MANCHESTER ACCOUNTANTS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
BARCLAYS 3 MANCHESTER MACCABI 2nd 3
A late strike from Barclays denied Manchester Maccabi 2nds victory in their final game of 2014.
After a last-minute equaliser rescued Maccabi 2nd's a point last weekend, Irving Modlin and Sheldon Lee's boys would of been confident of picking up three points at Hough End against Barclays. Having beaten the same opposition 5-2 earlier in the season, it seemed like the perfect fixture for them before heading into the Christmas break.
On a muddy and cut up Hough End pitch, it was Maccabi who started the brighter. They took the lead after 15 minutes when Adam Herman raced down the left wing and carried the ball all the way into the box, before despatching the ball past the Barclays keeper.
Maccabi looked in complete control without really playing their best football, but conceding too many goals has been the story of their season so far.
With what was Barclays' first attack, a long ball from the full back left the Maccabi defence in a mess and lacking numbers. Some good work from Barclays winger put the ball on a plate for the striker to slot home from close range. The teams went in 1-1 at the break.
Maccabi started the second half well and we immediately rewarded when second half substitute Dani Dennison got forward from right back, delivering a perfect ball for Daniel Rubenstein to put away at the far post.
It once again look like Maccabi's game to lose. Barclay's kept fighting though and after a goal-mouth scrabble following a corner, the ball fell to a Barclays player unmarked on the edge of the area. He rifled the ball home with great precision to make it 2-2.
The equaliser seemed to spark the yellows back into life and a good move down the right and a brilliant through ball from Josh Gellman left Ben Gould one on one with the goalkeeper. Last week’s hatrick hero continued is scoring for the put Maccabi back in front for the third time in the game.
Despite trying to shut up shop though, Maccabi were pegged back for a third time with just five minutes remaining. Another log ball forward put the Barclays's forward through, centre back and captain Nick Yardley made a last-ditch tackle but the loose ball fell to the feet of the Barclay's midfielder who put the ball in corner of the net to make it 3-3.
A deflating draw for the 2nd's who are still finding their feet in the Accountants League. They will take heart from the fact that they haven't looked out of place in a new league. The disappointing thing for them will be that too many draws may cost them a promotion challenge, something that this talented bunch are certainly capable of.
Maccabi: Kersh, J.Lewis, Yardley, Davies, R.Lewis, Hamburger, Gellman, Rubenstein, Herman, Lester, Gould, Dennison, Rose
Scorers: Rubenstein, Herman, Gould
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