By
David Gold
Leeds Maccabi beat fellow title-chasers Horsforth Fairweather 1-0 to boost their hopes of finishing top of the Leeds Combination League.
Horsforth Fairweather dominated the opening stages, but Leeds came back strongly and forged ahead after half an hour when a quick counter-attack saw defender Steven Berke's shot saved and the ball fell kindly for Colin Abrahams to half volley home from the edge of the area.
Goalkeeper Mark Miller helped preserve the lead with an excellent save as the visitors pressed for an equaliser. Horsforth finished the game with 10 men after their captain was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Berke.
Leeds manager Ian Selwyn said: "It is still in our hands and we will have a better idea of where we stand in two weeks time when the other teams will have caught up on games played."
Leeds now prepare for their Peter Morrison Trophy clash with Sporting JLGB on Sunday as they attempt to reach for the quarter-finals where Manchester Maccabi 1st awaits the winner.
Leeds should be high on confidence after seeing off Sporting's league rivals Haroldeans 5-2 in the last round. They will go into the game as favourites.
Sporting lie fifth in the Joan Collins Premier Division and have shown that on their day they can beat anyone having been the first team in the league to take the scalp of leaders Manchester Maccabi 3rd this season.
Star man Rafi Bloom has been in blistering form in recent months, and Selwyn is expecting a tough game.
"We are looking forward to the game and not taking Sporting lightly. They are one of the better sides in the MJSL. I think we're evenly matched."
Sporting manager Gavin Sharpe is similarly relishing a clash he describes as their biggest of the season.
Sharpe said: "We are excited to play Leeds as it will probably be the biggest and one of the hardest games of the season. We will give it a go."