By David Saffer
Premier League title chasers Maccabi London FC and HMH kept their championship aspirations alive by overturning two-goal deficits in the latest round of fixtures.
Pacesetters Maccabi defeated North London Raiders 3-2 in a five-goal thriller.
Raiders’ Maxim Green scored two solo goals for a commanding interval lead. But Maccabi came out firing and after keeper Dan Lipman made a number of saves Charlie Dryer struck then set up Ben Kohler for an equaliser. Kohler slotted the winner 10 minutes from time.
“I’m really proud of the boys attitude turning the game around,” said Maccabi boss Max Kyte.
Maccabi are three points clear of HMH who defeated Jewdinese 3 2 at the Hive.
Dan Hardon and Oscar Wagner brought the game level before Jordan Levy notched an 87th minute winner, from a Wagner assist, for his first goal since recovering from an ACL injury
“Three points is three points although we were sub-par we did not give up scoring a winner,” noted HMH boss Avi Goldberg.
Third placed Oakwood also battled back for a 3-2 victory at Faithfold White with goals from Louie Basso, Tom Cantor and James Gold.
O’s boss Lewis Blitz said, “It was probably the worst 45 minutes of football I’ve seen us play, but the second half was a different story. We controlled the game.”
The O’s will move within two points of HMH if they win a match in hand.
Club de Chigwell head Division One after a comfortable 4-0 winners against Temple Fortune.
Jacob Bennett, with a brace, Stanley Offord and Lewis Rackham struck the goals.
Hertswood Vale, meantime, are back in the promotion shake up after a 3-1 win against pre-match league leaders London Bears.
Vale led after 11 minutes through a direct free kick from Jordan Harris. The Bears equalised but the hosts were not to be denied as Harry Graham fired home two minutes to go.
Vale boss Jacob Emmanuel commented, “A huge three points. The squad showed strong desire to beat the league leaders.”
Brook Farm Rovers defeated Mill Hill Dons 4-3.
Dan Cohen (2), Alon Pinhas and Philippe Auret scored for the victors.
Player boss Cohen noted, “We played some lovely stuff and deserved the win. It’s onwards and upwards with plenty of winnable games to come.”
Paris Saint Jewmain and Borussia Barnet shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
PSJ player-manager Mikey Elia opened the scoring against promotion chasing Barnet. The hosts deserved to be in the lead at half time and were unlucky not to be 2-0 up with a Josh Summerfield free-kick striking the crossbar. Barnet levelled but PSJ fought hard for a draw and had stand-in keeper Ollie Reback to thank for a number of saves though PSJ missed a great chance to snatch the win.
“A brave performance from the boys,” commented Elia. “A lot of teams have underestimated us given our poor start, but if anything, it’s given us a mental advantage, today included. Hopefully. we can keep these performances going for the remainder of the season.”
FC Team overcame Faithfold Green in a double header.
Stoke Salmon lead Division Two after NWL Azzurri went down to a shock 2-1 defeat away at
Hampstead Ducks.
Sam Shooter opened the scoring with a cool finish before a diving header from Simon Fox finished off a sensational move to seal the win.
Euphoric Ducks boss Jacob Summerfield summed up the result as the “best result of our season”.
“To a man we were out of this world,” he said. “Our game plan was executed sensationally. We frustrated the opposition, defended well and took our chances.”
FC East London Bees defeated West Hendon Wallabies 3-1 courtesy of Ollie Silver, Sam Goldman and Aaron Dias goals.
“Despite early injuries our superiority shone through into a comfortable win,” Goldman said.
Zak Gelbier converted from the spot for the visitors. Wallabies boss, Gad Harari, noted, “A hard fought game with some unlucky moments, all in all, positive in terms of improvement of the squad.”
Straw Hat Pirates eased to a 4-2 win at home against Scrabble with Ben Mandell hitting two goals for the victors.
Seventeen-year-olds Josh Myers and Oliver Ziff, who bagged a brace, scored for the visitors.
Redbridge Jewish Care shared the spoils with SPEC in a 3-3 draw.
RJC showed character to come from behind twice in the first half with goals from Jack Warren and Jimmy Castle. Darren Brown put the hosts 3-2 ahead only for the visitors to hit back for the draw.
Ricky Lawrence, with a brace, and Jonny Blain scored for SPEC.
Away from the league, HMH kept double hopes alive by roaring back from 3-1 down to edge past North London Raiders 5-4 in a last 16 tie of the Cyril Anekstein Cup.
HMH hit back after half time to lead before conceding prior to Oscar Wagner grabbing the headlines.
Eli Wegrzyn (2) and Alex Moss also scored for the victors.
Goldberg said, “The quality of our football at times was superb as we tore Raiders apart but we lacked that killer touch in the first half.”
Division Two’s NWL Azzuri caused the shock of the round with a 6-5 penalty shoot-out triumph against Jewdinese after a 2-2 draw.
Fairlop FC defeated Hertswood Vale 3-0 in the other last-16 cup tie.
Maccabi London FC and HMH meet in the standout quarter final clash at The Hive. Giant killers NWL Azzurri host Oakwood, Fairlop welcome North London Galaxy, Hendon United Sports face Borussia Barnet.
In the MJSL, Haroldeans moved alongside Maccabi Manchester 3rd after a double header against Jewventus.
The Merseysiders won the first game 3-0, Max Benmayor, Marcus Nezri and Sam Kersh scoring, then ran out 5-0 winners with Marley Rubins netting four goals ably supported by Jack Bookey.
Maccabi beat BPR 7-2. Ryan Sylvester came on at the break and scored a hat-trick, Moishe Hasid bagged a brace with Dave Chaytow and Sol Mattatia also hit the target.
Haroldeans head Maccabi on goal difference.
