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YOUR WEEKEND PREVIEW STARTS HERE:
CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP ROUND ONE
BAYERN MINCHA vs MILL HILL DONS
Bouncebackability is the name of the game Bayern following their first defeat.
It’s fair to say they won’t face a team of the quality of Fairlop every week but they have nothing to lose in their first ever outing in the League Cup.
Bayern joint-manager Daniel Holder told JC Sport: “The boys were disappointed more by the performance last week than the result, so we are looking to bounce back with a win against the Dons.
“As it is a cup game, we will be changing things around and giving starts to players who have not had many minutes thus far.
“Nevertheless, the line-up and squad chosen we believe will be strong enough to win the game. In addition to our promotion ambitions, a nice cup run is another target of ours."
Holder, who runs Bayern together with Alon Pinhas, added: "Mill Hill Dons have had a great start to the season and are a young squad like ourselves and we know a couple of their players, so it should be a cracking tie.”
The Dons have made a dream start, with wins over Faithfold and FC Team. Manager Brandon Hamme has set his sights on a strong run in the cup, along deep down I’m sure he’d have preserved a trip to one of the MGBSFL giants.
“I’m absolutely delighted with how the season has started but we know how important it is not get ahead of ourselves,” Hamme told JC Sport.
“Last weekend's win against FC Team showcased we are no pushovers and we looked superb in the process.
“This week we face a Bayern Mincha team who got an impressive result in their opening game, so we aware we won't be in for an easy game.”
Goals are on the cards at the ‘Cliffe on Sunday and for this reason the JC cameras will witness what should be an action-packed encounter for which the head to head between Adam Ellis and Josh Cinna will be one to watch.
JC team news: Goalkeeper Joseph Manuel Nyman will be make his long-awaited debut for Bayern.
The Dons report no injuries but gaffer Hamme will “be looking to play some of the kids to give them a chance of working themselves into the team”.
Venue - Aycliffe Park, Ref – Stuart Ansher, KO – 10am
JC star man: Nick Phillips (Dons)
DC Prediction: Bayern 2 Dons 3
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CAMDEN PARK vs STRAW HAT PIRATES
Sunday could be a pivotal day in the life of Camden Park. Manager Stirling Kay told me he is “still hoping to get side out this week”, which certainly won’t fill Camden fans with confidence ahead of a potential banana skin of a tie against MGBSFL new boys Straw Hat Pirates.
Kaye hopes the club will re-sign Rob Hershman and Ben Harris in time, while three triallists – an Israel, an Italian and an Englishman - have been spotted at the club’s training ground.
Kay added: “I have no idea how strong we will be as I have not seen half of them play.”
The Pirates have failed to build on their excellent draw against Fairlop. Edged out by Catford the following week, they were second best against Hertswood Vale and manager Elliot Cukier will be looking for a reaction.
I don’t expect them to rotate as Cukier will give his players a chance to shine on the big stage against a mish-mash Camden team.
JC team news: Camden are missing birthday boy Danny Sherman and the suspended Dan Orgel.
Venue – Hadley, Ref – Neal Cohen, KO – 10am
JC star man: Ben Harris (Camden)
DC Prediction: Camden 3 Pirates 1
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FC TEAM vs TEMPLE FORTUNE A
Two defeats from two matches. That’s the record facing both FC Team and Temple Fortune. So it’s time to wipe the slate clean and start afresh.
Mitch Young laid into his players after the defeat against the Dons and certain players will have a point to prove.
But with home advantage, they will be lifted by the crowd for the visit of first division Fortune.
Simon Linden’s men have been defending worse than Liverpool of late (and that takes some doing!) What they really need is a top keeper, so Lee Fegan can come out of goal and join captain Adam Speck in defence to give them a ring of steel.
Hopefully the magic of the cup will bring out the best in both sets of players, though it’s a tough one to call.
Venue - Hertswood, Ref – Andy Myerson, KO – 10am
JC star man: David Grossman (Team)
DC Prediction: Team 1 Fortune 1 (Team to win on penalties)
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HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB vs L’EQUIPE
Greg Corin could shuffle his pack for the visit of Division One new boys L’Equipe, for whom Sunday morning could be a very busy time for their goalkeeper.
Silverware is the focus for Hendon this season and their front three of Dovi Fehler, Josh Harris and Zac Lewis will be licking their lips at the prospects of tackling a defence that hasn’t started the season well – conceding 12 goals in their opening two matches.
You can get 20-1 on L’Equipe to win against the cup specialists. Nick Stern’s men won’t lay out the red carpet treatment, but they will find things tough against a team who are playing with confidence and a beautiful tempo.
Venue - Hadley, Ref – Robert Benardout, KO – 10am
JC star man: Ben Lauffer (Hendon)
DC Prediction: Hendon 5 L’Equipe 0
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NORTH LONDON RAIDERS C vs REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B
Raiders C are flying at the minute and I make them favourites against first division Redbridge B.
Ben Kaye produced one of the performances of the season last weekend and a Faithfold team that didn’t know what hit them. His five-goal salvo lifted him straight to the top of the MGBSFL goal charts and he will be setting his sights on the Redbridge defence.
Kaye and Alex Elf have forged a fantastic partnership and if Sam Rose goes for his full-strength team they won’t be far off.
Redbridge are licking their wounds after being upstaged by their C team last Sunday. Josh Kalinsky scored in a 2-1 defeat – a game Dan Lipman felt defeat was unjust on his team.
Dan Lassman and Dan Andrews were solid in midfield and this will be the key area for me with a place in round two up for grabs.
Venue - , Ref – Richard Jaye, KO – 10am
JC star man: Ben Kaye (Raiders)
DC Prediction: Raiders 2 Redbridge 1
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REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE C vs NORTH LONDON RAIDERS B
I’m going for a Raiders 1-2 over Redbridge, with the B’s likely to be too quick and too strong for the Cs.
Josh Green Elliot Espinoza, Jake Gilbert and Josh Goldstein, while new arrival Ricky Lawrence added the gloss. The former SPEC boss is a very clever signing as he guarantees precision delivery at set-pieces and is a threat in the air.
Ryan Silkman and Dean Ben Yosef gave Redbridge a morale-boosting derby win in their first match. It was important they hit the ground running but they will need to raise their game a couple of levels against a team excellent on the counter.
If Redbridge afford Raiders time and space they will get punished, so an ‘up and at ‘em approach’ will be the order of the day.
I can see Lawrence playing a starring role in a hard-fought NLR triumph.
Venue - Fairlop, Ref – David Lazarus, KO – 10am
JC star man: Ricky Lawrence (NLR)
DC Prediction: RJC 1 NLR 2
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SCRABBLE FC vs FAIRLOP FC
Fairlop will fancy their chances of causing an upset against first division Scrabble FC on Sunday.
Why, I hear you ask. Because they are packed with quality. Just ask Bayern, whom they hammered last week.
Adam Goldman, Joel Russell, Ryan Cole and Matt Goldreich were the marksmen in a polished performance that left boss Aaron Dias purring with pride.
The spine of the team - Daryl Rubin, Daniel Bean and Goldman was dominant, with Cole’s stunning free-kick worth the admission fee alone.
Ahead of kick-off, Fairlop boss Aaron Dias told JC Sport: "We are here to win this cup and that will start with a win on Sunday.
"Expect another big performance from everyone, will be interesting to see if they can handle the Russell/Goldman combo as they ripped through the BM defence with ease."
Scrabble had a major overhaul over the summer. Boss Ray Abrahams was reasonably happy with performance levels in the 2-2 draw against Faithfold, but he knows they have plenty of work to do on the training ground.
Given Fairlop are further down the line in their development, I’m tipping them to nick it.
Ref – Martin De La Fuente, KO – 10am
JC star man: Matt Goldreich (Fairlop)
DC Prediction: Scrabble 1 Fairlop 2
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MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
NORTH LONDON RAIDERS A vs MACCABI LONDON LIONS WHITE
If you think Jurgen Klopp is feeling the heat, imagine how both Dan Shafron and James Gershfield are feeling following back-to-back defeats.
NLR’s heavy loss against Brady Maccabi came at a cost after defender Alex Bloch was ruled out for a lengthy spell after a serious ACL injury. We wish him all the best for a full and speedy recovery.
Manager Dan Shafron missed the game but there’s no doubt his players will come out firing on Sunday.
The Lions are picking up the pieces after a heavy derby defeat. Gaffer Gershfield told me he saw “some positives” despite the result. Sloppy defending proved costly and he knows they can ill-afford a repeat performance against a wounded NLR side.
I can see Raiders edging to victory and dedicating the performance to Blochy.
Ref –Daniel Fox, KO – 10am
JC star man: Jonny Kay (NLR)
DC Prediction: Raiders 2 Lions 1
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REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A vs BRADY MACCABI
Brady have their tails up following the 6-1 demolition of Raiders. The experiment to play Ben Kohler up top paid dividends as he came away with the matchball following his first-ever MGBSFL hat-trick.
Ricky Rinder had another solid game while Josh Newman produced a commanding performance. They were excellent from front to back.
Redbridge have had an extended break and manager Jon Jacobs has been working his troops hard to ensure they are ready for take off.
Jacobs wants his players to enjoy the experience more this time after their double heartache last season. Yes they have lost key players but he is confident his new-look squad can push the top teams all the way again.
Charlie Laderman, Pat Laderman, Harrison Grant, Adam Shafron are among the new recruits who will be looking to impress.
Venue - Fairlop, Ref – Mark Jacob, KO – 10am
JC star man: Josh Newman (Brady)
DC Prediction: Redbridge 1 Brady 1
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DIVISION TWO
FAITHFOLD B vs CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI
The big news coming out of the Catford camp is that player-manager Jeff Gotch is fit and returns to the squad.
Catford are so much better when Gotch plays and the gaffer told JC Sport: “We’re looking to maintain our winning start to the league.
“I’ve got a full squad to choose from and everyoneis raring to go.”
Faithfold have had a tough start, conceding 10 goals in their two defeats.
Windy conditions are predicted in Edgware once again and this could favour Catford’s direct approach.
Venue – The Hive, Ref –Darryl Colmans, KO – 10am
JC star man: Jeff Gotch (Catford)
DC Prediction: Faithfold 1 Catford 3
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TEMPLE FORTUNE B vs BOCA JEWNIORS
Boca go into their first league game on the back of a battering at the hands of league champions Oakwood A.
Manager Sefton Monk didn’t lose too much sleep over what was effectively a bonus match. He knows their season starts now and it’s about the bread and butter of the league.
Temple Fortune B have lost two on the spin. Manager Darren Zitren was almost lost for words after they succumbed so tamely last week. So expect an improvement.
Venue – Silver Jubilee Park, Ref -Barry David, KO – 9.45am
JC star man: Dave Sawyer (Fortune)
DC Prediction: Fortune 2 Boca 1
