Defiant Hendon roar back into the title race
HENDON MANAGER David Garbacz has warned the rest of the Maccabi GB Southern Football League Premier Division teams to write his side off at their peril as his team got back to winning ways and kick-start what he hopes will be a push for the title.
Goals from Mordy Weiler and Dovi Fehler and an own goal saw them come away from North London Raiders with a 3-2 win, a victory that moved them into second spot and to within nine points of leaders Oakwood, having played game less than their rivals.
Garbacz said: “We’ve had a few tough weeks recently but today we tweaked a few things around, played as though we were enjoying it again and were back to our best. It was a vital win and one which we totally deserved. Hopefully this will get our season kick-started again, I wouldn’t write Hendon off just yet.” Jordan Marks and Matt Warner replied for the Raiders.
Oakwood remain clear at the top thanks to a 5-0 win at Stoke Salmon. Charlie Kasler scored twice, with Aaron Searle and Ted Silber also on target. Manager Jake Finestein said: “It was a strong performance, with some lovely build-up play and goals.”
Goals from Aaron Gale and Matt Spelman saw NWL Azzurri up to the heady heights of joint-fourth as they won 2-0 at Mill Hill Dons.
London Athletico moved to within five points off the top of Division One, with a game in hand on the leaders, as a hat-trick from Zacki Doumou inspired them to a 4-0 win over Real Madreidel. Rafi Rees claimed their other goal, with Athletico’s Michael Phillips saying: “It was a top performance from start to finish, arguably our best of the season.”
Oakwood Town and Hampstead Ducks contested the game of the day, the former coming out 6-4 winners to claim their fifth win in a row and move them up to third spot in the table. Jake Kelly scored a hat-trick, with Max Lever, Jack Isaacs and Harry Margolis also finding the back of the net. Manager Mikey Cohen said: “It was a sloppy performance, conceding far too many goals, but we scored some good goals and got the three points, which is the most important thing.”
In Division Two, Temple Fortune B resumed action after a lengthy break by storming to their second win in succession, Ariel Rahamim and Solly Levy scored two each as the won 4-2 at Qarabagel. Jordan Harris and James Millet netted for the hosts.
In the David Wolff Division One Cup, Boca Chillers and Brook Farm Rovers played out a 2-2 draw, before the former won the tie 3-1 on penalties. Oli Assor and Joe Glaskie scored for Rovers, with Ben Levene scoring from the spot. Rovers’ player-manager Dan Cohen said: “It was tough to lose on penalties after a good game. We started slowly but grew into it on a tricky pitch. It was one-way traffic in the last 20 minutes, we created chances but unfortunately couldn’t take one and then penalties are a lottery.”
In the David Wollf Division Two Cup, Redbridge Jewish Care White were comfortable 6-2 winners over Millbrook Park Calcio.
Brady Maccabi exited the Middlesex FA Sunday Junior Trophy after they were beaten 8-3 by Hearts of Teddlothian. Simon Lousky had scored twice as the sides finished level at 2-2 after 90 minutes and although Ben Geller struck in extra time, Teddlothian scored a further six goals to send the MGBSFL side crashing out of the competition.
Maccabi London Lions closed the gap at the top of the Maccabi Masters Football League table to four points following their 3-1 win over EHRS Stonegrove. Bradley Lazarus, Michael Abraham and Peter Lazard were all on target. A Wayne Davison header was enough to secure Temple Fortune a 1-0 win over Glenthorne, the victory seeing them move clear in third spot in the table.
London Lions’ First XI first game in just over two months ended in a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to titlechasing Flackwell Heath. The result leaves Andrew Landesberg’s side in tenth place.
London Lions’ Development side also fell to defeat, though only after conceding an injury-time winner. Having drawn level in the final ten minutes, a lack of concentration at a corner saw them suffer a cruel, if ultimately deserved defeat. They now find themselves in sixth place in the Herts Senior County League Division One table, five points off a promotion spot, but with a game in hand on sides above them.
The first game of 2023 in the Manchester Jewish Soccer League saw Broughton Park Rangers claim a 6-3 win over Jewventus, which moved them to within three points of league leaders Reich. Jamie Greene bagged a hat-trick, with Yoni Greene’s double and Oscar Ridley-Fink’s strike sealing the points. Yossi Landes scored a hattrick of his own for Jewventus.
We tweaked a few things, and played like we were enjoying it