1. WOODFORD WANDERERS
League record: Pl. 18, W. 12, D. 2, L. 4, F. 46, A. 21, Pts. 38
Players of the season: Jerome Marks, Mitch Hahn
Best buy: Tony Charles
Best result: 2-1 vs Neasden
Biggest win: 9-1 vs Hendon B
Worst result: 3-0 vs Hendon B
Heaviest defeat: 3-0 vs Hendon B
Games failed to score in: 2
Clean sheets: 5
Top Scorer: Harrison Midda 21
WAGS favourites: Mitch Hahn and Tony Charles
DC Rating: If ever there was a dark horses, Woodford Wanderers were it in season 2013/14. It’s worth remembering they lost their first two matches, but from there they stepped up a gear, winning their next five, and they exceeded expectation of everyone other than boss Tony Charles. He took them to a level few could’ve predicted, turning a team of casuals into a well-drilled outfit and leading them into the promised land of Premier Division football for the first time. Harrison Midda pipped Mitch Hahn to the top-scorer award, while the transformation of Jerome Marks and Darren Hahn was a sight to behold. Charles for manager of the year – he’s in my top 3. 10/10
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2. NORTH WEST NEASDEN
League record: Pl. 18, W. 11, D. 3, L. 4, F. 50, A. 22, Pts. 36
Players of the season: Steve Murad, Scott McKenzie
Best buys: Scott McKenzie, Jamie Kent, Adam Arnold
Best result: 3-1 vs Woodford
Biggest win: 8-0 vs Chigwell
Worst result:
Heaviest defeat: : 4-1 vs Harmen
Games failed to score in: 1
Clean sheets: 3
Top Scorer: Jamie Kent 17
DC Rating: A change of management did not hold NWN back, although if you look at their run of result in terms of consistency, it’s hard to believe they finished as runners-up. With Jamie Kent and Adam Arnold leading their front line, it was no surprise to see them finish as the division joint top-scorers. An early season win over eventual champions Woodford set them up for a good campaign and their 4-2 win over Brady gave them extra momentum at the business end of the season. It’s great to see them back where they belong, so credit to Stirling Kay for getting them there. 8/10
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3. SOUTHGATE HARMEN
League record: Pl. 18, W. 9, D. 4, L. 5, F. 50, A. 36, Pts. 31
Players of the season: Ben Weinberg, Sam Castle
Best buys: Ben Weinberg, Ricky Rinder
Best result: 1-0 vs Woodford
Biggest win: 8-1 vs Blancos
Worst result: 2-2 vs Brixton
Heaviest defeat: : 5-2 vs Shirley
Games failed to score in: 2
Clean sheets: 1
Top Scorer: Samuel Castle 14
DC Rating: Promotion was the aim at the beginning of the season, but they fell just short. At one stage, it looked like they had it in the bag, with an opening day win over Woodford putting them in great shape. In the end dropped points against Shirley, Chigwell and Brady came back to haunt them. Summer signing Ben Weinberg was their standout performer, with Sam Castle turning into the one of the division’s most feared marksmen. By most club’s standards, season 2013/14 should be deemed a success and with a couple more big signings up their sleeve, don’t bet against them next season. 7/10
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4. BRADY MACCABI B
League record: Pl. 18, W. 9, D. 4, L. 5, F. 32, A. 26, Pts. 31
Players of the season: Josh Newman
Best buys: Dave Newman
Best result: 3-0 vs Harmen
Biggest win: 4-1 Chigwell
Worst result: 5-3 vs Brixton
Heaviest defeat: : 5-3 vs Brixton
Games failed to score in: 1
Clean sheets: 4
Top Scorer: Dave Newman 11
DC Rating: Last season’s Division Two champions were confident of promotion, if not the title, and they looked a good bet until a near disastrous run after Chanukah. The Newman brothers were key to some excellent performances, but they will be reflecting big time on what might’ve been after dropping points against some of the lesser teams. 7/10
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5. LOS BLANCOS
League record: Pl. 18, W. 9, D. 2, L. 7, F. 50, A. 46, Pts. 29
Player of the season: Jon Gaon
Best result: 2-1 vs Neasden
Biggest win: 9-3 vs Brixton
Worst result: 1-0 vs SPEC
Heaviest defeat: : 8-1 vs Harmen
Games failed to score in: 2
Clean sheets: 1
Top Scorer: Jono Gaon 24
DC Rating: Had it not been for the goals of the Young Player of the Year, Jono Gaon, the chances are that LB would not have finished in the top half of the table. But they did and the rest, as they say, is history. The priority over the summer has to be finding a suitable replacement for the man that has gone to Israel. Scoring goals wasn’t a problem, but neither was letting them in. A strong season nonetheless. 7/10
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6. CHIGWELL ATHLETIC
League record: Pl. 18, W. 7, D. 6, L. 5, F. 44, A. 42, Pts. 27
Players of the season: Ryan Cole, James Jaconelli
Best buys: Ryan Cole, James Jaconelli
Best result: 1-0 vs Neasden
Biggest win: 8-3 vs Blancos
Worst result: 3-3 vs Brixton
Heaviest defeat: : 8-0 vs Neasden
Games failed to score in: 3
Clean sheets: 2
Top Scorer: Ryan Cole 10
WAGS favourite: Dan Castle (sorry Lench!)
DC Rating: Pre-season, Chigs’s aims for the season read as follows:”To be challenging for the title plus some good cup runs”. The fell well short of no. 1, but achieved their second objective. Early season form was erratic at best – they conceded far too many goals to be serious contenders – although other than the final game against Neasden, they finished the season strongly, with impressive wins at Harmen and Neasden. It was with a heavy heart that manager Richard Slater pulled them out of the league and into the Masters as father time finally caught up with them. 6/10
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7. SHIRLEY PARK
League record: Pl. 18, W. 5, D. 2, L. 11, F. 44, A. 50, Pts. 17
Players of the season: That was the problem!
Best buy: Adam Klein
Best result: 5-2 vs Harmen
Biggest win: 8-2 vs Brixton
Worst result: 3-2 vs Brixton
Heaviest defeat: : 9-0 vs Hendon
Games failed to score in: 1
Clean sheets: 0
Top Scorers: Gideon Gold, Saul Conway
WAGS favourite: Adam Klein
DC Rating: 4/10
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8. HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B
League record: Pl. 18, W. 5, D. 2, L. 11, F. 38, A. 58, Pts. 17
Player of the season: Dan Garfinkle
Best buy: Daniel Garfinkle
Best result: 3-0 vs Woodford
Biggest win: 9-0 vs Shirley
Worst result: 5-0 vs Brixton
Heaviest defeat: 9-3 vs Woodford
Games failed to score in: 4
Clean sheets: 3
Top Scorer: Daniel Garfinkle
WAGS favourite: Danny Steel
DC Rating: Produced the mother of all escape acts as a strong finish and cup final appearance made their fans forget about their early season woes. They were inspired by the goals of Danny Garfinkle over the second half of the season and a 3-0 coupon spoiler against champions Woodford takes them into the next season with renewed hope. But they must improve at the back … 4/10
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9. SPEC FC
League record: Pl. 18, W. 4, D. 3, L. 11, F. 27, A. 53, Pts. 15
Players of the season: Marc Hecht
Best buy: Simon Bagel
Best result: 1-1 vs Harmen
Biggest win: 5-3 vs Brixton
Worst result: 3-0 vs Hendon
Heaviest defeat: : 5-1 vs Chigwell
Games failed to score in: 2
Clean sheets: 1
Top Scorer: Dan Pike
WAGS favourite:
DC Rating: Things looked good for SPEC FC at the start of the season, but the departure of Dave Newman knocked them sideways. Promotion was the aim at the start of the season, but they struggled throughout and Hendon’s late season form left them with too much to do. 3/10
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10. BRIXTON OLD BOYS
League record: Pl. 18, W. 4, D. 2, L. 12, F. 36, A. 63, Pts. 14
Players of the season: No standout performers
Best buy: Sean Ekon
Best result: 5-3 vs Brady
Biggest win: 5-0 vs Hendon
Worst result: 9-0 vs Hendon
Heaviest defeat: : 9-0 vs Hendon
Games failed to score in: 2
Clean sheets: 1
Top Scorer: Alon Hershkorn
DC Rating: This was always going to be a tough season for the Shirley boys. The writing was on the wall after Jamie Kent left, adding to the blow of Nicky Plotnek moving to Israel. Their hand was forced in the end and they were left with no decision but to pull out of a number of games due to insufficient numbers. 3/10
