It really promises to be a Super Sunday with Hendon United Sports Club A taking on Brady Maccabi A in the final of the JC Cyril Anekstein Cup, while earlier at Wingate & Finchley UJIA are ready to rumble with North West Neasden C in the JC Barry Goldstein Trophy final. There's also a crunch clash in store when Brixton Old Boys A look to clinch promotion against Redbridge Jewish Care B in Division One. Danny Caro looks ahead to all the action.
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PHOTOGALLERY: HENDON A vs LM LIONS A
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CUP FINAL DATE
April 29 - Peter Morrison Trophy - Hendon United Sports Club A vs Oakwood - Wingate & Finchley, KO: 10.30am
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JC CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP FINAL
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A vs BRADY MACCABI A
Venue - The Harry Abrahams Stadium, Wingate & Finchley, KO - 6.30pm
JC star man: Greg Corin (Hendon)
DC Prediction: Hendon Utd SC A 2 Brady Maccabi A 1
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JC BARRY GOLDSTEIN TROPHY FINAL
UJIA vs NORTH WEST NEASDEN C
NEASDEN ROUTE TO WINGATE & HISTORY
Venue - The Harry Abrahams Stadium, Wingate & Finchley, KO - 2.30am
JC star man: Ben Nassim (UJIA)
DC Prediction: UJIA 2 NW Neasden C 1
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JC MSFL PREMIER DIVISION
TOP-SCORERS
15 - Mike Pearson (Faithfold A)
12 - Danny Kon (Hendon A), Marc Lazare (Neasden)
FAITHFOLD A vs FC TEAM A
Faithfold manager Zuriel Solomon had a smile on his face after last weekend’s impressive 4-2 win against defending champions Redbridge Jewish Care A.
Strikes from captain Alex Levack, Daryl Phillips, Simon Lawrence and Alex Kaye lifted the Superhoops into fourth position and Solomon told JC Sport that he believes the result and performance “bodes well for next season”.
It finished 2-2 the last time the team’s met when Shai Davidi and Jake Weiner helped FC Team storm into a 2-0 lead. Faithfold hit back with strikes from Sam Lewis and top-scorer Mike Pearson in an entertaining affair.
It’s clear that Solomon and co can’t wait for kick-off. He told JC Sport: “We have hit a good run of form and welcome FC Team to the Hive. We drew in the last meeting so wont take anything for granted.
“We hope to get three points before our last game against Brady.”
FC Team go into the game on the back of a three-match unbeaten run. Manager Mitch Young has loved every minute of his first season in the top-flight and he’ll be encouraging his troops to go out with a bang on Sunday.
The boys in yellow and blue have performed well and competed in every game, with a 5-1 mauling against RJC the only aberration. I’ve heard reports that star striker Richard Salmon is on the verge of signing a new contract while they are also close to extending Ed Bloom’s deal.
Looking ahead to Sunday, Young told JC Sport: “It’s our last game of the season and we hope to have some fun and enjoy the occasion.
“It has been a great experience this season and both myself and the team have learnt a lot. We hope to sign off with a win we are unbeaten in four picking up eight points from the last 12 so we are in form and this bodes well for next season.
“We had a close game the last time we played Faithfold - drawing 2-2 - and I am expecting a tight game this time as well. I have decisions to make after the squad members put in a great shift last weekend against Brady.”
I can see this being a high-octane affair with chances at both ends. Ultimately, I can see Faithfold’s experience proving decisive on the day.
JC team news: Faithfold will be missing Simon Lawrence who has returned to university, but Mike Pearson is back after a family wedding last week Alex taylor is injured and is likely to be out for the last couple of games of the season.
For FC Team, Ollie Segal returns from honeymoon, Jules Noti returns from injury, but Gideon Moss and David Ossack miss out. They are otherwise at full strength.
Venue – The Hive, Ref – A. Djanogly
JC star man: Mike Pearson (Faithfold)
DC Prediction: Faithfold 3 FC Team 2
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DIVISION ONE
REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B vs BRIXTON OLD BOYS A
The maths are simple. If Brixton win they will go up as runners-up. Anything less and it’s Norstar who will be celebrating. That’s the scenario facing John Nitka and his merry men on Sunday.
Brixton have had an excellent season. Nothing can change that. Wins over Neasden A and Redbridge A helped them reach the semi-finals of the cup, but that will all be forgotten once that first whistle blows against a RJC team looking for the win that would see them finish above arch rivals Chigwell in third place.
And what makes Sunday even more interesting is that Redbridge A don’t have a game, so you never know who might turn up in a blue shirt on Sunday. Adam Hakimi, Daran Bern, Steve Summers. The possibilities are endless.
The plain facts are that Brixton have scored more and conceded less than Norstar. They have also got the better of Phil Peters’ men, claiming a win and a draw. However, that hasn’t stopped the Norstar gaffer cranking up the heat on Brixton.
In the mother of all mind games, he asked me to inform RJC boss Stirling Kay and co that he’s placed “a massive bet” on Redbridge to win. Peters went on to say: “We’ll use the winnings to help fund their end of season party. Come on Redbridge!”
Equally, that could lift Brixton, who are conscious that choking isn’t an option. Brixton are unbeaten in seven, winning six of those games. They have been scoring for fun and will look to avenge November’s 4-2 humbling at Clowes when Dan Orgel, Scott Kaye, Adam Goldman and Harrison Grant registered for RJC.
Orgel was on target in A-team duty for RJC and, no doubt, he will be looking to finish the season on a high.
Kay knows the importance of finishing the season on a high. He told JC Sport: "Well there is good news for both Brixton and Norstar. For Norstar, we will go out and do everything we can to win the game. We will not settle for a draw. For Brixton, there will be no first team players. We will be playing it totally fair and there will be only 2nd and 3rd team players and players who have helped us out through out the year.
"We hope will will be able to give Brixton a good game, but we will be very under-strength, in fact so much so I won't know until Sunday how many players we will field.
"We have had a lot of long-term injuries that have killed off our challenge and have to rely on the third team to help us finish the season.
"However, whichever team we have put out - they have done me proud."
Brixton have experience on their side with Nitka confident that his men would take the Premier Division by storm next season, if they can get the result on Sunday.
Looking ahead, if that's the right phrase, to the crunch clash, Nitka told JC Sport: "This is it - our cup final. We will have to be at our best. The boys know what they have to do and will be up for it - as I said at the beginning of the season my priority was to get into the Premiership.
"I do not know what the team will be as I am not sure who is available - we have had a great season so let's see what happens ..."
It will be a day for cool heads and brave hearts. I’m tipping Brixton in what looks set to be a nervy 90 minutes,
JC team news: For RJC, Dan Orgel is a big doubt while Mark Zealander and Alex Chernoff have been ruled out.
Venue – TBC, Ref – A. Lewis
JC star man: Rob Hershkorn (Brixton)
DC Prediction: Redbridge JC B 2 Brixton OB A 3
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GLENTHORNE UNITED B vs BLIZZARD STORM
Craig Sandford, the Glenthorne joint-player-manager, is set to win this season's JC MSFL Golden Boot award and the marksman will be looking to add to his impressive 30-goal tally when the east Londoners end a memorable season against Blizzard Storm.
Fans from both teams will be thinking that this could've been the line-up for the JC Barry Goldstein Trophy, but both teams failed to come through their respective semi-finals.
Instead, Glenthorne, the newly-crowned champions, will attempt to make it sweet 16 - they have won all 15 league games and are desperate to go through the season with a perfect record.
Looking ahead to Sunday, Sandford told JC Sport: “We are looking forward to playing Blizzard Storm. We had a couple of cup blips but after last week, our league form is still strong and we are back to playing with a smile on our face.
"We had a tough game against them at the beginning of the season and I’m sure it will be hard again.
"They were hard to breakdown and caught us out a few times so we will need to be on our guard.
"We go into the game as league champions and want to show the reasons why.”
Sandford helped the Thornes overcome their cup blues with a double in the 2-0 success over cup finalists Neasden C. It was also Sandford who scored the only goal when Glenthorne beat Blizzard 1-0 in north west London at the start of the season.
Blizzard are still aiming to finish in fifth position. They have improved in the second half of the season and manager Simon Linden knows that with a few quality additions, they will challenge for a top two finish next season.
Looking at the table, they need another regular goal-scorer and an experienced defender.
Glenthorne, on the other hand, average four goals a game and they have the best defensive record in the division.
The stats all add up to another Glenthorne win.
JC team news: Glenthorne are missing Simon Bagel and Michael Winehouse.
Venue - London Marathon Playing Fields, Ref - K. Gold
JC star man:Ashley Rubin (Glenthorne)
DC Prediction: Glenthorne Utd B 3 Blizzard Storm 1
