The top two in the Premier Division slipped up for the first time as Leaders Norstar London Raiders A were beaten at Brady Maccabi A, while nearest rivals Redbridge Jewish Care A slipped up against a young Lions team in a MGBSFL extravaganza at Rowley Lane. Danny Caro reflects on all the action in the final programme of 2013.
MATCHDAY 16 HEADLINES
Prem Div - Raiders beaten at last
Div 1 - King Castle topples Blancos
Div 2 - Rampant Redbridge hit eight
Div 3 - Loughton teach Cats a lesson
JC HAT-TRICK HEROES
Div 1 - Sam Castle 4 (Southgate Harmen), Harrison Midda (Woodford Wanderers)
Div 3 - Richard Fogelman (L'Equipe)
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PHOTOGALLERY - LM LIONS WHITE vs REDBRIDGE JC A
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS - BRADY A vs NL RAIDERS A
MATCH PHOTOS - BRADY A vs NL RAIDERS A
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DANNY CARO'S DIV 2 TEAM OF THE WEEK
DANNY CARO'S DIV 3 TEAM OF THE WEEK
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TEAM OF THE WEEK: THE CONTENDERS
GK - Daniel Kosky (Faithfold B), Bobby Abrams (London Haroldeans)
DEFENDERS - Josh Lipman (Hendon A), Jake Rinsler & Jordan Nathan (both Brady A), Richard Jaffe, Ben Rosenblatt (both Faithfold B), Rob Sanford, Ed Weisz (both FC Team C), Jerome Marks, Adam Poole (both Woodford), Ryan Kissin (Loughton), James Neidle, Ezekiel Jacob, Chaim Strom (all Hendon B), Noah Bier (AC Whetstone), Jake Yudelowitz (NL Raiders C), Alistair Marks (London Haroldeans)
MIDFIELDERS - Sean Ekon (Brixton), Yoav Lebens (Hendon A), Ben Joseph, Rob Cohen (both Brady A), Matty Kleinman (Faithfold B), Max Worth (FC Team C), Nathan Sollosi, Sam Sollosi, James Berkley, Sam Rank (Redbridge JC B), Alex Aviram (Woodford), Adam Conway, Dan Howard, David Blitz, Matt West (all Loughton), Ben Kay (Harmen), David Elf (Hendon C), Aaron Benjamin (AC Whetstone), Alex Sherr (NL Raiders C), Ben Winters (LM Lions White), JJ Marache, Jules Bohm (both L'Equipe)
STRIKERS - Sam Castle (Southgate Harmen), Mike Kenley (Brady A), Guy Belot (Brixton), Eric Hovelsen (Faithfold B), David James Cohen (FC Team C), Harrison Midda (Woodford), Sam Castle (Harmen), Oli Joseph, Yafeth Asher (both London Haroldeans), Richard Fogelman, Steven Black (both L'Equipe)
MANAGER - Joel Nathan (Brady A), Johnathan Meltzer (LML White), Dan Curtis (Loughton Orient)
REFEREE - Adam Lewis (Chigwell vs Shirley Park), Neal Cohen (FC Team B vs London Haroldeans), Richard Jay (Camden Park vs Faithfold A), Andy Myerson (Hendon B vs Brixton), Laurence Thorne (L'Equipe vs King Crown)
Email nominations to dcaro@thejc.com
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DANNY CARO'S MATCHDAY 16 OSCARS
GOAL OF THE WEEK - DON NINEBERG
QUOTE OF THE WEEK - CLIVE NATHAN
SAVE OF THE WEEK
Josh Frey (Jewdinese) - produced a save of the season contender as he dived across his goal to tip a shot on to the post
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CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Camden Park vs AC Mill Hill
Los Blancos vs Norstar London Raiders A
Oakwood A vs Faithfold A
LM Lions Blue or Woodford Wanderers vs Chigwell Athletic or Hendon Utd SC A
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YOUR WEEKEND REVIEW STARTS HERE:
MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
TOP-SCORERS
10 - Mike Pearson (Faithfold A)
9 - Richard Salmon (FC Team A)
BRILLIANT BRADY OUTFOX NLR>
BRADY MACCABI A 2 NORSTAR LONDON RAIDERS A 0
Brady ended NLR's long unbeaten record with a deserved victory over the leaders at Rowley Lane.
Goals from Josh Hershman and top-scorer Mike Kenley secured Brady's fifth and best win of the season.
Jubilant Brady boss Joel Nathan told JC Sport: "It was a great way to end the year with our best performance of the season - we played the league leaders off the park in all areas and fully deserved the win and showed what we are capable of. It is a shame it has taken us this long but we know what we are made of and will aim to go on a good run now till end of season."
Having admitted this was his team's "worst performance of the season", NLR boss Phil Peters told JC Sport: "One defeat can’t take away from the fact that it’s been an amazing start to the season. I know we’re capable of winning the title but there’s still a very long way to go."
DC Prediction: Brady 0 NLR 1
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CAMDEN MAKE THEIR POINT
CAMDEN PARK 2 FAITHFOLD A 2
As predicted, Camden picked up another useful point as they held defending champions Faithfold A 2-2 in White City.
Ben Ellis and Dan Stock registered for Faithfold.
Faithfold boss Zuriel Solomon told JC Sport: "This was not really the result we wanted considering some of the other results, but we played some good stuff but gave away some cheap goals again. The break is timely we can regroup for a push in January."
DC Prediction: Camden 2 Faithfold 2
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LIONS TWO GOOD FOR RJC
LONDON MACCABI LIONS WHITE 2 REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE A 0
The Lions recorded their second league win of the season as they put a big dent in RJC's title hopes at Rowley Lane.
Strikes from Jess Alexander and Ben Winters sealed the points for a predominantly young Lions team.
LML assistant-manager Johnathan Meltzer, who was filling in for David Pollock, told JC Sport: "It was a nice result to end the year and gives us something to build on for next year. We are growing with each game. Redbridge were missing a few players which helped the cause, but that will not take anything away from our result."
DC Prediction: LML 1 RJC 2
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HAMMERS CLOSE THE GAP
OAKWOOD A 2 HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A 4
It was a good weekend all-round for Hendon A who capitalised on the top two losing by claiming an important win over Oakwood at Brunel.
A double from Avidan Last and one piece from Greg Corin and Rafi Kon clinched the points.
Hendon boss David Garbacz told JC Sport: "We were absolutely delighted to come away from Brunel with three massively important points."
Oaks co-manager Ric Blank told JC Sport: "Good luck to Hendon - they've got some good players looking to bow out on a high. They know how to press home an advantage. I pray we get a shot at redemption later in the season. We'll be ready."
DC Prediction: Oakwood 1 Hendon 1
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DIVISION ONE
TOP-SCORERS
17 - Harrison Midda (Woodford)
13 - Jamie Kent (Shirley Park)
SUPER SHIRLEY WIN NINE-GOAL THRILLER
CHIGWELL ATHLETIC 3 SHIRLEY PARK 4
Shirley Park won a nine-goal thriller to record their fifth win of the season, just as I predicted.
In the end, strikes from Dan Oade, Stefan Benfredj, Dan Abrahams and Ilan Shaki helped them edge past Chigwell.
James Jaconelli (2) and Glenn Michaels registered for a Chigwell team who had led the game.
Chigs boss Richard Slater told JC Sport: "They were hanging on for last 10 minutes. We deserved something - if not the win - but it wasn't to be. Story of our season, cheap goals against. I can't fault the lads' effort and desire. Hopefully we can turn things round in 2014."
DC Prediction: Chigwell 3 Shirley 4
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BRIXTON ARE FIVE ALIVE
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B 0 BRIXTON OLD BOYS 5
Brixton bounced back from last week's horror show against Neasden in style, with Guy Belot bagging a brace in the 5-0 demolition of Hendon B.
Further strikes from Alon Hershkorn, Dean Rosenthal and Sean Ekoncemented Brixton's fourth win of the season.
DC Prediction: Hendon 2 Brixton 3
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SAM'S THE KING OF THE CASTLE
SOUTHGATE HARMEN 8 LOS BLANCOS 1
SAM CASTLE was the star of the show as Southgate Harmen hammered eight past Blancos at Chase Lodge.
Lee Greenfield (2), Jordan Grant and Ben Kay rubbed salt into the wounds.
DC Prediction: Harmen 2 Blancos 1
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MIDDA ON THE MARK AGAIN
SPEC FC 0 WOODFORD WANDERERS 5
There's just no stopping Woodford or HARRISON MIDDA right now - the hotshot fired a treble as the red-hot Woodford turned SPEC FC over 5-0.
Further strikes from Mitch Hahn and James Ryan finished the job.
Woodford boss Tony Charles told JC Sport: "A solid performance by Woodford ensured all three points."
SPEC FC's Ricky Lawrence tweeted: " goals against the run of play. #daylightrobbery"
DC Prediction: SPEC FC 1 Woodford 4
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NORTH WEST NEASDEN P BRADY MACCABI B P
Match postponed
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DIVISION TWO
TOP-SCORERS
17 - Ben Zloof (AC Mill Hill)
14 - Nicky Woolf (Raiders B)
DANNY CARO'S DIV 2 TEAM OF THE WEEK
REVENGE IS SWEET FOR FAITHFOLD
AC MILL HILL 1 FAITHFOLD B 2
It was a case of third time lucky for struggling Faithfold, who ended their Mill Hill hoodoo with goals from Ben Rosenblatt and Doron Hershkorn.
Mill Hill's goal came through Don Nineberg.
Faithfold assistant-manager Dan Yoss told JC Sport: "It was an absolutely terrific performance and result which gives us a real good chance to stay up this season."
Mill Hill boss Joe Levy told JC Sport: "It was a very disappointing result for us. It was a scrappy game and could have gone either way. Both teams hit the bar and had chances in the second half and unfortunately for us, Faithfold took theirs."
DC Prediction: Faithfold B 2 Mill Hill 3
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HAROLDEANS MAKE THEIR POINT
FC TEAM B 2 LONDON HAROLDEANS 2
Haroldeans showed good battling qualities to draw at FC Team B.
Blake Buckman and Mitch Lassman struck for Team, with Oli Joseph and Yaf Asher replying for Haroldeans.
Haroldeans' joint-manager Sam Huglin told JC Sport: "The fact that we have taken four points out of six off FC Team B, an established team, in our first season is an achievement in itself."
DC Prediction: Team 4 Haroldeans 1
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TERRIFIC TEAM HIT HIGH FIVES
FC TEAM C 5 ATHLETIC BILBAUM 2
FC Team maintained their free-scoring ways with David James Cohen leading the way with a brace in the 5-2 demolition of Bilbaum.
There were also goals for David Joseph Cohen, Andrew Hurwitz and James Joseph in the predicted 5-2 home win.
Jake Gilbert scored twice for the Baums.
DC Prediction: Team 5 Bilbaum 2
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SUPER SOLLOSI SMASHES OAKS
REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B 8 OAKWOOD B 0
NATHAN SOLLOSI produced another master class to inspire RJC B to their biggest win of the season.
Further strikes from Harrison Grant (2), Scott Oldstein, Dan Jacobs and Sam Sollosi completed the rout.
Oaks boss Ian Tussie told JC Sport: "Crikey it was one hell of a beating. First half we gifted them three sloppy goals within 25 minutes and although we ended the half well with a few good chances, the second half was an almighty onslaught."
DC Prediction: RJC 3 Oakwood 1
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RAIDERS DO IT AGAIN
NORSTAR LONDON RAIDERS B 2 BLIZZARD STORM 0
Raiders B boosted their title hopes with a 2-0 victory over Blizzard, thanks to strikes from Danny Bloom and the in-form David Esterkin.
With NLR boss Jonny Adelman in Israel, Jonny Blain took charge of the team. But I managed to get a few words from a delighted Adelman. He told JC Sport: "It's been an exceptional start to the season, especially considering its a new group of players. They've gelled so well and they know they have given themselves a great chance to get promoted and maybe get their hands on silverwear. At the same time we know FC Team and Redbridge are breathing down our necks so we can't afford any complacency."
Blizzard boss Simon Linden told JC Sport: "I was very pleased with my squad - the attitude and work-rate was first-class. We have struggled the two week previous, but we stepped up and Raiders knew they were in a game."
DC Prediction: NLR 5 Blizzard 0
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DIVISION THREE
TOP-SCORERS
23 - Richard Fogelman (L’Equipe)
18 - Dan Gordon (Faithfold C)
DANNY CARO'S DIV 3 TEAM OF THE WEEK
THREE CHEERS FOR LOUGHTON
CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI 0 LOUGHTON ORIENT 3
Loughton Orient produced one of the performances of the weekend, with Adam Conway and Matt West among the goals as they dented Catford's title hopes.
Loughton manager Dan Curtis told JC Sport: "It was a great performance from everyone today. The commitment was superb and we played some lovely football."
DC Prediction: Catford 2 Loughton 1
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WONDERFUL WHETSTONE HIT FAMOUS FIVE
FAITHFOLD C 2 AC WHETSTONE 5
Whetstone completed a league double over Faithfold with a 5-2 win at Chase Lodge.
There were two goals for Alex Wolffenden and one apiece for Jonah Gordon-Boyd, Aaron Benjamin and JC star man Alon Pinhas in another famous win.
Top-scorer Dan Gordon bagged a brace for the home side.
DC Prediction: Faithfold 2 Whetstone 4
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RAIDERS FRUSTRATE JEWDINESE
JEWDINESE 1 NORSTAR LONDON RAIDERS C 1
Man of the moment Jake Yudelowitz halted table-topping Jewdinese in the battle of the title hopefuls.
Zack Collins had put Jewdinese ahead.
Jewdinese player-chairman Jake Erlich told JC Sport; "This was two points lost rather a point gained. We are by far the better team and really should have won."
Stand-in NLR boss Liam Stein told JC Sport: "It was a fiery game of two halves where either team could have nicked a winner, but overall the draw was a fair result on both teams."
DC Prediction: Jewdinese 2 NLR 1
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FABULOUS FOGELMAN TOPPLES KING CROWN
L’EQUIPE 4 KING CROWN 1
RICHARD FOGELMAN was back in the spotlight after firing a treble to boost L'Equipe after they overpowered King Crown.
Ben Kay's first goal for the club will also have the JC panel of judges in deliberation over the goal of the week.
L'Equipe boss Dan Cordell told JC Sport: "We are now looking to go on another unbeaten run and push our way up the league."
DC Prediction: L’Equipe 2 King Crown 2
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THE BOYS DON GOOD
TEMPLE FORTUNE 1 HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB C 2
There was more misery for basement battlers Temple Fortune who came out second best against Hendon C after strikes from Ezra Dulberg and David Elf.
Fortune were on course for a point thanks to a strike from Dean Ingram until a late long-range special from Elf broke their hearts.
Hendon boss Adam Glekin told JC Sport: "I can't imagine there have been many better goals scored in 2013 than that. Both our goals were magnificent, Ezra's would've been in with a shout of GOTW, but I think David has denied him that! It was cruel on Fortune, we definitely deserved the win but it was a tough way to lose.
Fortune boss Jonathan Cohen said: "I'm very deflated to lose like that. We battled well but without an out-and-out goalscorer it's very hard."
DC Prediction: Fortune 1 Hendon 4
