Lions silenced by some Hendon Noe how
V MACCABI LONDON FC have relinquished top spot in the Premier Division table after Gav Noe’s strike condemned them to a 1-0 defeat to Hendon.
Coupled with HMH’s thumping 8-0 and 5-0 victories over Faithfold White, the Rowley Lane side find themselves three points off the top of the table, with four matches of the season remaining.
Hendon manager David Garbacz believed his side deserved the points, saying: “After a couple of recent disappointing results, we proved today that we aren’t finished quite yet. We were right on our game and made it difficult for a top Lions team to get into any rhythm. We defended brilliantly and when the decisive moment came, there was Gav to roll back the years with a superb finish. It was a beautiful feeling to win an important game and hopefully should set us up for a strong finish to the season.”
Lions boss Max Kyte said: “They deserved to win, more of their players wanted it more and in a game of fine margins they had the edge.”
Oscar Wagner was the star of the show for HMH, scoring a hat-trick in their first win and two goals in the second. Ethan Krell chipped in with two strikes in the first game, with Dom Feldman, Ariel Rahamim and Thomas Prais also all finding the back of the net, while Krell, Alex Moss and Sam Monjack all scored in the second game. Manager Avi Goldberg said: “Another match, another Wagner hattrick. Credit to Faithfold for putting up a stout resistance, particularly in the first half of the second match, but we bounced back from our midweek cup defeat in great style.”
NL Raiders were in rampant form as they claimed their fifth win of the season, beating Jewdinese 5-2. There are also new leaders in Division One – after Harry Graham’s header was enough to see Hertswood Vale to a 1-0 win over Temple Fortune.
Manager Jacob Emanuel said: “We weren’t anywhere near the level we should be at today, but got away with three points when it very much looked like a draw on the cards. We have four cup finals remaining.”
London Bears maintained their title challenge as five goals from Zacki Doumou helped them to an emphatic 7-0 win over Paris Saint Jewmain. Sam Martin scored the other two with manager James Harpin saying: “It was a comfortable victory. The league’s in our hands but we’ll have tougher tests in our remaining six games.”
Brook Farm Rovers consolidated their mid-table placing as Sam Georgevic and Dan Cohen netted in a 2-0 win at Faithfold Green.
Manager Dan Cohen said: “We could have scored more but got the job done and keeping a clean sheet was really satisfying.”
NWL Azzuri consolidated second spot in Division Two following an 8-0 thrashing of Redbridge JC.
Hampstead Ducks moved clear in third spot thanks to a 4-1 win over Straw Hat Pirates, while four different players got on the scoresheet for West Hendon Wallabies, as they claimed just their second league win of the season, defeating SPEC 4-1.
Cameron Hough, Arian Osmaniq, Benjy Harta and Marcus Godfrey all found the back of the net, with manager Gad Harari saying: “It was a brilliant performance from our team, we controlled almost the entire game.”
East London Bees forfeited their game against Stoke Salmon, handing the latter three points and ensuring they remain three points clear at the top of the table.
•Maccabi London Lions became the first side to book their place in the semi-finals of the Cyril Anekstein Cup after they beat HMH 2-1, thanks to goals from Mikey Perkins and Adam Arnold
They wanted it more. In a game of fine margins they had the edge