Manager's son sends Manchester into final

"I was particularly delighted that Andy scored the winner."

It was a tense first half in which there were few chances on offer for either side. Maccabi failed to create any significant openings, whilst Raiders found an obdurate defence difficult to break down, as is befitting of a backline which has conceded just once in their four-match cup run to date.

Maccabi started to take control in the second half with Adam Lavin spurning a gilt-edged chance when clean through.

The breakthrough finally came on the hour mark when an excellent cross from Rafi Leker was converted with a powerful far-post header from Rosenberg which crashed in off the underside of the bar.

Raiders pushed men forward as they sought an equaliser, but struggled to find their rhythm and instead left themselves exposed on the counter attack.

The tie became stretched in the closing stages and Leker missed a great chance when clean through. Top-scorer Jacob Richler-Kleiman was similarly wasteful shortly after replacing Lavin. When he fired wide when he had only the goalkeeper to beat.

Jack Smith was excellent for the visitors as he kept them in the game with a couple of fine saves as the game became stretched late on.

Raiders had a great chance to snatch an equaliser at the death but substitute Toby Katz was denied by a last ditch tackle, and with it, Raiders' cup hopes were gone.

Stuart Delmonte, Manchester's other manager, said: "Both teams wanted to play football, but the heat was stifling, the pitch was dry.

On the day we had players who adapted to the conditions better than Raiders."

Raiders joint-manager Danny Caro said: "The boys are bitterly disappointed as they did not perform anywhere near to the level they know they can.

"We struggled to string passes together and keep hold of the ball on a difficult pitch but the boys cannot be faulted for effort, determination and character. Maybe the occasion got to us as we did not play the Raiders way, and lacked belief and conviction."