Matchday 34 weekend preview

Having clinched the Jewish FA Cup last weekend, Hendon United Sports Club A return to Wingate & Finchley where they will look to clinch part two of a possible treble against long-time Premier Division leaders Norstar London Raiders A on Sunday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the MGBSFL Division One title will be settled, with Woodford Wanderers and North West Neasden battling it out for title.

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TOP-SCORERS

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YOUR WEEKEND PREVIEW STARTS HERE:

CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP FINAL

NORSTAR LONDON RAIDERS A vs HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A
Phil Peters believes Norstar London Raiders are ready to play the game of their lives and win the Cyril Anekstein Cup.

The long-time MGBSFL Premier Division leaders have seen Hendon wipe away their big lead in recent weeks. But Peters is confident his troops can deliver in their first major cup final at Wingate & Finchley on Sunday against on a buoyant Hammers team fresh from their victory in the National Cup.

FULL PREVIEW

RAIDERS PEN PICS

HENDON PEN PICS

Venue – Wingate & Finchley, KO – 2.30pm, Ref – Richard Jay

JC star man: Yoav Kestenbaum (Hendon)

DC Prediction: NLR 1 Hendon 2

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MGBSFL-MMFL INVITATIONAL TROPY FINAL

NORSTAR LONDON RAIDERS B vs HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B
It’s hard to call a favourite in the Invitational Trophy final featuring Division One strugglers Hendon B and Division Two champions NLR B at Wingate & Finchley on Sunday.

NLR, my pre-tournament favourites, carried their momentum from the league into the group phase, with top-scorer Nicky Woolf filling his boots. He’s certainly one to watch at the Harry Abrahams Stadium, and wouldn’t look out of place in the CAC final earlier that day.

SEE FULL PREVIEW

HENDON B PEN PICS

RAIDERS PEN PICS

Venue - Wingate & Finchley

JC star man: Mike Hershman (NLR)

DC Prediction: Hendon 1 Raiders 3

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MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION

LEAGUE TABLE

TOP-SCORERS
16 - Yishai Last (Hendon A)
14 - Richard Salmon (FC Team A)

OAKWOOD A vs LONDON MACCABI LIONS BLUE
Oakwood will be looking to put their PMT misery behind them when they host Lions Blue in Uxbridge on Sunday.

The Oaks impressed at Wingate last week and were desperately unlucky not to come away with the trophy having pushed Hendon so close. Bobbie Cousins and Jonny Quinn were their marksmen, with Quinn’s last-ditch equaliser almost bringing the house down, but in the end they were denied by the heroics of Russell Corin in the shoot-out.

Third place remains a possibility for the Oaks, who still have a double-header with Redbridge, a rematch against Hendon and Lions White to follow during their run-in.

Managers Ric Blank and Alex Schock are keen for their players to finish the season strongly, starting with Lions this weekend.

Blank told JC Sport: “We’re a little walking wounded after Sunday and will be taking a smaller squad than normal.

“The Wingate pitch took it out on the boys, but we’ll get a strong 11 out and give it a good go.

“We’re safe now so it’s just a chance for the boys to enjoy their football and stretch those legs.”

With the relegation slots having been confirmed, there’s little at stake for the Lions, who were crushed 5-0 by Oakwood in December.

The have been a little goal-shy this season – failing to score in six games – and manager Jamie Kyte must already be thinking about next season.

“We're safe now so all we're playing for is pride,” Kyte told JC Sport.

“We're without three regulars this weekend, but hopefully depth in our squad will get us the win.”

Not many teams have matched Hendon over 90 minutes this season, let alone 120. I expect Oakwood to dust themselves down and go against, with three points there for the taking.

JC team news: Oakwood are missing Anthony Kintish, Dan Geey and Sam Jacobson (all injured), while Bobbie Cousins, Beilin and Danny Ailion are unavailable.
Guy Helman and Alex Koslover return. Blank added: “They will be nice and fresh which will be a huge boost."

Max Kyte, Lewis Blitz and Joel Reuben miss out for LML.

Venue – Brunel, KO – Robert Benardout

JC star man: Alex Koslover (Oakwood)

DC Prediction: Oakwood 2 Lions 1

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DIVISION ONE

LEAGUE TABLE

TOP-SCORERS
23 - Jono Gaon (Blancos)
20 - Harrison Midda (Woodford)

WOODFORD WANDERERS vs BRADY MACCABI B
It’s a big day in Division One with the top two places still up for grabs. With promotion in the bag, the Woodford boys are just 90 minutes away from the title, with promotion-chasing Brady standing in the way.

Woodford have come on in leaps and bounds under Tony Charles and the finish line is within sight. They’ve won the most games and conceded the fewest goals and few could argue if they finished the weekend as champions.

Neasden, who face a tricky game down the road at Chigwell, are the only team that can stop them, but Brady will be looking to make things difficult as the look to register the win that could keep their automatic promotion hopes alive. On current form that’s a big ask.

It’s been a real team effort from Woodford this season. Charles has had the troops playing out of their skin. From front to back they’ve looked the real deal and their fans are relishing the prospect of Premier Division football for the first time.

Manager Tony Charles was joined by chairman Alex Aviram ahead of Woodford’s final game.

Charles told JC Sport: “Being asked how we are preparing for the game against Brady is a ridiculous question - the very fact we are facing Brady is preparation enough for us.”

Charles went on to say: I’m also looking forward to seeing Mitch Hahn play against Brady - Mitch is our superstar so therefore we are contemplating changing our name next season to Mitch Hahn Wanderers!”

Player chairman Alex Aviram is full of superlatives for his team as they look to finish in their highest league position in the club’s history. Aviram mentioned “it’s great that the team are working for each other and it’s motivating that our manager leads by example and isn't a contentious refereeing decision away from a heart attack!”

Brady are determined to ruin Woodford’s party. Maccabi Team GB starlet Stanley Offord and David Newman kept alive their promotion hopes against Neasden last week, but manager Josh Dagul hopes his troops arrive switched on from the start as I expect Woodford to fly out of the blocks.

Brady’s form on the road has been good and if they play with no fear and silence the crowd for the first 20 minutes, it’d be foolish to rule them out, especially if the first meeting is anything to go by.

It should be a cracker.

Venue – Fairlop, Ref – Brandon Pieters, KO – 10am

JC star man: Joe Sumray (Woodford)

DC Prediction: Woodford 2 Brady 1

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CHIGWELL ATHLETIC vs NORTH WEST NEASDEN
Adam Arnold’s crucial double kept NWN’s destiny is their own hands, although things could and should’ve been better as they were 2-0 up at the break.

NWN boss Stirling Kay described livewire as the “best player on the pitch” and he also sang the praises of the evergreen Rick Harris, Scot Mackenzie and Steve ‘Safe Hands’ Murad in a typically solid display.

Kay is confident his troops will rise to the occasion on Sunday. He told JC Sport: "As a team, we have have been improving all season - we have been mid-table for the first half of the season and in the second half we have slowly moved up the league.

"We have put ourselves into second place with one game to go and we can still win the league. If we win we'll be promoted, but if we draw or lose, or finish third if we lose or draw.

"What I do know is we will give it our best on Sunday and that is all I ask from the lads every week; whatever position we end up it has been a tremendous effort from the whole squad and I'm very proud of the attitude discipline, desire and commitment they have given to allow us to be in the shake-up.

"In the last three or four games we have struggled getting 11-13 players out. This week will be no different. We have lots of players with injuries, suspensions and holidays, but whoever plays against Chigwell will not let anyone down.

"We know on their day they are a very good side so we will not be under-estimating them. We will do what we have done all season - get the ball down, play and try to put them on the back foot."

But as last games go, they don’t come much tougher than Chigwell away. The end of season report will read ‘Shoud’ve done better’ for Richard Slater’s boys, but with a near full-strength squad available, the east Londoners will be looking to put on a good show in front of their fans.

Slater has named a 16-man squad for the game and told JC Sport: “'We’ll enjoy our last game.

“Our 2014 has been excellent - it's just a shame we let ourselves down during the first part of the season. I want us to end with a win.”

Neasden, you have been warned.

Venue – Peter May, Fairlop, Ref – Adam Lewis, KO – 10am

JC star man: Dean Ben Yosef (Chigwell)

DC Prediction: Chigwell 2 Neasden 1

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DIVISION TWO

LEAGUE TABLE

TOP-SCORERS
22 - Ben Zloof (AC Mill Hill)
20 - Nathan Sollosi (Redbridge B)
18 - Nicky Woolf (Raiders B)

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DIVISION THREE