Vintage year for Inter Red Wine
INTER RED Wine have been crowned winners of the inaugural Maccabi GB Walking Football League.
Sunday morning’s match between Inter
Red Wine and Yellow Trailblazers was a title decider with Red Wine needed just a point to become champions, while a win for the Trailblazers would have resulted in a three-way play-off for the title next month.However, Red Wine settled matters by running out emphatic 9-3 winners to clinch the championship in style.
Howard Harris helped himself to four goals, Gary Shaw chipped in with a hat-trick, with Steve Bogen netting their other two. Speaking after the match, Red Wine captain Kevin Ziants said: “It’s been a pleasure to captain this team to the League. Great teamwork and goals have made it a fabulous season, as well as being good for our wellbeing, all while trying not to run.
“I’m delighted about how the walking football concept has grown and how Maccabi GB has embraced this.”
Just as happy with how the first season has panned out and what it’s offered is league chairman Gary Briggs. He said: “The first league season was ambitious, aiming to field four teams while players coped with injuries and busy social calendars. Captains on occasion, agreed player loans, which is in the true spirit of walking football. The league is there to allow players to play a healthy game to support wellbeing, with the result being less important.”
Reflecting on how it was played out and looking ahead to the next campaign, he added: “We were thrilled to have a competitive league, which was decided in the final fixture and we congratulate Inter Red Wine on their win.
“We now look forward to the spring and summer season of friendly playing sessions and will then decide when to resume a new league.”
Anybody wanting to play in the spring/summer friendlies, which start in April, should contact Gary Briggs at gary@briggsweb.co.uk.
In the Maccabi GB Southern Football League, Geez Park Rangers are through to the final of this season’s Peter Morrison Trophy after they beat Brady FC 2-1 thanks to goals from Jack Mattey and Nathan Rosenthal. Brady manager Ricky Ansher said: “We were probably the better side for the majority of the game, scoring in the first minute. We came out fighting in the second half, after they equalised from the penalty spot, but in the end Premier Division quality shone through, and they were able to grab a second goal. I can’t fault anyone’s performance, all 16 players ran through brick walls today and gave 110 per cent, and on another day, who knows what could have happened.”
In the Premier Division, reigning champions Oakwood suffered their first league defeat of the season after they were beaten 2-1 at home by high-flying London Athletico. At the other end of the table, North London Raiders moved out of the bottom two as they came away from Brook Farm Rovers with a 1-0 win thanks to Joshua Bloom’s goal. Rovers’ Dan Cohen said: “It was a tight game settled by a good goal, it could have gone either way.”
Division One leaders Mill Hill Dons’ title hopes took a dent as they conceded a 93rd minute equaliser, coming away from Real Madreidel with a 2-2 draw. Goals from Jonny May and Ben Kaufman had put The Dons on the way to what would have been a valuable three points. Redbridge Jewish Care Purple moved to within five points of the leaders as they saw off Real Salt Beef 3-2. Bradley Gayer scored twice, with Ryan Cole also on target.
Millbrook Park Calcio consolidated their top-four placing in Division Two as goals from Gabriel Cooke, Dean Cramer, Benji Radnor, Sauk Shimoni and Arian Osmanagiq saw them beat Beitar Bushey 5-0.
The weekend’s action in the Maccabi Masters Football League was in the League Cup. In Group A, four goals from Kevin Lotzof inspired Brady to an 8-1 win over Hendon Harriers.
Dan Forman, Jonny Mack and Martin Schultz also got among the goals, while Ben Simons netted the Harriers consolation.
In Group B, Daniel Sugarman’s brace along with Gideon Barnett’s strike earned Lions a 3-1 win over Glenthorne.
London Lions’ First XI were beaten 3-2 at Dunstable Town. Benji Weinberger put them ahead from the penalty spot, and although pegged back after the break, Zak Jackson restored the lead. However, with just 15 minutes remaining, the hosts struck twice to send the Rowley Lane side to their 11th league defeat of the season, which leaves them sitting in eighth place in the Spartans South Midlands Football League Premier Division table.
I’m delighted the walking football concept has grown