MGB Hold Further Football Tournaments

Monday 23rd November 2009

Maccabi GB's busy tournament schedule continued this week with two more football tournaments taking place at the Power League site in Mill, in partnership with UJIA.

On Monday 16th November it was the Secondary Schools Girls' Football Tournament. All five secondary schools attended the tournament bringing a total of twenty different teams, over one hundred and fifty girls. The tournament was split into year groups with each team playing one another in a league basis.

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The Year 7 tournament was the first time some of the girls have had the opportunity to represent their schools in a Maccabi GB sports tournament. There was some great football played and the girls really enjoyed their afternoon. JFS won the tournament with Immanuel College close behind in second place. Yavneh College were third, with Hasmonean and King Solomon in fourth and fifth respectively.

The Year 8 tournament produced some outstanding football with some excellent individual players on show. King Solomon and Yavneh College looked the strongest teams within the group and the game between the two sides was a really exciting contest. Yavneh College won the game and that put them in pole position to win the group and the tournament. King Solomon came second with JFS piping Immanuel College to third place. Hasmonean finished in fifth position.

The Year 9 tournament had four teams competing in it. However, missing a team in the group didn't reduce the number of goals scored with each game full of attacking play. Hasmonean dominated the group from the very start and eased into first place. King Solomon producing the only threat as they finished in second. Immanuel College came in third with Yavneh College in fourth position.

The Year 10 tournament featured several girls from the recent Maccabiah Games in Israel. The quality of their play reflected in some very entertaining games. The competitiveness of the games was matched with a supportive atmosphere and all the girls seemed to enjoy the afternoon. At the end of the final match it was King Solomon who had won the group, with Hasmonean in second place ahead of Yavneh College in third and JFS in fourth place.

With only two teams featuring in the Year 11+ group the decision was made to play a long game split into four quarters. The different format did not affect the girls and the game produced some exhibition football. JFS took the lead towards the end of the first quarter and never really looked back. Their dominance started to take over and by half time the match was over as contest, but both teams continued to give their all until the final whistle.

The afternoon finished with the medals presentation to the winning teams, and a presentation to one girl in each year group that was awarded for outstanding sporting behaviour. The Year 7 recipient was Zoe from Yavneh College. In Year 8 the award went to Emily from Immanuel College and Immanuel also picked up the award in Year 9, Shira representing her school in the best possible light. The Year 10 award went to Chloe from JFS and Samantha from JFS won the award in the Year 11+ group.

On Wednesday 18th November it was the turn of the Primary Schools as over two hundred and fifty Year 5 and 6 pupils descended on Mill Hill Power League. Eleven schools brought a total of twenty seven teams to the tournament and the venue was full of excited players as the first matches got underway.

In the boys tournament the teams were split into four separate groups with the top two teams from each group progressing into the quarter final stages. The group stages produced some great football and the tournaments provide the ideal the opportunity for the boys to play in supportive environment. As the last group matches finished the teams huddled back inside out of the swirling winds to find out which teams had made it into the quarter finals.

The first quarter final game saw Group 1 winners Rosh Pinah A play Group 3 runners up Menorah Foundation. The game was very close with neither side able to create goal scoring opportunities. As penalties loomed, a slice of good fortune created a chance for the Rosh Pinah forward to score, he duly accepted the chance, slotting the ball into the bottom corner to send his team into the semi finals.

The second quarter final was between Group 3 winners Simon Marks and Group 1 runners up MMK A. Again it was a good quality game but lacking in goal scoring chances. When a goal did finally come it went to MMK A, a good passage of play ending with a fine shot and well deserved goal. MMK A then defended for the rest of the game to secure their place in the last four.

The next quarter final game pitched Group 2 winners Wolfson Hillel A against Group 4 runners up Wolfson Hillel B. The A team were always to have an advantage in the game and they played to their strengths early on taking a two goal advantage. But their B team counterparts were not to be swept aside too easily and got a goal back to reduce the deficit to one goal and create an exciting final few minutes. But the A team displayed their defensive qualities to shut out the game and book their place in the semi finals.

The final quarter final game was between Group 4 winners Independent B and Group 2 runners up Moriah. Both teams went all out attack and there were plenty of scoring chances. As the game reached the halfway point neither team had managed to convert a chance into a goal, but Moriah soon changed that, taking the lead through a well worked goal. As Independent chased an equalising goal, Moriah were able to pick off the gaps left behind and made it two goals to nil late on to secure the win.

Alongside the boys' tournament, the Year 5 and Year 6 girls had their own tournament. With seven teams entering the teams were split into two groups with the top two teams from each group going through to the quarter final stages.

The first girl's semi final was between Group 1 winners Simon Marks and Group 2 runners up Sinai B. The game started slowly with neither side wanting to make a mistake, but it soon came to life when Simon Marks took the lead. Sinai came back strongly and the game then swung from end to end as both teams attacked with great purpose. The second goal of the match was always going to be important and it went to Simon Marks, giving them a two goal cushion, and leaving Sinai B with a mountain to climb. As the game drew to a close Simon Marks notched a third to seal the victory in style.

The other semi final saw Group 2 winners Wolfson Hillel B take on Group 1 runners up Sinai A. From the very first whistle Sinai A dominated the game, taking an early lead and keeping possession of the ball well. Wolfson Hillel B just could not match their opponents and Sinai ran out four nil winners.

As the girl's semi finals were finishing the boys' semis were just starting with Rosh Pinah A playing Wolfson Hillel A in the first match. The game was played at a frantic pace and both goalkeepers were in fine form. Despite the good play neither side could force a goal and it looked as though penalties would be needed to separate to two teams, but with the last kick of the match the Wolfson Hillel A forward producing a stunning strike that fizzed into the back of the net, sending his team into the final.

The other semi final was between MMK A and Moriah. Having worked so hard in their previous game MMK A looked tired and struggled to keep up with the crisp passing of the Moriah team. Moriah not only looked the fresher of the two sides but were clinical in front of goal, scoring two early goals and they continued to take their chances scoring two more before the full time whistle blew to win the game four nil.

The girl's final between Simon Marks and Sinai A was a close, exciting game. Both teams played good football and looked to create chances whenever they could. It was Sinai A who scored first, latching onto a loose ball and neatly finishing past the keeper. But Simon Marks responded well and got back into the game through a clever play and smart finish. But as quickly as they had let in a goal, Sinai scored again. Some good dribbling and a strong finish to put them back in front. Sinai then reverted to a defensive formation and worked hard to ensure their lead was kept intact. The final whistle sounded to spark celebrations on the sidelines and confirm Sinai A as the winners of the girls' tournament.

The boys' final between Wolfson Hillel and Moriah was a great spectacle and the supporters who had stayed to watch certainly enjoyed what they saw. Wolfson Hillel started the stronger of the two sides and took a deserved lead after some fine play. But Moriah threw everything they had at the Wolfson Hillel goal and thought they had scored an equalising goal when a well struck shot homed in on the top corner of the Hillel goal, but a superb reflex save from the Wolfson Hillel keeper tipped the ball away from danger and kept their lead intact. However moments later Moriah did get their goal, this time a deflected shot left the keeper no chance and ball fizzed into the back of the net. With the scores level the full time whistle went signalling a penalty shootout. The shootout started well for Hillel, scoring their first shot and saving Moriah's first. But a miss on the final penalty gave Moriah the chance to level things up. A decent penalty was placed into the corner and the shootout went into sudden death. Wolfson Hillel missed their penalty and after a deep breath to compose himself the Moriah played smashed in the ball to win the shootout and the tournament for his side.

The afternoon finished with a sporting medals presentation to both finalists of the girls and boys tournament.

Maccabi GB's sports coordinator, Matt Travers reflected on the huge turnout,
"This week we have seen over four hundred young Jewish players take part in Maccabi GB events. The standard of football played has been extremely high and every match has been played in the right spirit. These tournaments are so much more than just sports competitions. They provide the chance for families to come along and see their loved ones playing sports in a Jewish environment. Along with the four hundred plus participants, we have also welcomed over one hundred supporters who have thoroughly enjoyed the chance to watch their schools take part".

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