Maccabi GB Handball produced one of the performances of the season before they eventually succumbed 19-12 against Thames Handball II.

The MGBF players felt extremely aggrieved not to come away from the England Handball Association (EHA) Regional Development League 2 match with three points as they took Thames the distance at Score Centre, Leytonstone on Sunday.

The Community’s top Handball side were leading up until the final moments, when a number of penalties and free-throws saw Thames edge home.

Having played their recent games against teams containing ex-internationals and players better-suited to higher divisions, this game pitted two evenly-matched, young sides against each other. MGB player-manager Adam Goldsmith had a full squad to choose from and shuffled the pack to allow for Yitzchok Mordfield and Adam Berg to get their first starts of the season.

The game started in a controlled fashion – both sides testing each other out before Thames took the lead, rifling a long shot past keeper Joshua Pinhass.

This did not deter MGB as they went up the other end and earned a Penalty Throw after Back, Alex Elf, was fouled mid-shot. Tony Tropp missed the resultant throw, but got another chance almost immediately after with his second penalty in quick succession. The ball flew past the opposition keeper, but this was to be Tropp’s last action of the game as he had to be replaced by Adam Goldman after picking up an injury.

Elf got his first of three before Pivot, Yitzchok Mordfield, scored his first goal for the club – on his birthday, no less.

Thames were not going to just roll over, and a barrage of shots came flying towards Pinhass’ goal. However, the young shot-stopper pulled off a number of incredible saves. Two did manage to get through, but he then made an impressive save from a penalty – his first of five penalty saves on the day. The ever-powerful Back, Dean Caplin, also missed his own penalty, before Daniel Sichel stole the ball from a Thames attack and Elf fed Goldsmith to notch his first, and MGB’s fourth.

The player-manager then conceded an unnecessary penalty and the home side were back in with a shout. Another fine save from Pinhass, followed by a belter of a goal from Caplin, put the Slingshots back in control. Two more goals from Thames and some forceful finishing, following some silky skill, from Elf allowed Maccabi GB Handball to go in 7-6 up at the interval.

After half-time, Maccabi GB Handball seemed to be in control and, hungry for their first win of the season, powered into a lead with goals from Centre, Adam Goldman – another with his first goal for the club – Captain, Liam Stein and Caplin with a free throw.

Thames got one in return, but Pinhass was on fire with another two consecutive penalty saves and the MGB defence ensured that little was getting through.

As the half wore on, the home side clawed their way back in with a couple of goals, before Pinhass’ fourth penalty save and goals from Goldsmith, Stein and Elf seemed to put daylight between the teams.

However, it all fell apart in the final few minutes, as a number of soft fouls were called by the official. Despite Pinhass making his fifth and final penalty save of the afternoon, there was little he or the rest of the team could do as MGB were reduced to six men. The extra player told and the referee seemed to have his whistle glued to his mouth as each minor contact was deemed worthy of a free throw or penalty to Thames II. The buzzer went and Maccabi GB Handball were ruing what could have been a maiden victory.

Goldsmith said: "I actually left the court today feeling like we had won – not because of the score, but because of how well the boys played.

"This was the first time this season we have reached double-figures [in the ‘goals scored’ column] and I think, if Thames were honest, we were in control for most of the match.

"However, we have to cut out the errors and not give the referee any reasons to award so many fouls, regardless of who is officiating.

"I am really pleased for the players who got their first goals for the team. You could see how down the squad was with the result but, hopefully, they will see the level we need to be at and it will make them even hungrier to get the win next time we play this team."

Man-of-the-match for Maccabi GB Handball was Liam Stein, for his attacking impetus and for being a constant driving force to the team going forwards.

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Squad:
Dean Caplin
Liam Stein (Captain)
Daniel Sichel
Anthony Tropp
Adam Goldman
Alex Elf
Joshua Pinhass
Daniel Alexander
Joey Carr
Yitzchok Mordfield
Adam Berg
Adam Goldsmith (Player-manager)

Goal-scorers
Elf (3), Caplin (2), Stein (2), Goldsmith (2), Mordfield, Goldman, Tropp