Anton Radiven refused to be downbeat despite watching Maccabi Manchester Yellow side crash against Leeds Maccabi.
Pre-match Radiven had labelled the trip to the defending champions as the acid test of the surprise league leaders.
Leeds Maccabi ran out 3-0 winners after Rob Selwyn, Nick Vale and John Saffman were all on target.
But it didn’t tell the whole story as a depleted Maccabi Manchester Yellow pushed the Yorkshiremen all the way.
Radiven said: “The scoreline did not reflect the way we played. We just didn’t have the strikers to covert our chances.
"When you are without the likes of Roy Fux, Jason Deach and Moishe Hasid, who were all injured, then you know it will be hard to score against a strong team.
"But I couldn’t be prouder. We never gave up and they said it was the toughest match they have played for three years.
"It didn’t feel like a defeat and we are not too disheartened. We know, with a few tweaks, we can compete with the best side."
The only sour note was the red card for Leeds striker Adam Woolfstein and goalkeeper Reece Levy dished out by referee Adam Cohen for an altercation late on.
Meanwhile, Jordan Brookes was on the scoresheet as Haroldeans edged out South Manchester Sports 2nd 2-1.