Hamilton Court FX Olim League round-up
England B 3
Ashdod 2
England B were yet again hit by injury and absentees on Saturday night with two last minute pull-outs leaving them with just 11 "lions" to play the full 90 minutes.
With an average age of 38, the back four knew that they were going to have their work cut out. And so it proved to be - within the first 20 minutes Ashdod went ahead through a header from a corner.
England B regrouped knowing that the next goal was going to be crucial and managed to keep it at 1-0 until half time, mostly thanks to some great goal keeping by Roi Meron.
With a couple of tactical changes at half time, England B came out fighting and were soon rewarded with a fine goal from Asaf Fattal.
Fattal received the ball just outside the 18-yard box, held off two defenders and managed to poke the ball into the bottom right hand corner.
A second goal for England and Asaf soon followed. Player-manager Cliff Corney launched the ball into the box and after a goal mouth scramble Asaf managed to get a foot to the ball and put it at the back of the net.
The joy was short lived however as Ashdod hit back immediately. A lovely cross into the box saw the ball headed into the top corner.
The game looked like it was heading for a draw, but with just seconds remaining, England winger Chanani Corney was fouled in the box and Asaf slotted home from the penalty spot.
Manager Clifford Corney said: "It was nice to get back to winning ways, the team as a whole put in a fantastic performance against a much younger and quicker team.
"Experience counts for a lot in football and we showed that tonight"
England FC 2
Modiin 1
Champions England FC were made to work hard by an ever improving Modiin on Saturday night.
Modiin took the lead on 15 minutes when Matan Kroizer latched on to a long ball and rounded the keeper to give his side a surprise lead.
In the second half, England pushed four up front, but it wasn't until the 80th minute that they eventually grabbed an equaliser when Tomer Saban headed home.
With the wind in their sails, England went all out in search of a winner and with just minutes remaining, Yeffet headed home from a Lewis corner to seal the win.
England player-manager Yoni Sidi said: "Like most of our games, we play the football and create enough chances but just can’t put them away.
"Modiin were very tough to break down with their keeper in good form. I wasn’t sure we were going to make the breakthrough but I'm proud that the lads didn’t give up and fought till the end."
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