By Danny Caro
Hendon Hawks Rangers progressed to the second round of the cup after beating HMH on penalties.
The Hawks approached the first round of the cup with a counter-attack mentality, playing three at the back and two up front.
HMH Eilat dominated the first half of the game, piling on pressure for the strong Hawks defence to deal with.
An outstanding performance from Ben Levi - as a lone midfielder - protected the defence well and enabled the Hawks to turn defence into attack on numerous occasions. However, the HMH pressure eventually paid off as a cross from the right was deflected past the Hawks keeper.
The Hawks did not allow their heads to drop as they tried to hit back with a quick attack. However, the attack came to nothing with a shot from Josh Weiler which was gathered in by the HMH keeper.
The second half saw a domineering Hawks team grab an equaliser in the last minute of the match. The goal was well deserved and came courtesy of Weiler who ran through on goal, latching onto a ball from Shmuli Miller to lob the HMH keeper.
The score remained one apiece at the end of extra-time with HMH creating the better chances in the first half and the Hawks dominating the second half with Weiler rattling the post and lobbing the ball just over the bar.
The game was eventually concluded in a cruel penalty shoot-out in which man-of-the-match Ben Levi scored his first goal for the Hawks and Isaac Fahidi saved a penalty from HMH to take Hawks Rangers through with a 5-4 win.