PETER MORRISON TROPHY QUARTER-FINAL
MLFC BLUE 2 MANCHESTER MACCABI 1st 4
With a point to prove following defeat against the same team two years ago, Maccabi put in a commanding performance, seeing the visitors go into the half-time break three goals to the good in the lunchtime kick-off.
After a cagey opening 15 minutes, with both teams missing half-chances, it was Toby Levy who opened the scoring, with a beautifully dispatched free-kick.
Manchester then started going through the gears, Aaron Goldman making it two, poking home from a corner.
It was Maccabi's third goal that was the pick of the bunch. Starting with skipper Adam Jackson, into right winger Jamie Green who delivered an early ball across the goal, giving talisman Sam Hatton the simplest of tap-ins.
MLFC came out in the second half and got their reward early on through Mikey Perkins, but Hatton popped up again, from another Levy corner to put the game beyond the hosts.
The home side continued to push and grabbed a deserved second via Sam Hamerton, but Maccabi saw the game out professionally and go into the hat for the last four.
Maccabi player-manager Michael Sacks couldn't praise his boys highly enough. He told JC Sport: "It's not easy spending five hours on a bus and then going straight into an intense game of football, but the boys adapted well and delivered.
"From one to 16 today, everyone played their part. We grabbed the goals and then relied on our in-game management, which was spot on.
"A big thank you to MLFC for their hospitality and we look forward to the draw in a couple of weeks."
MLFC joint-player-manager Max Kyte told JC Sport: "Maccabi were clinical against us, putting away most of their opportunities, whilst we squandered good chances in front of goal.
"They caused us problems from set-pieces, scoring three from dead-ball scenarios, and that’s something we can’t allow if we are going to win games."
Kyte added: "While we had a couple of fight back moments, Manchester maintained their dominance and they very much deserved the victory.”
