Manchester Maccabi 1st breezed into the last four of the Handi-Cup with a 5-2 victory over West Manchester.
December 1, 2014 11:34HANDI-CUP QUARTER-FINAL
WEST MANCHESTER 2 MANCHESTER MACCABI 1st 5
Manchester Maccabi 1st breezed into the last four of the Handi-Cup with a 5-2 victory over West Manchester.
It was the fifth cup game in a row for Manchester Maccabi 1st team and starting 2-0 down before even kicking a ball meant it was imperative to start quickly.
With the pitch extremely heavy under foot, Maccabi knew that their usually eye-catching passing game would have to be replaced with a more direct approach. They came straight out of the traps with some high-tempo football and early pressing on the opposition’s back-line.
Maccabi would soon be rewarded for their quick start as Oli Grant was put through one-on-one with the opposing keeper and Grant unselfishly squared the ball to David Herman to tap home into an empty net.
Maccabi had the early goal they needed and needed to ensure they remained focused at the back whilst at the same time trying to claw back the 2-0 deficit up front.
The back of the net was soon bulging again as Sam Hatton popped up in the box to poke home a low cross and level the score.
Half time was around the corner and to go into the break level or with a lead would have been the perfect half for the boys in yellow. Perfect it soon was as centre midfield enforcer Louie Basso stepped up to score direct from a free-kick, his 2nd in as many games.
Maccabi knew that they needed to maintain their tempo in the 2nd half, as the opposition only needed one goal to level.
For the first 20 minutes, Maccabi struggled to get back into their rhythm and had to hold strong defensively with Benj Loofe and Adam Jackson mopping up anything that came their way. It was some slack defending at the other end that allowed Herman to latch onto a Ben Gould through ball to score his second of the game.
The morning was rounded off nicely when tenacious midfielder Josh Lewis completed the rout with 10 minutes to go.
Maccabi 1st assistant-manager Scott McGarvey said: "Our shape and tempo in the first half was excellent, probably our best all season.
"The boys worked tirelessly and you can see that they are trying to take what they learn at training on to the pitch on Sunday. It was a great performance and we got the result to match."
Next week Manchester Maccabi 1st play against The Clarendon FC in the last 32 of the County Cup.
Maccabi: Pole, Jackson, Foster, B. Loofe, Hatton, A. Loofe, Basso, Lewis, Grant, Silvester, Herman, Feingold, Gould
Scorers: Herman (2), Hatton, Basso, Lewis