By
Daniel Cohen
Tameside League Division Two
Manchester Maccabi 2 March Hare 3
“The Arsenal of the Tameside League.” That’s how Maccabi assistant manager Tony Rosenberg described his side following their 3-2 defeat to March Hare.
To an extent, he’s probably right. Maccabi, under the leadership of Stuart Delmonte and Rosenberg, have a way of playing football. "The right way," as Rosenberg referred to it. "Playing attractive football and entertaining those that watch".
Throughout the whole game, Maccabi played some beautiful one and two touch football all over the park. They had 60 per cent possession, more chances, the better chances, but just could not put March Hare away.
The game started with Maccabi taking control. They got the ball down and passed it around, moving it quickly and having very few touches on the ball, making life difficult for the March Hare players to win it back.
Maccabi were patient and did not try to force their way through. Fifteen minutes into the first half, their patience paid off when Adam Stevens had a shot from 25 yards which found its way past the keeper.
Maccabi continued to dominate the game, creating numerous chances, including three one-on-ones. However, they failed to test the March Hare keeper. The Maccabi strikers made some brilliant runs to lose defenders but they, along with a number of other players, missed opportunities.
Maccabi’s poor finishing came back to haunt them when, after 35 minutes, March Hare were awarded a free-kick wide on their right hand side. The free-kick was fizzed in low and hard with a lot of pace. No-one managed to get a touch on the ball and it went straight in to the corner of the goal, leaving the keeper stranded. It was a fortunate goal, but Maccabi only had themselves to blame for not being further in front.
Eighteen seconds into the second half, Maccabi regained the lead. A defence-splitting pass form goal-scorer Stevens set Jonny Quinn through who, on the bounce, lobbed it over the keeper with an excellent finish. A truly brilliant goal, starting from Stevens’ quality pass.
Hare equalised for a second time midway through the second half. Some poor defending from Maccabi at a corner left one of the Hare players free, who duly put the ball into the back of the net.
Maccabi then made two changes. One tactical and one enforced. Louis Basso was forced to leave the game due to a family bereavement . All at The JC wish Louis and his family and a long life and we hope to see Louis, a very talented young player, back on the field as soon as possible.
Despite Hare equalising, Maccabi continued to dominate the game and should have scored and put the game to bed.
However, with 15 minutes to go, Hare took the lead for the first time, with a goal-mouth scramble.
Maccabi finished the game the stronger but were still unable to score.
Maccabi assistant-manager Tony Rosenberg told JC Sport: “We must do better. If we’re going to win games, then we have got to learn to take our chances.
"No-one played badly today, far from it, but it’s clear that extra training sessions in front of goal are required.
"It was a frustrating game as we were by far the better team, playing free-flowing attractive football, which is what we want. But, we really need to start converting our chances. A special mention to Louis Basso too, who lost his grandfather. We at Manchester Maccabi wish him and his family a long life.”