All eyes will be on Wingate & Finchley on Sunday as North London Raiders A look to retain the Cyril Anekstein Cup against Oakwood, while there’s also action in two of the MGBSFL’s three divisions.
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PHOTOS OF SCRABBLE BEING CROWNED CHAMPIONS
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YOUR WEEKEND PREVIEW STARTS HERE:
CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP FINAL
NORTH LONDON RAIDERS A vs OAKWOOD A
Ric Blank has described the absence of Kyle Bentwood as a major blow ahead of Oakwood’s Cyril Anekstein Cup final showdown against holders North London Raiders A at Wingate & Finchley on Sunday.
Midfield general Bentwood is making good progress after fracturing his collarbone but Blank admits his presence will be missed as Oakwood look to wrestle the League Cup from a Raiders team looking to win the competition for the third season in a row.
ANEKSTEIN CUP FINAL PODCAST WITH ROB RICHMAN AND RIC BLANK
"Kyle is a big miss for us," said joint-manager Blank. "But we have great strength in depth this season and have been far more consistent.
"We’re unbeaten in the league since mid-November and have only lost twice in the league all year. We just feel that a lack of consistency in the early part of the season and the lack of player availability for the big games, has really hurt us."
Blank praised the qualities of Dan Kristall who joined him and Alex Schock in the managerial set-up last summer. “Dan has been excellent,” he said. “It has been a season to build-on and the platform for a big title challenge next year."
Kristall believes the 5-0 semi-final success over Hendon United has given the squad a huge lift. “It was a performance to rival any at this level," said Kristall. "We simply took them apart – they were literally in the shock.
"To hammer the Morrison winners and this season’s finalists in that manner was an unbelievable achievement and it could have been more."
Dan Rose and captain Adam Levine – a long-term absentee - will also miss Sunday’s final as they look secure victory at Wingate for the first time following two defeats, while goalkeeper Jonny Blain and Alex Lee face fitness tests.
Kristall said: "We will use the underdog card to our advantage. We know that Raiders will be the big favourites and we understand why given their excellent league campaign only dropping two points all season.
"However, we proved that in our league meeting we can match them and it took them until stoppage-time to sneak a draw that day. If we play to our maximum on Sunday, we believe that we will take the cup.
"Raiders are an excellent side and certainly the team to beat in Jewish football. They are worthy league champions."
NLR joint-manager Rob Richman is confident his players have recovered from the exertions of their Peter Morrison Trophy semi-final against Lions. They have dominated the League Cup competition for the last three years and he says they have risen to the challenge of defending their trophies.
"As champions we knew the going would be that much tougher this season and we’d have to improve to mount a real challenge.
"We made some clever signings in the summer and managed to hold on to all bar one of our squad from last season.
"Every week we have been tested but every week we have risen to the challenge and to be just three points away from back to back league titles and in the Anekstein cup final for the third year in succession is testament to the hard work everyone has put in.
"We now are focused on finishing the season as strongly as possible."
Team GB midfielder Ricky Engleman was their semi-final hero, scoring a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over FC Team A. He was also on target in the previous round when David Dinkin (2), Nick Lewis and Player of the Year contender Jordan Marks completed the scoring in a 5-1 success over Harmen.
But it is clear Jonathan Green and Richman are taking nothing for granted. “Oakwood are a very tough side to play against,” said joint-manager Green. “They are the only side in league football this season to have taken any points from us so we know they are a big threat.
"They have conceded the fewest goals in the league, alongside ourselves, but also have a very dangerous attacking triumvirate in Dave Woolman, Brad Wine and Sam Cantor, not to mention the exceptional Guy Helman.
"We have the utmost respect for them as a side and as a club. It should be a really great, fascinating game.
"The boys want nothing more than back to back Anekstein cup wins. It was a great occasion last year and we are ever so focused on doing the business again this year.
"We know we will have to be at our very best against an excellent Oakwood side. They gave us problems in our first league meeting this season and we know they will be looking to repeat a similar level of performance this time round.
"For us we believe we have enough quality and match-winners at our disposal to really put Oakwood under pressure.
"If we can reach anywhere close to the performance in the second half versus Lions Saturday then we’ll have a very good chance of winning the game and retaining the cup."
JC team news: There will be late fitness tests for goalkeeper Jonny Blain and Alex Lee, both of whom will train on Wednesday in a bid to start. Long-term absentees Adam Levine (captain) and Kyle Bentwood miss out, along with Dan Rose.
NLR will be missing long-term injury victims Adam Joselyn and Alex Kaye. The cup final will also come just too soon for Ben Ellis. Jonny Kay, Alex Moss and Matt Stock are all unavailable.
JC team news: There will be late fitness tests for goalkeeper Jonny Blain and Alex Lee, both of whom will train on Wednesday in a bid to start. Long-term absentees Adam Levine (captain) and Kyle Bentwood miss out, along with Dan Rose.
Raiders will be missing Jonny Kay and Ben Ellis, along with long-term injury victims Adam Joselyn and Alex Kaye.
CUP FINAL SQUADS:
OAKWOOD: Jonny Blain, Dean Caplin, Dan Cohen, Dave Cohen, Ilan Scorah, Danny Ailon, Eddie Manson, Dale Bradman, Simon Davies, Josh Rose, Dan Seligman, Guy Helman, Alex Lee, Pete Warner, Brad Wine, Dave Woolman, Sam Cantor, Jordan Sherne, Dan Selwyn, Max Clynes, Ben Polak
RAIDERS: Jake Doffman, Josh Morris, Alex Bloch, JJ Spiro, David Rhodes, Josh Pistol, Ben Joseph, Jono Rockwerger, Elliott Moslawy, Oscar Wagner, Alex Moss, Ricky Engleman, Nick Lewis, Oscar Wagner, David Dinkin, Josh Green, Matt Stock, Liron Mannie, Nyv Bogaire, Jordan Marks
Venue: The Harry Abrahams Stadium, Wingate & Finchley FC, Kick-off: 2.30pm
Ref – David Lazarus, Asst Refs: Stuart Ansher, Bob Caplin. 4th Official (and Reserve Referee):
Mark Jacob
JC star man: Liron Mannie (Raiders)
DC Prediction: Raiders 2 Oakwood 1
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MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
TOP-SCORERS
25 - Dovi Fehler (Hendon A)
24 - Daniel Garfinkle (Redbridge JC A – including 3 for RJC B)
No matches scheduled
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DIVISION ONE
TOP-SCORERS
28 - Reiss Mogilner (Brady Maccabi)
17 - Jacob Richler Kleiman (Oakwood B), Richard Salmon (FC Team B including one for A team)
OAKWOOD B vs REAL SOSOBAD
Jason Stein has confirmed that Rafi Bloom has guaranteed himself a start up front with an excellent performance last week, ahead of the visit of Sosobad.
Bloom played like a man possessed in the win over FC Team B, giving the Oaks a real threat in the final third not seen since Bobby Abrams left for pastures new.
The win and performance put the smile back on the face of boss Jason Stein who is focused on his team’s run-in.
“Glad you made it into the building DC, I know the extra security measures are a bit over the top but better safe than sorry,” he told JC Sport. “The last thing we need is a dodgy lasagna entering the property before the cup final on Sunday. Doesn't help that we are also changing the kitchens over this week for Pesach.
“As you can see, I've been relegated to the canteen for my press conference this week. Alex Schock said he needed my office to do an inventory count and budget projections ahead of the game. But it's quite a big office so don't know why he needed it all to himself.
“Sunday will be remembered for the Anekstein final for Oakwood, but the B-team have a game to win and we want to get the big day off to a good start.
"The win against Team B last week lifted our spirits after a tough loss to SPEC and we've now got our sights firmly set on securing third spot. To do that, we know we will likely have to beat Real Sosobad, Brixton and Team B with our remaining games. That's the aim I have set my players: to end the season with three wins.
“We’ve done well in our two games against Sosobad this season but I am expecting a tough match no question. They always work hard and I'm looking forward to it. They'll not want to lose three times to us and they'll have plenty of time to think about the game on the flight over from Essex.”
Real also enjoyed an excellent result on Matchday 30. Sam McCarthy and Fabio Revieccio were the star men in an impressive 4-1 success over basement battlers Brixton.
Boss Dan Shafron told JC Sport that it will now take “a catastrophic capitulation to finish in the bottom” following that crucial victory, but that doesn’t mean his players won’t give everything on Sunday.
Ahead of kick-off on Sunday, Shafron told JC Sport: "Oakwood have been one of my favourite opponents this season. Jason has got his team to play an exciting, attacking brand of football and I think that they’ve been unlucky not to finish top.
"We enjoyed around 60 minutes of our league game with them before giving away some horrendous goals, as well as the first 45 minutes of our cup game when we were unlucky not to be home and dry.
"We come in to this game off the back of a good and much-needed win last week that has all but secured our spot in the division next season.
"Our objective now is to finish above Los Blancos and RJC B and to do that, we need to win at least one of our final two games.
"It’s not an easy ask as we know Oakwood can cause us plenty of problems, however we must believe and take all the positives from last week’s performance."
But with key men returning and a flying Bloom, I’m tipping Oakwood to come away with maximum points.
JC team news: Dean Caplin will keep goal for Oakwood. Dan Geey and James Abrams return to form the central midfield. Centre half Dan King will continue as captain in the absence of Elliot Jackson.
REMAINING FIXTURES
Oak – Brixton (a), FC Team B (h)
Real – Brady (a)
Venue – Nicholas Breakspear, Ref – Martin De La Fuente
JC star man: Rafi Bloom (Oakwood)
DC Prediction: Oakwood 3 Sosobad 1
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BRIXTON OLD BOYS vs BRADY MACCABI
Brady Maccabi have announced a price freeze on season tickets for next season after failing to secure a top two finish.
Manager Josh Dagul had high hopes for promotion but they have fallen short despite the best efforts of Reiss Mogilner – a leading contender for Division One Player of the Year.
It’s all about bums on seats now for the Brady bunch who are doing a ‘kids get in free’ offer for travelling fans on Sunday.
Having hit Brixton for six in November, it doesn’t take a genius to work out who I’m tipping for glory on Sunday. Mogilner was the chief tormentor that day – smashing home a hat-trick in a top-quality performance. There were also goals for Josh Laurier (2), Joey Lazare and Oli Leigh.
Brixton are still fighting for survival but they must look to get something from this game with matches against Oakwood, FC Team B and champions-elect Woodford to follow.
Having beaten Sosobad last month, manager Robert Silverman would’ve been bitterly disappointed with their manner of last week’s 4-1 defeat. It certainly left him with more questions than answers.
But don’t write Brixton off just yet. They’ve been here before and another dramatic escape act isn’t beyond them.
As for Sunday, I’m expecting a deluge of goals in a battle between two teams of contrasting styles and footballing cultures.
Venue - Clowes, Ref – Neal Cohen
JC star man: Oli Leigh (Brady)
DC Prediction: Brixton 4 Brady 4
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FC TEAM B vs FAITHFOLD B
It’s a surprise FC Team boss Mitch Young has managed to maintain a full head of hair this season.
For a side of their quality to concede 33 goals in 16 games is beyond my comprehension. They have some of the best defenders in Jewish football, but clean sheets have been few and far between.
The maths are simple for Young and co. Failure is no longer an option, neither is the concession of soft goals. They have so much quality in the final third too, but they can’t keep relying on the likes of Richard Salmon, Andy Sheena, Adam Rones and Jon Breger to get them out of jail.
Like many clubs, they have had their fair share of injuries to key players, but Young has never been a man to make excuses. Speaking after the 4-3 defeat against Oakwood last week, he told JC Sport: “The goals we conceded were totally unacceptable. It was mistake after mistake. We weren’t good enough.
“We now have four games to go and, somehow, if we win all four we’ll win the league. But it's a big if at the moment.
“I challenge my players to step up and challenge themselves. The Woodford game will be make-or-break, but we have Faithfold first and we need to win. I’m hopeful we can welcome back a number of key players for the run-in.”
Faithfold legend Daryl Phillips lined up for the club’s C-team last week, and there’s every chance he could play against FC Team on Sunday. He has green blood running through his veins and is their go-to man in their hour of need.
Phillips and Dan Gordon would be an excellent partnership in attack, with the influential Dan Stock looking to boss the midfield.
It’s important the Superhoops get something from the game or else the closing weeks of the season will be unbearable. Then they will be relying on Brixton failing to catch them up as the battle for relegation approaches D-day.
Venue – Harefield 3G, Ref – Richard Jaye
JC star man: Jon Breger (Team)
DC Prediction: FC Team 3 Faithfold 2
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DIVISION TWO
DANNY CARO'S DIVISION 2 TEAM OF THE WEEK
NORTH LONDON RAIDERS C vs MACCABI LONDON LIONS B
A draw would be enough for the Lions B to secure second place ahead of the crunch clash with nearest rivals Raiders C.
With Scrabble FC clinching the title last week, Sam Marchant’s men are confident of doing the business at Brunel.
They have lost just twice in 19 matches and will be looking to complete the double over a Raiders team they beat 2-1 in September. Nick Landesberg and former NLR star Josh Bloom were the marksmen in a game where Benji Weinberger was named man-of-the-match.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s rematch, Marchant told JC Sport: “Sunday is a big game. It’s second against third and that is always an exciting top of the table clash. We now need one point from our final three games to guarantee promotion and we hope to do it at the first hurdle on Sunday.
“North London Raiders are a strong outfit and have shown that throughout the season and from our earlier fixture last year. We will need to be at our very best if we are to get a result.
“The Raiders know that not beating us rules them out of the top-two automatic promotion spots, so they will be fighting for every ball and raring to go.
“We will be prepared for what they will bring and we hope to seal our promotion dreams on Sunday."
Dropped points against Catford and FC Team in recent weeks were setbacks for NLR, but they showed great character to come from a goal down to beat Real Hendon last week. Unlike their opponents, who finished with nine men after two red cards, L’Orange managed to keep their discipline, and strikes from Aussie import Jono Rochenberger and a last-minute strike from Will Ufland secured their 10th win of the season.
Before answering questions on the game, NLR’s David Domb wanted to pass on the following message. He told JC Sport: “First things first - good luck Rob and Jonny. Those boys in the A’s again deserve some silverware for another fantastic season.”
Zack Gothelf and Domb know their players will all have to give a minimum of 7/10 on Matchday 31, and the latter was keen to pinpoint one of the key battles, which will be worth the admission fee alone.
Domb told JC Sport: “I'm sure Jake Yudelowitz is relishing the battle with Josh Bloom for this one. I’m not surprised Bloom has scored goals for fun this season considering his record for us last year. But Jake will be confident of keeping him quiet!
“Our three games with the two teams above us have all been superb adverts for this division. We were unlucky the last time we met lions not to take anything that day.
“But for us to achieve our season objectives we have to come away with more points on the board - Sunday is a must-win. We may have scraped to three points last weekend, but we know we have the ability to lift our levels for this one.”
There’s no doubt both teams will be up for what might just be one of the games of the season. It’s hard to call a winner, but rest assured the Lions will name a squad to do the business.
JC team news: Jake Yudelowitz and Charles Braunstein return for Raiders. Nick Haringman is still out, but will return for the first game after Pesach.
Venue – Brunel, Ref – Martin Lavender, KO – 10am
JC star man: Nick Landesberg (Lions)
DC Prediction: Raiders 2 Lions 3
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BOCA JEWNIORS vs ATHLETIC BILBAUM
I’m sure that if you’d have offered Nicky Shinder fourth place at the start of the season, the Athletic Bilbaum manager would’ve bitten your hand off.
In a division where the top three have been in a league of their own, the Baums have been like a breath of fresh air. Just ask Boca.
Ben Bell and Edward Green fired hat-tricks in the recent 11-0 win and they hope it’s a case of more of the same on Sunday, especially with a big travelling contingent expected for their final game.
Boca offered no excuses following the 6-0 defeat at the hands of Lions B last week. They hope to push Bilbaum a little closer second time around but that will be easier said than done.
Anton Nyman told JC Sport: “We know Bilbaum are a top, top side having been on the wrong side of a battering only a few weeks ago.
“That said, we had a few big names out then and are hopeful on having a few of back.”
Bilbaum have excellent foundations to build on next season and a couple of quality additions could see them become contenders themselves in season 2016/17.
JC team news: Jack Shulman, Gavin Fox and Charlie Hollis return to the Boca squad but Brett Schuman and top-scorer Elio Elia are miss out.
Venue – Chase Lodge, Ref – Paul Dobkin, KO – 10am
JC star man: Sam Deaner (Bilbaum)
DC Prediction: Boca 1 Bilbaum 4
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TEMPLE FORTUNE vs SCRABBLE FC
Temple Fortune are expected to perform a guard of honour for newly-crowned champions Scrabble FC in Pinner on Sunday.
Ray Abrahams's troops secured the Division Two title against Faithfold C last week, and they will be looking to finish a memorable season in style.
Zak McLeod still harbours hopes of winning the MGBSFL Golden Boot, but it will take something special against a Fortune team who are finishing with a flourish.
Jonathan Cohen's men have plenty of respect for a Scrabble team who crushed them 16-0 in December. Scrabble need another 13 goals to pass the magical 100-mark for the season but they will come up against a determined Fortune team, keen to avoid the wooden spoon.
Cohen told JC Sport: "Since the turn of the year we have found our scoring touch and will look to keep that going.
"We are under no illusions how tough it will be given the last meeting but we assure you that it won't be a repeat performance."
It's hard to know exactly how Fortune will line up for this one. I can't see them trying to go toe to toe with the champions, but parking the bus would be a recipe for disaster, so something somewhere in the middle is advised.
The pressure is off Scrabble now and I expect them to win by at least a couple of goals.
Venue - Roger Bannister, Ref - Stephen Levy, KO - 10am
JC star man: Josh Krewne (Scrabble)
DC Prediction: Fortune 1 Scrabble 4
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HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B vs CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI
Revenge is the name of the game for Hendon B on Sunday ahead of the visit of Catford & Bromley.
Adam Glekin's men can still finish in the top four, although a higher finish was on the cards earlier on in the season.
But they have struggled for consistency of results and performances in recent months, including the 2-1 defeat to the Cats. Jamie Sinai and Yarden Sharon were the marksmen in December.
Jeff Gotch's Catford have beaten champions Scrabble and high-flying Raiders C in recent weeks, but they drew 2-2 against lowly Boca Jewniors last time out and it's fair to say Gotch will not allow a repeat performance.
There is no way their Gotch will just let things fizzle out some strong performances and I'm predicting another on Sunday.
Venue - Chase Lodge, Ref - Martin Lavender, KO - 10am
JC star man: Jamie Sinai (Catford)
DC Prediction: Hendon 1 Catford 3
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