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LOCAL AND NATIONAL COVERAGE... THE ENTIRE PICTURE

BY DAVID SAFFER Premier League pacesetters Manchester City moved closer to the title with a 1-0 win against Chelsea.

Midfield maestro Kevin de Bruyne fired home a stunning strike to claim the win at Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side are 11 points clear of Liverpool, who have a match in hand, and Thomas Tuchel’s pretenders to the crown. Both Liverpool and Chelsea will keep battling away but only a catastrophic dip in form will change the destination of the title.

Chelsea played their part in a tight game before De Bruyne produced a moment of magic. The league might be out of reach this time around but the defending Champions League winners are in three cup competitions and will know their EFL Cup final opponents tonight after Liverpool play Arsenal.

Guardiola told BT Sport: “(We) absolutely deserved it. They defended well, they waited for transition to punish us and we won from one transition.” Tuchel felt his team deserved a draw.

Liverpool eased to a 3-0 win against Brentford at Anfield.

Fabinho opened the scoring with a header just before half time. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain doubled the lead then substitute Takumi Minamino slotted home a third goal. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp vowed to “go for everything” but knows the cups are where silverware success is more likely.

Leeds United moved clear of the relegation zone and opened up the battle for a top four spot with a sensational 3-2 win against West Ham United at London Stadium.

Jack Harrison scored his first career hat-trick as injury ravaged Leeds earned a surprising but crucial victory to move nine points clear of the bottom three. A third successive league win against struggling Newcastle United this weekend will take them into mid-table security. Harrison opened the scoring on 10 minutes only for Jarrod Bowen to level from a corner. But Leeds refused to buckle and took a 2-1 interval lead through Harrison. Pablo Fornals levelled after the break before Harrison chipped chip home the winner on the hour to settle a pulsating game. Manchester United wasted a chance to move closer to West Ham by letting a two-goal lead slip against Aston Villa at Villa Park. Bruno Fernandes scored early on then struck again on 67 minutes but Villa hit back with late goals from Jacob Ramsey and debutante Philippe Coutinho for a share of the spoils. Villa boss Steven Gerrard told BBC MOTD: “We conceded against the run of play but didn’t feel sorry for ourselves, we continued to show character and believe.”

United manager Ralf Rangnick said the result felt like a defeat.

Wolves are on the edge of European spots after winning 3-1 against Southampton at Molineux.

Raul Jimenez and Conor Coady built a 2-0 lead, James Ward-Prowse fired home a brilliant free-kick before Adama Traore settled the result in injury time.

Brighton scored late on against Crystal Palace in a 1-1 draw at the Amex Stadium.

Palace keeper Jack Butland saved a first half penalty from Pascal Gross and the Eagles looked set to win when Conor Gallagher struck in the 69th minute before a Joachim Andersen own goal.

In the battle to avoid the drop, just four points separate Watford, Norwich City, Newcastle United and Burnley, who have games in hand, at the foot of the table.

Watford scored late on against Newcastle at St James Park to deny the hosts.

Eddie Howe’s side led though an Allan Saint-Maximin second-half strike. But as Newcaslte sat back Josh King and Joao Pedro went close for Claudio Ranieri’s side before Pedro headed home for a massive point.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe could not hide his disappointment at full time. “We were within touching distance of a really important win,” he told BBC Sport.

Norwich secured a vital 2-1 win against Everton who sacked manager Rafael Benitez after this loss at Carrow Road.

The Canaries led 2-0 on 18 minutes after a Michael Keane own goal and Adam Idah effort. Everton substitute Richarlison scored a superb overhead kick after the break but Norwich saw the game out.

Benitez told BBC Sport: “Everyone came here expecting us to win and we couldn’t.”

Everton are six points clear of the relegation spots but this was a terrible loss and the owners decided to act. BY DAVID SAFFER Hendon United Sports and HMH enjoyed a goal fiesta in the second round of the Peter Morrison Cup.

Yehuda Korman, Dovi Fehler, Moses Seitler and Avi Korman hit the target for Hendon in a 4-0 win against Real Madreidel.

“We were nowhere near our best after a few weeks off but did what we needed to do and are in the hat for the next round,” commented manager David Garbacz.

HMH wasted chances before thumping FC London Bees 7-0. Oscar Wagner fired home a hat-trick. Ben Gur, Alex Moss, Ben Winters and Max Bull also hit the target.

Manager Avi Goldberg was delighted his side had bounced back from a shock cup defeat to NWL Azurri in the Cyril Anekstein Cup last time out.

“Normal service was resumed but in a frustrating first half we hit the woodwork three times,” he said. “However, we found our shooting boots in the second half and filled them seven times without reply. Moss and Bull scored beauties.”

Division One Azzurri proved too strong for Brady FC by hitting six goals without reply in a stellar display.

London Athletico thumped Borussia Jewdinese 6-0 with sharpshooter Zacki Doumou striking five goals, Max Walker also hit the target. Doumou has scored nine goals in just two games for the club.

Club de Chigwell enjoyed a 6-3 win in a nine-goal thriller against Hapoel Hampstead.

Geez Park Rangers ran out 8-0 victors against Qarabagel in the sole Cyril Anekstein Cup round one clash.

The result was not in doubt as the Division Two pacesetters led 6-0 at half time. Mikey Perkins and Joe Leslie bagged a hattrick. Jamie Cohen and Jordan Grundman also scored in a runaway triumph.

“It was great to get back to winning ways after a long break,” noted Leslie. “A great performance and attitude from the boys.”

In the Premier League Oakwood edged a close match against Maccabi London FC with a Charlie Kasler penalty.

The O’s are second in the league seven points behind Hendon who have two

City on track towards Premier title 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 Goals galore for Hendon and HMH in cup 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 matches in hand and are favourites to win victory would move them to within a point the title. of Hendon with a match in hand. In Division One, Stoke Salmon eased to

Elsewhere in the latest round of fi xtures, a 5-0 win against Hampstead Ducks to stay 10-man North London Galaxy made it a seven points ahead of Borussia Jewdinese. three-way title race in the only Division One Alex Bleetman, Louie Greenham (2), clash of the day after defeating Oakwood B. James Barnett, Olly Goodman scored for

Jamie Murray saw red early on but Galaxy Stoke. rallied with goals from Josh Cohen and Ja- Mill Hill Dons cut the deficit on Borussia cob Leigh to record an important 2-1 away to three points after a fine 5-1 away win at win. Scrabble. Dons though have played three

Galaxy head Redbridge Jewish Care A in more games so it will be a tough ask to the table by just one point after 10 matches, catch second placed Borussia. third place Fairlop FC are fi ve points be- Redbridge Jewish Care Purple won hind with two games in hand. comfortably 5-2 against lowly Straw Hat

Rafi Bloom scored for Oakwood. Pirates.

“It was a fantastic performance in a Temple Fortune forfeited their game against Brook Farm Rovers.

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

Kevin De Bruyne scored the winner against Chelsea PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK