Better call Saul! Shimoni hits winner

Millbrook Park Calcio maintained their Maccabi GB Southern Football League title challenge on Sunday morning as a goal from Saul Shimoni saw them beat Hampstead Ducks 1-0.

Shimoni’s 25-yard strike saw Calcio to their fourth win in six games, to leave them two points off top spot in the table, though manager Idan Levy isn’t looking too far ahead as to what his side may or may not achieve come the end of the season.

He said: “We’re just taking each game as it comes but we feel good right now. We know we have areas to improve, being in second spot is a fantastic feeling so far but we also need to be aware that we’ve played the most games out of anyone in our league so far this season. We treat each game separately and try to win all the games we play.

“I’d be lying if I said we aren’t thinking of promotion right now, we’ve just been promoted to the first division and are here to play our football. If we continue like this, then yes, let’s talk about the possibility of promotion. Each team is quality, anything can happen to any team.”

Reflecting on his side’s performance in Sunday’s win, he said: “I was really happy with our performance, ultimately because we got the win, but I really liked how we were disciplined and saw the game through to the end. It was a really mature performance.

“I thought we deserved to win, possibly by a couple more goals. We had a plan and the instructions we gave the players worked. We didn’t really give them any time to play due to our pressure up the pitch, they had to resort to playing it long. And ultimately, the difference was a moment of brilliance from Saul.”

As to whether they can finish top of the pile, he added: “The title? If we carry on playing like we are, we can win the title, the only issue is, Yallatasaray are above us!”

Reflecting on his side’s performance, Ducks’ manager Jacob Summerfield said: “We were defensively sound and really did a good job in limiting them to long shots. Ultimately it was one of those long shots – and a moment of magic – that separated us on the day. And with some injuries in the attacking third, we lacked a killer instinct.

“The final scoreline was probably a fair one, we should’ve scored from a corner but ultimately we were punished for not taking our chances. But they’re a great team with some excellent players.”

Enduring a difficult start to season, having now lost four of their opening five league matches, Summerfield added: “We’re confident we can turn it around. We’ve played some tough opponents and have had some tight matches, but we believe we can be on the right side of those scorelines in the next part of the season.”

Yallatasary do though continue to lead the way at the top of the table by two points after they made it five wins from five games thanks to a 5-1 win over Mill Hill Dons. Sammy Kebede bagged a brace, with Freddie Land, Josef Marks and Ollie Kent also on target. Manager Buddy Smith said: “It was a great team performance against a good side. It wasn’t our best on-field display, but I think it speaks volumes that on days like that we’re still scoring five goals. We missed a few key faces today so the fact we got this result over the line makes me incredibly proud. We’ll continue building on this and stay humble but confident.”

Stoke Salmon claimed their first win – and points – of the season, pulling off a surprising 6-1 win over Real Madreidel. The win lifted Salmon off the foot of the table and denied Madreidel the chance to finish the day on top of it.

Sukkotingham Forest increased their lead at the top of the Division Two table to five points as they beat Temple Fortune in the clash of the top-two. Two goals from Josh Morris helped set them on their way to the points, with Eytan Millan also finding the net in a 3-1 win.

40 Year Wanderers took advantage of Fortune’s defeat to join them in joint-second place in the table, after they beat Boca Juniors 6-4. Nathan Brenner bagged a hat-trick, Sam Holden scored twice, with

Matthew Benedyk netting their sixth.

Zak Karp scored twice for Juniors, with David Amor and Judah Yawitch also on target. Juniors’ manager Joel Ucko said: “Over the course of the 90 minutes, I think a draw would have been fair. Credit to Wanderers, particularly their goalkeeper Daniel Renchic, who kept us at bay with some outstanding saves.”

Rapid Viennas claimed their second league win of the season as four goals from Jack Miller inspired them to a 7-0 win over HMH Camden. Jascha Selby, Max Aston and Jamie Steinberg scored their others.

Hendon United booked their place into the second round of the Peter Morrison Trophy, though needed penalties to do so, edging past Brady FC 4-2 on spot kicks after they fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2. Dovi Fehler and Zac Garbascz claimed their goals, with Josh Harris, Yehuda Korman, Joe Cohen and Rocky Spitzer all converting their penalties. Manager Alex Rosenthal said: “It wasn’t our smoothest game, but the team showed real character inspired by captain Rocky Spitzer to come back from 2-0 down before holding our nerve on penalties.” Aaron Diamond and Jake Aspis scored Brady’s two goals. HMH A join them in the next round after they won 6-0 at Brook Farm Rovers.

Maccabi London Sunday Vets A booked their place into the second round of the Middlesex FA Veterans Cup as two goals from Dean Nyman plus Bradley Frankel’s strike saw them beat Tithe United Veterans 3-1.

In the Maccabi Masters League, Brady and St John’s Wood Tigers are two of four teams in joint- second spot in the table. Tigers got there as a hat-trick from Jason Bentley helped them to a 6-1 win over EHRS Stonegrove. Dan Forman bagged a brace, with Paul Herszaft also getting on the scoresheet. Two goals from Gavin Sherman, coupled with Joel Nathan’s strike, saw Brady beat Glenthorne B, 3-1.