ByAnonymous, Anonymous
"A statement of intent" is the way that Ra'anana co-manager Avi Wiesenberg described his team's performance on Saturday night as the Olim League got under way.
New boys Inter Tel Aviv found themselves on the receiving end of a rejuvenated Ra'anana squad and received a harsh initiation into the League.
Despite some early pressure from Ra'anana, fine saves and good defending from Inter left Ra'anana wondering where their first goal would come from. The answer took around 15 minutes when Chanani Corney broke free on the left wing delivering a fine ball across for Chaim Elimelech. He scuffed his first contact but managed to recover to scramble the ball over the line and take Ra'anana into the lead.
Chanani again showed his speed in the 25th minute when he won the ball in the middle of the park and drove forward rounding three players before delivering a fine goal into the top left corner.
It looked like plain sailing for Ra'anana as Inter heads started to drop. Complacency at the back allowed Inter back into the game - a corner that Ra'anana failed to clear allowing Mike Langer to net Inter's first goal in the league.
Ra'anana regained the two-goal advantage on the stroke of half time; Gabi Kanikosfky held the ball up on the edge of the box looking for an option eventually played a delightful chip to Chanani across to his lift who laid on on perfect cross for Aviad Ben Meir to slot into the bottom right for a goal of highest quality. Aviad, Ra'anana's top-scorer last season, hasn't lost any of of his composure in front of goal over the summer.
After the break, and with the introduction of more pace, Ra'anana pushed higher up the pitch and forced Inter onto the ropes. Fast interchanging play by Ra'anana left the Inter defence chasing shadows.
Aviad scored a further hat-trick of goals in quick succession with excellent link-up play with Chaim. With the game as good as won at this point, Ra'anana settled into a good rhythm allow Gabi Kanikofsky the freedom to play some beautiful football and eventually get on the scoresheet rounding the keeper.
Gabi also turned playmaker for goal no. eight, setting up Udi Hazan. The relentless pressure resulted in a booking for the Inter keeper as Aviad tried to round him. The penalty, taken by Wiesenberg, rocked the crossbar, with Gav Lebens being the first to respond setting up Aviad for his fifth of the night.
Inter pulled a consolation goal back with five minutes on the clock, but any hopes of recovery had long since faded. The goal scoring ended as it start a strong finish from Chaim Elimlech to bag his second of the night.
Ra'anana co-manager Moshe Freedman said: "We have a really strong squad this season with the right blend of experience and youth.
"I believe this is the year that some of our younger players will prove their maturity and combined with a strong backbone of veterans we will go on this season to compete for the title."