SPORT PETER MORRISON TROPHY FINAL PREVIEW BY DANNY CARO
FOOTBALL AVI Goldberg says his HMH young guns are determined to lift the Jewish FA Cup for the first time ahead of Sunday’s trip to Harrogate, where they will take on a Haroldeans team hoping to avenge last year’s final defeat against Maccabi London Lions.
Having finished runners-up in their first season in the MGBSFL, Goldberg admits his HMH team are “down to the bare bones” for the showpiece match, which will be played on a third generation artificial surface.
HMH have progressed through four rounds to reach their first Morrison final, beating Los Camden, Fairlop FC, Oakwood A and holders Lions. However, they will be missing Teddy Levenfiche, the two-goal hero who guided them past Lions, plus the suspended Sam Monjack, along with a host of other players who are travelling and hope to follow the match via social media.
Goldberg said: “We still have topscorer Oscar Wagner, who has scored 20 goals this season, plus Ethan Krell and Clark Norton.”
HMH will complete their preparations for the Jewish FA Cup final at England’s training base at St George’s Park. Goldberg spoke of his admiration for Haroldeans and said: “We know they will give us a very tough test as they reached the final last year. They’ve also beaten league champions Hendon this year, so they know the drill.
“However, we have been in good form too and beaten two other top teams in Oakwood and Lions, so we will be ready to give it our best shot on Sunday.
“I am immensely proud of everything the lads have achieved this season. We finished second in the Premier Division, are unbeaten against the top teams and are in the final of the National cup knockout competition. Winning the cup with our Barcelona style of football will be a fitting climax to a superb first season in men’s football for these young men.”
Haroldeans also go into the game in fine form. Max Barnett scored a hat-trick in their final game of the season – a 7-1 triumph over Sorrento UK – which confirmed third place in their first season in Division One of the Liverpool Business Houses League.
Boss Mike Bloomberg, who works closely with his assistant and club chairman Fraser Saville, hopes fortune favours the Merseysiders, who lost 1-0 to Lions in the final last year, when they lost young goalkeeper Jared Clein to a broken arm and were defeated 1-0 by a penalty.
Bloomberg said: “Finishing third in a 14-team division our first season in nonJewish football is a great achievement.”
Haroldeans have won 18 out of 26 league matches this year. Bloomberg points out: “Five of our six defeats were by one-goal margins against the teams around us at the top of the division.
“The move to another league has made us more competitive and really challenged us. We also reached the semifinal of another cup competition, so are definitely improving as a team. The cup wins over Hendon and Manchester Maccabi gave everyone a big lift.”
Top-scorer Adam Shiffman and goalkeeper Jared Clein have impressed again this season, while Bloomberg predicts great things from Zack Goldsmith, Paul Harris and Maxim Green. He said: “We’re just happy to be in the final again as we were close to folding the team three years ago. It’s just a shame the final is on 3G which I believe favours HMH as they play home games the same surface.”