LEEDS SUNDAY ALLIANCE LEAGUE
LEEDS MACCABI 1st 2 NEW UNICORN 3

Leeds Maccabi’s recent fine run came to an end with an away defeat to arch rivals New Unicorn in the Leeds Sunday Alliance League.

Both teams came into this game having lost only one game each so far this season in the League and it was always going to be a tight affair between the top two teams from last year.

In blustery conditions and a heavy pitch, both teams struggled to play the decent level of football that they are known for.

However, it was New Unicorn who opened the scoring on the half hour with a well worked goal.

Ten minutes later and it was 2-0 to New Unicorn after Maccabi were caught on the break after a Leeds attack broke down.

To their credit, Leeds Maccabi did not let their heads go down and were starting to play some good football and managed to pull a goal back just before half time with a strike from Dan Seligman to end the first half at 2-1 to the home side.

In the second half, with the wind now in the favour of Leeds Maccabi, as well as some half time changes, Maccabi started to take control of the game and were having more of the possession.

David Smouha, making his Maccabi debut with a class performance, hit a tremendous shot that the Unicorn keeper somehow managed to get a hand to produce a spectacular save.

Leeds were piling on more and more pressure and it was only a matter of time before they should have equalised.

A controversial third goal was then scored by home team after the referee failed to spot that the New Unicorn forward had seemingly controlled the ball with his hand.

Seligman then capped a man-of-the-match performance with a stunning free kick, but it was too little to late as the game ended, much to the relief of New Unicorn who were by now, well on the back foot.

Leeds Maccabi manager Simon Marks commented: "Despite this defeat, I am delighted with our performance and the spirit within the team. We were the better team and had it not been for one or two glaring missed chances, a very questionable goal for them and an amazing save from their keeper, we would have come away with a least a point. I have never seen an opposing team so relieved to hear the final whistle go.

"This squad is getting stronger every week and we are starting to play quality football."