Hapoel hit the heights
HAPOEL HAMPSTEAD MTK were crowned Maccabi GB Southern Football League Division Two champions on Sunday morning, winning the title with a game to spare after beating Brady FC 5-1.
Goals from Jordan Conn, Matt Davidson, Benjy Cowen and an own goal saw them to their first-ever title. Marcus Foux and Benjy Cowen provided the assists on an historic day for the club.
Foux said: “We play some of the best Jewish football around. It’s been a stunning turnaround from last season and coming into this season, I felt we would get promoted. The team spirit throughout the season has been brilliant. We beat our two nearest rivals twice and absolutely deserve to be champions.” Namechecking some of their key players, he said: “Jordan Conn has been the best player in the league this season, while new signings Jonathan Lubin, Jake Brassey, Benjy Cowen, Daniel Simon and Ben Samuels deserve a particular mention.”
Saying how they’re already “buzzing for next season”, he added: “Promotion is the aim!”
Oakwood moved a step closer to the Premier Division title, but Hendon United put their celebrations on hold, holding their rivals to a 3-3 draw in a thrilling match. Reiss Mogilner scored twice for Hendon, with Avi Korman also on target. Hendon boss David Garbacz said: “We put in a performance today that everyone involved can be very proud of. Despite being down to the absolute bare bones we gave it our all against a team that have swept all before them this year. We defended brilliantly and scored some excellent goals on the counterattack. Oakwood will no doubt win the league and we congratulate them, but we were delighted to put a dampener on their celebrations today.” Ben Kohler scored twice for the Os, with Charlie Kasler also on target.
The race for the Division One title will be fought out at the end of the month. Brook Farm Rovers ensured the destiny of it is in their own hands after they thrashed Redbridge Jewish Care Purple 9-0. Dan Cohen helped himself to six of the goals, with Ben Levene bagging a hat-trick. Cohen said: “We blew the opposition away with fast, attacking football to claim three points and secure promotion. Our focus is now on the title.” They sit three points behind leaders London Athletico, whom they meet in a winners-take-all clash on April 30.
HMH are through to their firstever Cyril Anekstein Cup final after goals from Ben Gur and Adam Abadi saw them to a 2-0 win at London Athletico. HMH player-manager Avi Goldberg said: “It was a typically tricky trip to east London, but we came through unscathed. An even first half-hour was then followed by a 30-minute blitz from us either side of half-time. We could have scored another four or five, but all credit to them and their goalkeeper for keeping them in the game.”
Geez Park Rangers are through to the final of the David Wolff Premier Division Cup after they beat Stoke Salmon 5-3. Nathan Kashket, Alex Bleetman, Scott Gurvitz scored for Salmon. Their manager Jamie Weiner said: “It’s a disappointing result for us to take as we have now lost our third semi-final in consecutive years. Team errors led to many of their goals but the opposition were clinical and able to take the game away from us. We look forward to enjoying our final game of the season next week.” Rangers will play the winners of the Oakwood vs HMH semifinal tie in the final.
London Lions First XI won their first
Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North game in nearly a month with goals from Romey Thomas Eccles Meoded, Felix Shalom and Oscar Wagner seeing them to a 3-0 win over Holyport. The victory, their first in six games, sees them move up into 14th place in the table.
The London Lions Development team are within a point off the top three sides in the Herts Senior County League Division One table after goals from Amit Waiss, Zak Jackson and Sam Morris saw them earn a 3-1 win at Knebworth FC.
Manager Laurence Judah said: “It was a good performance on an unbelievably difficult pitch. It took us an hour to score but as soon as we did, we immediately felt comfortable. We have to realise that sometimes it takes time to break teams down — we need to remain patient and stick to our plan.”
Reich moved to within a point of clinching the Manchester Jewish Soccer League title as they edged past Leeds Maccabi with a battling 2-1 win. Benjamin Cumming and Marley Rubens scored the goals.
The victory means they can now afford to draw their title showdown with Broughton Park Rangers at the end of the month and still secure the title on goal difference.
The one game played involving Maccabi Masters Football League teams was a League Cup tie. It saw Glenthorne win 2-0 at Temple Fortune, thanks to goals from Dave Simons and Jason Rich.
We play some of the best Jewish football around
Sometimes it takes time to break teams down