Norstar London Raiders A and Hendon United Sports Club A will meet in next month's Cyril Anekstein Cup final at Wingate & Finchley after coming through their respective semi-finals against Oakwood and Camden, and there was also a busy programme in the MGBSFL and Morrison. Danny Caro looks back on all the action.
MATCHDAY 27 HEADLINES
CAC - Raiders and Hendon reach Wingate
PMT - Lavin sets South up for Chigwell
Prem Div - Team cage the Lions
Div 1 - Chig choke Harmen
Div 2 - Team flatten Faithfold B
Div 3 - Cohen gets NLR going
JC HAT-TRICK HEROES
Prem Div - Andy Sheena (FC Team A)
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VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS - ANEKSTEIN SEMI - HENDON vs CAMDEN
MATCH PHOTOS - ANEKSTEIN SEMI - HENDON A vs CAMDEN PARK
MATCH PHOTOS - ANEKSTEIN SEMI - NL RAIDERS A vs OAKWOOD A
MATCH PHOTOS - SOUTH MANCHESTER vs MACCABI MANCHESTER
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JC TEAM OF THE WEEK: THE CONTENDERS
GK - Marc Jacobs (Loughton), Rob Abrahams (Shirley Park), Elliot Gold (Shirley Park), Gary Conway (Catford & Bromley)
DEFENDERS - Ari Nevies (Hendon A), Gid Chain, Nick Stern and David Prager (all L'Equipe), Ryan Kissin (Loughton), Paul Hizer, Russell Brill, Brad Gayer (all Chigwell), Ricky Shafier (FC Team A), Lee Fegan (Temple Fortune), Josh Pistol (NLR A), David Rhodes, Josh Morris, Alex Bloch (all NLR A)
MIDFIELDERS - Josh Jacobs (Loughton), Zuriel Solomon, Yoni Raeburn (both Faithfold A), Dan Orgel, Adam Arnold (both NW Neasden), Adam Rones, Jon Breger (both FC Team A), Michael Goldberg, Ben Mannheim (both Temple Fortune), Felix Shaw (King Crown)
STRIKERS - Avidan Last (Hendon A), Nick Stern (L'Equipe), Jamie Kent (NW Neasden), Matt Stock (NL Raiders A), Andy Sheena (FC Team A), Yehoshua Silverman (Boca Jewniors), Danny Navazesh (King Crown), Brad Cohen (SPEC FC)
MANAGER - Dan Curtis (Loughton Orient), Stirling Kay (Neasden), Mitch Young (FC Team A), Richard Slater (Chigwell), Jonathan Cohen (Temple Fortune), Dan Cordell & Josh Lewis (L'Equipe), Jody Marks (South Manchester SC 1st)
Email nominations to dcaro@thejc.com
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DANNY CARO'S MATCHDAY 27 OSCARS
GOAL OF THE WEEK - JAIMIE SINCLAIR
SAVE OF THE WEEK
GARY CONWAY (Catford & Bromley Maccabi) - brilliant save to keep fogelman out in a one on one situation
REFEREE OF THE WEEK
Neal Cohen
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LATEST NEWS - NEW COMPETITION UNVEILED
PETER MORRISON TROPHY QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
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YOUR WEEKEND PREVIEW STARTS HERE (Kick-offs 10.30am unless stated)
CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP SEMI-FINALS
HENDON HEROES BOOK FINAL DATE
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A 5 CAMDEN PARK 2
Super-sub Avidan Last fired a double to send Hendon into another Wingate final, at the expense of Camden. Yishai Last (2) and Danny Kon were also on target for the Hammers who kept their sensational unbeaten run in domestic football going.
Camden's goals came through Mike Khalastchi and Luke Brookner.
Delighted Hendon boss David Garbacz told JC Sport: "We are delighted to be in the final of this famous competition and it should be a cracker against Norstar - the two top teams in the league contesting a cup final in May - what could be better?
"I await their request to change the venue from Wingate to their 3G as I'm not sure they've played a game away from it all season - their boys might have to actually go out and buy a pair of real boots which has been unheard of so far this year. Let's bring it on - may the best team win!"
DC Prediction: Hendon 3 Camden 1
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RAIDERS REACH WINGATE
NORSTAR LONDON RAIDERS A 2 OAKWOOD A 1
NLR remain on course for the treble as they edged past Premier Division rivals Oakwood in the early kick-off at the Ark.
Jamie Wolfson and Matt Stock scored the goals that set up a final against Hendon at Wingate.
Brad Wine pulled one back a minute from time, but NLR progressed.
NLR gaffer Phil Peters told JC Sport: "Today was another epic in the likely four-part series between ourselves and Oakwood this season, and for the third time in a row we emerged victorious thanks to a brilliant performance and an almost perfectly-executed game-plan. Two moments of genius from Jamie Wolfson and Matt Stock will grab the headlines but we were heroic today across the pitch and fully deserve our place in the final."
Oaks boss Ric Blank believes an injury to Sam Jacobson and NLR's first goal were the turning points. "Losing a semi-final is worse than a final in many ways and this really hurt," he told JC Sport. "
DC Prediction: NLR 2 Oakwood 1
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PETER MORRISON TROPHY ROUND TWO
TEAM READY FOR OAKS
FC TEAM C 3 AC MILL HILL 0
FC Team C set up a meeting with Oakwood A after proving too strong for Mill Hill.
Mill Hill boss Joe Levy told JC Sport: "I'm pleased the football season is nearly over."
DC Prediction: Team 3 Mill Hill 2
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LAVIN SENDS SOUTH THROUGH
SOUTH MANCHESTER SPORTS CLUB 1st 1 MACCABI MANCHESTER 0
Adam Lavin was South Manchester's match-winner in the big derby to set up a trip to Chigwell Athletic.
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MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
TOP-SCORERS
13 - Matt Stock (NL Raiders A)
12 - Mike Pearson (Faithfold A)
LERNER TEACHES FAITHFOLD A LESSON
BRADY MACCABI A 3 FAITHFOLD A 3
Rob Lerner earned Brady a point following a six-goal thriller against Faithfold at Rowley Lane.
A very good game saw Brady take a 2-0 lead from strikes by Marc Lazare, but an injury to Richard Baum helped Faithfold get back into the game and they forged ahead thanks to three quickfire goals through Mike Pearson, Yoni Raeburn and player-manager Zuriel Solomon. But Brady battled back well, and Lerner's excellent finish earned them a point.
Brady boss Joel Nathan told JC Sport: "With only 11 players plus myself I knew fitness would be an issue and when we lost Richard, they took a grip of the game. We tried to regroup and it was great credit that we did not let our heads drop."
Faithfold boss Zuriel Solomon told JC Sport: "We showed a lot of spirit to come from 0-2 down and deservedly went 3-2 ahead. It was a good warm-up for next week's cup tie - we had quite a few boys away today, but the stand-ins did well. Brady played some good stuff too."
DC Prediction: Brady 2 Faithfold 2
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SUPER SHEENA MAULS LIONS
FC TEAM A 4 LONDON MACCABI LIONS WHITE 2
A virtuoso performance from four-goal hero ANDY SHEENA inspired FC Team A to victory in a relegation six-pointer at Old Camdenians, with an crucial 4-2 wintaking them back above Lions White.
Delighted FC Team player-manager Mitch Young told JC Sport: "This was a very important win against a talented Lions side. We showed unbelievable character to recover from going two goals down. Our second half display was full of power, passion and skill and I am extremely pleased with the performance. Andy will get he headlines but this was a true Team display."
DC Prediction: Team 1 Lions 1
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DIVISION ONE
TOP-SCORERS
22 - Jono Gaon (Blancos)
17 - Harrison Midda (Woodford)
16 - Mitch Hahn (Woodford)
HAHN AT THE DOUBLE
SHIRLEY PARK 1 WOODFORD WANDERERS 2
A brace from Mitch Hahn helped Woodford return to winning ways as they moved to within two points of leaders Harmen.
Jason Lindsay registered for Shirley, whose manager Dave Lusman told JC Sport: "We just need to get everyone match-fit and, as the weeks go by, we're get stronger, with more players on the mend and returning to the fold, so expect a very strong finish to the season from park."
DC Prediction: Shirley 1 Woodford 4
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CASTLE BREAKS HARMEN HEARTS
SOUTHGATE HARMEN 1 CHIGWELL ATHLETIC 2
Chigwell warmed-up for next week's Morrison tie against South Manchester with a stunning win at leaders Harmen, with Ryan Cole and Dan Castle doing the damage.
Harmen's goal came through Sam Castle.
Delighted Chigwell boss Richard Slater told JC Sport: "It was a good, all-round performance and a deserved victory. We should've won by more, but didn't take our chances."
Harmen joint-manager Joel Alterman told JC Sport: "We didn’t turn up as a team, we played as 11 individuals on a football pitch and didn’t move the ball around on the floor as we know we can."
DC Prediction: Harmen 3 Chigwell 2
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ORGEL THE INSPIRATION FOR NEASDEN
NORTH WEST NEASDEN A 4 BRADY MACCABI B 2
Stirling Kay described star man Dan Orgel as an inspiration to his teammates after Neasden claimed three important points against promotion rivals Brady B.
New signings Adam Arnold and Jamie Kent finished the job in a feisty affair that featured a couple of red cards.
Brady's goals came through Dan Harrod and David Newman.
NWN boss Stirling Kay told JC Sport: "As a team we were not always at our best, but we kept going and as I had hoped, our strikeforce proved to be the difference. And they were, and as a team we worked very hard to stop a very determined Brady."
DC Prediction: NWN 1 Brady 1
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COHENS GET SPEC GOING
BRIXTON OLD BOYS 2 SPEC FC 3
SPEC earned themselves a massive three points with victory in a five-goal thriller against Brixton at Clowes.
Goals from Dan Amram, man-of-the-match Brad Cohen - his first for the club - and goalkeeper Dan Cohen, with a speculative drop-kick, sealed the win.
Alon Hershkorn and Nick Kenton netted for Brixton but the win kept alive SPEC's hopes of the drop.
SPEC's Ricky Lawrence told JC Sport: "We knew we had to win and when they pulled one back with three minutes remaining, it's fair to say there were a few nerves on the sidelines. We managed to hold out though and grab what could be a crucial three points."
DC Prediction: Brixton 0 SPEC 1
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DIVISION TWO
TOP-SCORERS
22 - Ben Zloof (AC Mill Hill)
18 - Nicky Woolf (Raiders B)
17 - Nathan Sollosi (Redbridge B)
THE TEAM ARE STAYING UP
FAITHFOLD B 1 FC TEAM B 2
Daniel Alfreds and Paul Savitz ensured Division Two football for FC Team B next season, but the future looks bleak for Faithfold B.
Ben Rosenblatt had put Faithfold ahead in the first half.
FC Team boss David Gordon told JC Sport: "There were a lot of stern words said at half time and we were much improved in the second half after a poor first half. We’re relieved to stay in the league and we’ll look to finish as high as possible now."
Faithfold assistant-manager Dan Yoss told JC Sport: "Relegation looks almost certain - it's a big disappointment, but I feel there's a great core of lads here and providing we don't have the wretched luck we had this year we'll be a lot stronger next season."
DC Prediction: Faithfold 2 Team 2
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DIVISION THREE
TOP-SCORERS
30 - Richard Fogelman (L’Equipe)
22 - Dan Gordon (Faithfold C)
15 - Dovi Fehler (Boca)
FORTUNE LEAVE STONES DOUBLED UP
AC WHETSTONE 0 TEMPLE FORTUNE 2
Temple Fortune returned to winning ways as they inflicted a second consecutive defeat on Whetstone, with Zach Rich and Gavin Levy doing the business.
After completing a memorable double over the Whetstone youngsters, Fortune boss Jonathan Cohen told JC Sport: "I was delighted with our performance on Sunday and with the exception of about 15 minutes at the start of the second half, it was by far and away our most complete performance of the season."
DC Prediction: Whetstone 4 Fortune 2
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COHEN CRACKER FLOORS FAITHFOLD
FAITHFOLD C 0 NORSTAR LONDON RAIDERS C 1
A wonder goal from Andy Cohen fired NLR C to a win that looks set to earn them the title on a day when they rivals slipped up.
Proud Faithfold boss David Garson told JC Sport: "I think we were very unlucky to lose, as I don't think apart from the goal they had a shot on target. We missed Flash up front and I think if he has been playing we might have won. Good luck to Raiders on their promotion push."
DC Prediction: Faithfold 1 Raiders 3
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SILVER LINING FOR BOCA
KING CROWN 4 BOCA JEWNIORS 4
A deadly double from Dan Navazesh helped King Crown continue their good run in an eight-goal thriller against Boca. Josh Karpf and Felix Shaw were the other scorers for Crown.
Boca's goals came through Yehoshua Silverman (2), Simon Lindall and Parys Hammond.
Boca joint-manager Sefton Monk told JC Sport: "A point away from home is always nice. It’s about pushing on from here, with three home games to come we hope to finish the season on a high."
Crown boss Jacob Kadoch told JC Sport: "Unfortunatly we made mistakes and got punished. It was a great effort from all the boys and we know we deserved all three points."
DC Prediction: King Crown 3 Boca 3
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SINCLAIR SIZZLER STUNS 'NESE
LOUGHTON ORIENT 2 JEWDINESE 1
A wonder goal from Jaimie Sinclair saw Loughton put a dent in Jewdinese's promotion hopes, with Dan Shafron also on target as the east Londoners came from behind to seal a memorable win.
Zack Collins scored his third goal in two games for 'Nese, but it was Loughton's day.
Loughton manager Dan Curtis told JC Sport: "I would say that was our best performance of the season. The boys worked so hard for each other and deserved the win. We were solid at the back and could of scored five or six today."
DC Prediction: Loughton 1 Jewdinese 2
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FABULOUS FOGELMAN DELIVERS KO BLOW
CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI 1 L'EQUIPE 3
Two injury strikes from Richard Fogelman boosted L'Equipe promotion hopes in a thriller against promotion rivals Catford.
The match was locked at 1-1 - an own goal for Catford and Jon Kay for L'Equipe, before Fogelman took centre stage with a penalty and another cool finish.
L'Equipe joint-manager Josh Lewis told JC Sport; "Overall we're delighted with the result, which keeps us in the race and look forward to another tough game against Loughton next week, who are also in good form."
Fogelman told JC Sport: "With a stag do next weekend (I'm away all weekend and will miss the game) I was worried I may not get any goals for two weeks and suddenly kicked into life!"
