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BY DAVID SAFFER HMH reduced the gap at the top of the Premier Division with a devasting display of attacking football against Maccabi London FC at Rowley Lane.

Sharpshooter Oscar Wager netted six goals in a 9-2 win. Manager Avi Goldberg described the win as a “consummate footballing performance”.

Adam Abadi, who opened the scoring inside three minutes from a Rob Benson cross, struck two goals and George Goldberg also hit the target. And if it was not for Maccabi keeper Daniel Lipman, who made a host of saves, including three-point blank stops in the first half as his team trailed 3-2. then the final tally could have been higher.

HMH trail league leaders Hendon United Sports, who were in cup action, by eight points with defending champions Oakwood a point back.

The O’s eased to a 5-1 home victory against mid table Club de Chigwell with goals from Louie Fisher, John Levy, Maxim Green and two own goals.

David Garbacz’ Hendon are still firm favourites with an eight out of nine game win record but should they slip up HMH and Oakwood have proved they can make a title race of this season.

In Division One, Mill Hill Dons routed struggling Straw Hat Pirates 8-1 to challenge for third spot.

Temple Fortune A jumped into sixth place by defeating bottom club Scrabble 3-0.

Meantime, there was a shock in Division Two with mid-table Hapoel Hampstead stunning runaway league leaders Geez Park Rangers with a 6-2 victory.

London Athletico pounced on the win with a hard fought 2-1 triumph at lowly Redbridge Jewish Care White. Athletico are now only four points behind Rangers having played a game more, whilst Real Madreidel, who edged a tough away game 1-0 at Camden City, are six points back having played the same number of games as the previously unbeaten Rangers who had won all nine league matches until coming unstuck against Hampstead.

Rangers’ defeat has given a fresh twist to the title race.

In other games, Boca Chillers won an eight-goal thriller 5-3 against Temple Fortune B.

Mikey Elia, James Belchak 2, Justin Mullem and Jack Davis scored for the victors. Greg Ilsen, Ben Binder and Simon Cohen hit the Fortune goals.

Millbrook Park Calcio defeated Qarabagel 5-2 and Oakwood Town comfortably beat Brady FC 4-1.

Away from league action, Cyril Anekstein Cup holders Hendon ran out 4-0 winners against Brook Farm Rovers in the round one of the competition.

Simon Peterman, Chaim Korman, Dovi Fehler and Shneur Levine scored for the victors.

“We created lots of chances but on Rovers defended well and it wasn’t easy to break them down,” said Hendon’s David Garbacz. “We’re glad to be safely through, we have no

Wagner hits six in thumping HMH win over Maccabi

BY DAVID SAFFER Reiss Mogilner scored six goals as Maccabi London Lions thumped Scrabble A in the second round of the Cyril Anekstein Cup.

Th e Premier League side racked up a 16-0 win with Daniel Green and Michael Kenley both bagging a hat-trick. Ed Brafman, David Dinkin, and Adam Hassanali completed the rout in a mismatch of a tie.

Lions could have scored in the opening minute of the clash but soon opened the scoring and led 9-0 by half time.

Th e Division One team, though outclassed, battled away to the end.

Lions boss was lost for words at full time such was the display from his team who gave every respect to the opposition.

“I’m not really sure there’s anything to say, we are happy to make it through to the next round of the cup,” he commented.

Hendon United Sports ran out 3-1 victors against League One outfi t North London Raiders.

Th e Premier side led early in the second half only for Raiders to equalise but struck two late goals to book a place in round three of the competition.

Hendon now turn their attentions to the league as they travel to Oakwood A for a crucial top of the table clash on Sunday (10am).

Daniel Kristall’s team stunned the league leaders last month when they won 2-0, a victory would move them to within a point of Hendon with a match in hand.

Elsewhere in the latest round of fi xtures, 10-man North London Galaxy made it a three-way title race in the only Division One clash of the day after defeating Oakwood B.

Jamie Murray saw red early on but Galaxy rallied with goals from Josh Cohen and Jacob Leigh to record an important 2-1 away intention of handing the Cup back anytime win. soon.”

Galaxy head Redbridge Jewish Care A in Faithfold White edged a seven-goal fiesta the table by just one point after 10 matches, 4-3 against Hampstead Ducks. third place Fairlop FC are fi ve points be- Stoke Salmon and London Bears both hind with two games in hand. advanced into the second round of the

Rafi Bloom scored for Oakwood. competition with FC London Bees and

“It was a fantastic performance in a Redbridge Jewish Care Purple defaulting the cup fixture.

must-win game,” commented Galaxy player-manager Luke Lewis.

“We sat back and allowed Oakwood the ball, given the one-man advantage and looked to hit them on the counter attack with pace.

“Both goals came down the right-hand side. Leigh crossed the fi rst one into Cohen to fi nish, before slotting home himself. Up to fi rst we go.”

Th e Division Two title race also took a twist with league leaders Herstwood Vale going down to a 2-1 defeat at Temple Fortune.

Faithfold B have played a game more than Vale but moved level with a 5-3 win at North London Raiders Masters.

Jacob Kalms struck twice for Fortune who scored through leading scorer James Milletwith his 17th goal of the season.

Th e result was all the more remarkable as Temple were down to 11 players with ‘keeper Ben Rebuck dislocating a shoulder in the warm up.

“Th is was a fantastic win given the circumstances,” said delighted Fortune boss Simon Linden.

“We had a number of players out, Rebuck got injured, so I couldn’t have asked any more from the players. We wish Ben a speedy recovery.

“It was a proper old school performance, we battled and defended for the 90 minutes and took our chances. Experience proved to be the winner. It’s a big win, one we will enjoy and we hope to build on it in 2019.”

He added, “Th is win marks 50 years as a football club and will be one Nigel Kyte and everyone associated with the club from day

Sixteen-goal Lions rout Scrabble in Cup “It was a proper old school performance, we battled and defended for the 90 minutes and took our chances. Experience proved to be the winner.”

one will enjoy.” Vale boss Jacob Emanuel was quick to wish Rebuck well following his injury. “First and most importantly, everyone at Vale would like to wish the Fortune ‘keeper a quick recovery, we hope to see him back on the football pitch as soon as possible,” he said. As for the defeat, Emanuel commented, “It doesn’t matter how big a squad you have, you can never account for unavailability or injury. Only fi ve of today’s team played in our recent win over FC Team, a lack of togetherness and poor individual

16-goal Maccabi London Lions PHOTO: DAVID SAFFER HMH open the scoring against Maccabi PHOTO: DAVID SAFFER Oscar Wagner make the score 3-1 to HMH PHOTO: DAVID SAFFER Maccabi clear an HMH attack PHOTO: DAVID SAFFER