MANCHESTER ACCOUNTANTS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
MANCHESTER MACCABI 1st 1 PWC 0
Sam Van Gelder blew the title race wide open as Manchester Maccabi edged past PWC, on a day when league leaders AFC Flixton suffered their first defeat of the season.
On a cold, windy morning, it was Maccabi’s spirit that ensured they took home all the points. After beating PWC 5-0 earlier in the season one would think it have been relatively straightforward for Maccabi. However, with a mid-season revival and some new additions PWC posed a much different challenge.
Maccabi started the game quickly and chances were created through a tasty front line of David Herman and Oli Grant. The ball was eventually in the back of the net when centre back Adam Jackson towered over the PWC defence from a corner only for it to be ruled out after some handbags in the box.
The breakthrough eventually came when Maccabi’s very own southerner Van Gelder timed his late run to perfection and stirred home a Ryan Silvester cross.
Further chances were created however Maccabi couldn’t convert and they went into half time 1-0 up. Playing into the wind and the score delicately balanced they knew the next 45 minutes we key.
Maccabi struggled to maintain their high pressure and fluid attack with another goal, this time from Herman ruled out for offside. At the back, Maccabi stood strong with Max Foster keeping PWC’s target man quite. With the full-time whistle minutes away Maccabi put up the shutters knowing how important the win would be.
With the game ending 1-0 Maccabi were pleased to get the points and with news circulated about AFC Flixton’s defeat the three points were all the more sweeter.
Maccabi boss Martin Simons said: “The important thing was to keep our winning run going. I think there are some areas we need to improve which; hopefully we can work on in training.
"It was good to get some key players back after a few weeks of injuries and hopefully we can push on next week in the Morrison.”
In other news, after the game rumour has it AFC Flixton goalkeeper Dan Garman was seen in Coopers Deli discussing the possibility of a transfer to Maccabi with Ashley Loofe as he was unhappy with the manor of their defeat. With 24 hours left in the transfer window, anything could happen however, when questioned Garman simply refused to comment.
Next week Maccabi play Flixton in the Peter Morrison Trophy, 11am KO at Valley Road, Urmston.
MACCABI: Pole, Hatton, Jackson, Foster, Loofe, Kaye, Lewis, Van-Gelder, Silvester, Grant, Herman, Taylor, Maynard, Gellman.
Scorer: Van-Gelder
