Fegan keeps season alive
BARRY GOLDSTEIN TROPHY QUARTER-FINALS TEMPLE FORTUNE A 3 REAL HENDON 3 (FORTUNE WON 4-3 ON PENALTIES)
● LEE FEGAN was the hero of the hour as Temple Fortune squeezed into the semi-finals after a shoot-out win. Fortune rode their luck in normal time, when Lloyd Becker (2) and Steven Black registered. Fegan rescued Fortune with a last-minute penalty save in normal time, before saving another in the shootout. Mike Woolf, captain Adam Speck, Ami Wynbourne and Becker converted to send Fortune through. Fortune manager Simon Linden commented: “Sometimes you need a bit of luck. I think the boys deserve to be in a semi-final after the season we have had.”
BAYERN MINCHA 1 FC TEAM 2
● ADAM RONES and Ryan Kangisser fired FC Team through as they eliminated Division Two leaders Bayern. Eli Biton replied. FC Team player-manager Mitch Young said: “Any win in the cup is a great win but to knock out the favourites is very pleasing. Overall, our experience came through.” Bayern jointmanager Daniel Holder bemoaned the absence of 10 regulars and said: “Sadly we couldn’t give too much attention to this cup as we know a win against Fairlop on the final day of the season will see us crowned Division Two champions.”
NL RAIDERS C 2 STRAW HAT PIRATES 0
● SAM ROSE believes Raiders are playing with a new-found maturity after goals from Jordan Sapler and Alex Goodman boosted their hopes of silverware. “It was a really assured and confident performance at Brunel,” said NLR boss Sam Rose. “I was impressed by how the team have continued to play for one another over the last few weeks and adapted well to different formations and roles.”
MGBSFL PREM DIV CAMDEN PARK 1 HENDON UTD 3
● GREG CORIN admits Hendon United “avoided a banana skin” as they registered their ninth win of the season to maintain their two-point lead over defending champions Oakwood. Strikes from Zac Lewis, Rocky Spitzer and an own goal helped Hendon overturn a one-goal deficit. Corin described the result as “a vital win” and said: “It could have been a banana skin but we stayed focus and got the job done. Big credit to Camden who belied their league position to show they are a good team, with a number of experienced and technically strong players who made it a tight contest.”
ML LIONS WHITE 2 REDBRIDGE JC A 2
● JON JACOBS praised his players for “a good, battling performance and a
deserved point,” after Redbridge drew with Lions White. Steve Summers and Russell Goldstein had given Redbridge a 2-0 lead at the interval before the Lions rallied to level via James Gold and Jamie Cohen in their final league game of the season.
OAKWOOD A 5 BRADY MACCABI 0
● DAN KRISTALL described Oakwood’s mauling of Brady as their “best performance of the season” as they kept up the pressure on Hendon with an outstanding display. Leor Sidle (3), David Woolman and Kyle Bentwood inspired the defending champions to their eighth league victory. “This was a big win and just like last season we seem to be getting stronger each week,” commented joint-manager Kristall. “After not playing a game for a month, we could have been excused for being slow out of the traps, but we played some excellent attacking football in the first 20 minutes. At times, Brady couldn’t cope with our pace and movement. Our task in terms of the league is simple, keep winning and keep the pressure on Hendon, the title favourites. It should be a very interesting few weeks ahead.”
DIVISION ONE OAKWOOD B 1 FAITHFOLD A 3
● AVI MARKIEWICZ, Ben Shirbini and Amit Dinowitz helped Faithfold round off an excellent season with an impressive win. Player-manager Avi Markiewicz was presented with the league winners’ shield after the game and said: “It’s been a memorable season and everyone involved with the club and everyone that contributed to the team must be acknowledged, in particular, Zalmy Cohen, Avi Mocton, Dovi Vogel, Avi Garson and Aaron Luftig. Rob Shooman too, and a special mention to David Garson.”
REDBRIDGE JC B 1 NL RAIDERS B 6
● RAIDERS B were confirmed as Division One runners-up after goals from Matt Leader (2), Simon Buchler, Jake Gilbert, Anthony Goodmaker and Jordan Nathan eased them past Redbridge. Dan Gordon replied. NLR joint-manager Doron Salomon remarked: “Jonny Adelman and I can reflect on a successful campaign in which we’ve a very good chance of ending up with the best attacking and defensive records in the league. In 2018 in particular, we’ve been relentless and played some genuinely outstanding football. But for our game at home to Faithfold, we may well have won the title. If that was the last game before retirement for some of our players, notably captain, Anthony Goodmaker, then it was the perfect way to go out.”
DIVISION TWO HERTSWOOD VALE 3 MILL HILL DONS 3
● MILL HILL’S title hopes were dealt a blow as they conceded a late equaliser in a thriller against Hertswood. Vale stormed into a 2-0 lead via Josh Cohen (2) before the Dons recovered to lead 3-2 via Zach Cohen, Harry Moss and Josh Cinna. But Vale snatched a point late on as pressure from Jack Shulman resulted in an own goal. Vale joint-manager Jacob Emanuel remarked: “I don’t think anyone expected us to take anything from the match, so to take a point after the Dons fought back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 showed great mental strength.” Dons boss Brandon Hamme admitted: “Promotion will now be a very difficult task but we will continue to give it our all and fight until the very end.”
FAIRLOP FC 6 FAITHFOLD B 1
● A TREBLE from JAMES JACONELLI saw Fairlop’s title hopes continue to gather momentum as they moved to within a point of third place FC Team after a 6-1 demolition of cup semi-finalists Faithfold. Further goals from captain Brad Gayer, David Farkash and an own goal completed the rout for the east Londoners. Fairlop’s Aaron Dias said: “I was happy with the result and overall display.”
MJSL JOAN COLLINS PREMIER HAROLDEANS 3 SOUTH MANCHESTER 1ST 3
● MIKE BLOOMBERG predicts the MJSL title race will go down to the final game after Haroldeans and South Manchester drew, leaving title rivals Sedgley Park Celtic as the big winners. South showed tremendous character as they came back three times to earn a draw. Haroldeans boss Mike Bloomberg said: “It’s an exciting season for the teams involved and it’s going to the wire. You want the league to be competitive and it certainly is this season.” Haroldeans were left frustrated after being pegged back on three occasions following strikes from Zac Goldsmith (2) and Adam Shiffman. Joe Glaskie, Adam Tauber and Louis Rawlings scored for South. It’s now a race to the finish line with all three clubs still to play each other again during the run-in. Sedgley remain on top, by goal difference, but Haroldeans have a game in hand. South are a further three points behind, having played a game less.