PETER MORRISON TROPHY (NORTHERN SECTION) ROUND ONE
OAKHILL LIONS 0 MANCHESTER MACCABI 1st 3
Stuart Delmonte cut a relieved figure after his Manchester Maccabi 1st side escaped a potential banana skin in the opening round of the Peter Morrison Trophy.
The holders were given a rough ride by Oakhill Lions before setting up a clash with Republic of Mancunia 1st next month.
Louis Basso’s stunning volley gave the visitors an early lead and further goals from Rafi Leeker and Adam Green sealed the win for Maccabi.
But Delmonte was quick to praise Oakhill, who put up a fierce fight in an entertaining contest.
“We were never on to a winner because we had everything to lose and nothing to gain,”said Delmonte.
“Oakhill had everything to gain and nothing to lose and I thought they played really well.
“It’s the best I’ve seen them play for years. They passed it well and ran about and gave us a real game in the first half.
“But we scored three excellent goals and in the end it was comfortable. I’m just glad to get it done and dusted.”
Leading by a single goal at the break thanks to Basso’s sublime 20-yard effort, substitute Leeker emerged to take the game away from Oakhill.
Leeker grabbed his side’s second after a one-two with Adam Stevens allowed the midfielder to go on a marauding run and slip the ball past Lions keeper Jacob Shapiro.
The substitute was also involved in setting up wing wizard Adam Green to seal the win on 65 minutes as the Maccabi eased into the next round.
“We won comfortably in the end but we should have scored a lot more goals,” added Delmonte.
“Jacob Shapiro made three or four wonderful saves and they defended for their lives but we were wasteful in front of goal.
“But we won and that’s all that matters and I’m glad to get that one out the way.”