Woodford will hold their nerve, says Kay

FOOTBALL DARYL Kay described Woodford Wanderers as the best team in Division One as they edged closer to the title with a 2-0 victory over promotion rivals Brady Maccabi.

Strikes from Elliott Gold and James Ryan guided Woodford back to the summit and means that a draw against FC Team B on May 1 would see them crowned champions.

Woodford joint-manager Daryl Kay said: “This was probably our most professional and solid performance of the season.”

He described Gold’s 35-yard strike as “one of the best goals from distance you’ll see this season”. He went on to praisetheperformancesof DarrylGreen, Elliott Gold and Adam Shafron, but he insists nothing is settled yet. Kay said: “We’ll have to be at our best to beat FC Team to clinch the title.”

Jason Stein is targeting a top-three finish after Oakwood B claimed a 4-3 success over FC Team B. Two goals from Ben Annis plus one apiece from Rafi BloomandAnthonyKintish secured the team’s eighth league win of the season. Jon Breger (2) and Lorian Madanes replied for FC Team.

Stein said: “We’ve got three games left and I want the lads to kick on from here andfinishtheseasonwithanotherseven points.

“We’ve now secured a top-five finish — something I am proud of — but now the aim is to try and finish third.”

Fabio Revieccio (2) eased Real Sosobad’s relegation fears as they crushed Brixton 4-1. Richard Rosenthal and Dan Lassman sealed the points.

Real boss Dan Shafron said: “We needed to win this game to give us the best chance of staying in the division and we did so in a convincing manner.

“Although not mathematically safe, it will take a catastrophic capitulation to finish in the bottom two now.”

David Garbacz insists Hendon United A can “go into the Pesach break full of confidence” following the 3-0 victory over FC Team A. Avi Korman (2) and Ethan Zone boosted their chances of a top-four finish in the Premier Division.

Redbridge Jewish Care A and Oakwood A kept alive their title hopes in a 2-2 draw where strikes from Nathan Sollosi and James Berkley were cancelled out by David Woolman and Brad Wine.

RJC boss Jon Jacobs said: “We’ve had a fantastic season and I am so proud of everyone in the squad. We had a couple of bad weeks that has cost us ultimately in both league and cup, but I can’t complain when I manage such a talented team.”

Maccabi London Lions B have all but secured the runners-up position in Division Two following a 6-0 mauling of Boca Jewniors. Daniel Fattal (2), Nick Landesberg (2), Benji Weinberger and Zak Linden completed the rout.

MLL manager Samuel Marchant commented: “We performed well, played some lovely football and kept a clean sheet — we can’t do much more than that.”

Boca’sAntonNymanconceded: “We were outplayed but defensively we gave in to them too easily.”

Jonathan Cohen praised Temple Fortune’s secondhalf performancefollowing an entertaining 4-4 draw against FC Team C. Eddie Sternberg (2), Josh Cooper and Freddie MarkshadputFCTeamincharge,butFortunehitbackwithgoalsfromAmirWiselman(2),AdamLenzandGideonWetrin.

Fortune boss Jonathan Cohen said: “We looked like a team that hadn’t played for two months but we got it together in the second half and looked a threat every time we went forward.”

FC Team’s David Gordon described it as “the ultimate Sunday League match – eight goals, a soft penalty and an awful lot of moaning.”

A last-minute effort from Will Ufland kept North London Raiders B on course for third place following a 2-1 victory over Real Hendon. Jono Rochenberger started the comeback against a Real team who finished the game with nine men following two dismissals.

“This was a game we wanted to win and, on reflection, we probably deserved it,” said NLR boss Zack Gothelf. “We battled and kept our calm when tempers could easily have flared.”

We’vehad afantastic season andI’mso proudofevery squadmember