Corney's moment of magic for Ra'anana

Jaffa, who have had an impressive run not losing in five, started first half kicking into the wind and had no intention of making this easy for the invigorated Ra’anana side. Sterling defending by the back line left Jaffa frustrated at not really being able to test the impressive Sapir Marom in goal.

To their credit, Ra'anana tried to continue to play their game, getting the ball to their wide men who failed to penetrate in a very tightly defended game. League top-scorer Aviad Ben Meir continued to be a menace to the Jaffa defence, forcing several cynical fouls none of which could find adequate delivery.

As the game edged on the rain began to lash down a rare occurrence in the Olim League, really testing the focus and determination of both teams. Spaces began to open up as cold tired legs began to wane and despite good chances it was Jaffa who came closest to breaking the deadlock with a forward ball being blocked by a stunning sliding tackle by Clifford Corney in the box.

Ra’anana finally made the breakthrough when Tito Telias set up Hannani Corney, who took two deft touches but still much to do. He came in on his left and riffled a shot from 40 yards into the bottom left corner.

Ra’anana soaked up wave after wave of Jaffa attacks in the last 10 minutes, but the dismissal of Yair Madmon following a second yellow hampered their hopes.

As the final whistle blew Ra’anana will feel they can now breathe a little easier at top of the table at least until the next game.

Ra’anana manager Avi Wiesenberg said: "This was a true battle and I am incredibly proud of the guys this performance. We defended better than I have seen us all season and we wanted it more tonight.

"If you ask me, yes it was a performance worthy of champions, but there is a still a long way to go. Every team we play wants to win and has the quality to really test us.

"We will take each game as it comes, there is still way to go until the end of the season but tonight we will just celebrate a well-earned win one that perhaps we will look back on and say this was the night Ra’anana matured as a team and dug deep to find the resolve they needed."