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ByAnonymous, Anonymous
Republic of Mancunia's treble hopes are hanging by a thread after they missed the chance to clinch the league title after going down to Manchester Maccabi 3rd in their final game of the season.
Anthony Bloch's men needed just a point to win the championship for the first time but they came unstuck against a red-hot Maccabi team who will pip them to the post if they can beat Westdene 2nd in their final match.
Maccabi manager Martin Simons said: "They were all absolutely fantastic and it's in our hands now.
"It was our cup final because Republic are our closest rivals. The players rose to the occasion. Their attitude was the difference. They didn't leave anything on the pitch."
Josh Hayes put Maccabi ahead just before the break with a superb strike when he dribbled past two players and fired home.
Max Rose doubled the lead minutes later as he struck a shot which went through the hands of Republic goalkeeper Mike Hershman, who had pulled off some superb saves.
Republic came out fighting in the second period with Dave Eden pulling one back with a clever header from a corner within minutes of the restart.
The visitors started to take control, but defender Josh Kaye in the area leaving Richard Myers to put Maccabi 3-1 up from the spot. It was a harsh blow for Republic, with Maccabi manager Simons admitting that the penalty was the turning point.
Maccabi soon made it 4-1 as Hayes took advantage of Hershman spilling a cross into his path.
There was no way back for Republic, whose manager Anthony Bloch admitted that the right team had won. "It is massively dejecting," said Bloch. "Maccabi were sharper than us, fitter than us, better than us on every part of the pitch. Whoever won on the day deserved to take the title.
"It's my job to lift the lads ahead of two cup competitions and I'm confident we can still have a lot of success at the end of the season."
Crumpsall cruised to a 4-0 win over Haroldeans thanks to a brace from Gary Freedman. Natan Fagelman and Shiran Kramer.
Gavin Sharpe's Sporting JLGB who crushed Westdene 2nd 7-0 in the other semi final of the Tony Cohen Memorial. Rafi Bloom (3), Jarod Cohen (2), Akiva Lieberman and Danny Jacobs completed the rout.
Leeds Maccabi 1st fell to a 5-3 defeat to Pudsey Liberal Club in the Leeds Combination League. Marcus Mann, David Woolman and the evergreen Steven Feldman, 49, registered for Leeds.