HAMILTON FX OLIM LEAGUE
Aviv City 1 England FC 2
Aviv City hosted England FC on Saturday night with both teams playing for what must be only pride with the league surely out of reach baring any collapse from Raanana and Jerusalem.
Aviv got off to a flying start with star striker Adam Jaffe firing home from 30 yards, leaving the keeper no chance and probably a hole in the net with a contender for goal of the season.
That was the wake-up call that England needed and they straight away took the game to Aviv and pressed high up the field, getting into a few dangerous positions with Lewis Kaye and Kfir Rusin a constant threat.
The second goal came after 10 minutes when another flowing move saw England's Motti Colman - 25 yards out and with the Aviv team giving him the freedom of the city - beautifully curling the ball into the corner.
The pace of the game increased, with even the ref complimenting both teams on the on the end-to-end action, with England probably edging it. However, Aviv Saphir and Kfir Rusin missing great chances, ensuring the teams went into the break all square.
There was a higher tempo to the match in the second half, with the midfield battle becoming feisty as Colman and Uri received yellow cards. England FC were shading it with Omri Hammama through on goal twice but he was unable to convert.
The decisive moment saw Lewis Kaye run down the left beating a few defenders on the way and put in a low cross that Hammama was on hand to bundle over the line to finally give England the lead.
A few minutes later a nice act of sportsmanship occurred when Roy and the Aviv keeper both went up for a ball. The Aviv keeper came worse off and whilst on the floor Gabi slotted home to an empty net but the England team decided not to take the goal and pleaded with the ref to overrule and give a drop ball which he did. The Aviv keeper required stitches while Roy was left with a headache.
Man-of-the-Match Lewis Kaye said: "It was great to get back on the pitch after a couple of months out injured. I'm happy to my teammates get through a difficult game.
"It is always nice to get man of the match, but for me the most important thing was to get the three points."