ask me who is going to win on Sunday, I’d have to say the Cats. But it will be tight.
JC team news: The Cats are without Ash Stokes and Eli Baraty but everyone else is available.
Venue – Harefield 3G, Ref – Stuart Ansher
JC star man: Adam Simon (Catford)
DC Prediction: Catford 2 Bilbaum 1
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FC TEAM C vs TEMPLE FORTUNE
If anyone deserves an award this season, it’s Fortune boss Jonathan Cohen.
He has earned plaudits for keeping the Fortune ship afloat and NLR were the latest team to commend his efforts following last week’s defeat. Goalkeeper Jeremy Barnett was also praised following an excellent performance in goal.
I won’t run down Fortune’s stats which don’t make great reading, but one I will emphasise is that they haven’t scored in their last five games.
With this in mind, FC Team are expected to name an attacking formation as they look to make it five games without defeat.
Fortune need a lucky break but they may have to wait another week or two.
Ref – Paul Dobkin
JC star man: Jeremy Barnett (Fortune)
DC Prediction: Team 3 Fortune 1
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L’EQUIPE vs HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B
There’s a good mid-table battle in store as L’Equipe look to move to within a point of Hendon.
Mark Glucksman was the star of the show for Nick Stern’s men against the all-conquering Scrabble. He didn’t deserve to be on the losing side and neither did David Prager, who showed no signs of rustiness following a six-week absence.
Having slipped out of the top three for the first time this season, the only way is up for Adam Glekin’s Hendon. Defeats against the likes of Catford and Bilbaum have hampered their progress as automatic promotion is now a distant dream.
But it’s all about playing football for Glekin and co. He told JC Sport: "Hopefully we can finally fulfil a fixture on Sunday, it seems like an eternity since we last played.
"We had a good session last Sunday at Powerleague, and the lads are all raring to go.
"We've had some good battles with L'Equipe over the years so it should be a decent contest. We're still in with a shout for second place, and the next few weeks will be critical if we're going to achieve that."
I am expecting this to be a very open game, and I am also expecting it to end up as another draw.
JC team news: Michael Epstein will make his Hendon debut on Sunday after a sterling performance in last Sunday's seven-a-side game proved his worth to boss Adam Glekin. Dovid Reid is also in contention to make his first appearance for the club. Benni Sluckis returns to the Hendon squad after over a month out, “amazingly not having missed a game”. Wingers Jono Nesbitt and Gideon Barth remain injured, but otherwise Glekin has a large squad to select from.
Venue – West Hendon, Ref – Robert Caplin, KO – 10am
JC star man: David Prager (L’Equipe)
DC Prediction: L’Equipe 2 Hendon 2
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DANNY CARO'S MATCHDAY 20 AWARDS
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