Fred Davies Challenge Cup Round Three
Manchester Maccabi 2
King George FC 3
Manchester Maccabi crashed out of the Fred Davies Challenge Cup after slumping to a 3-2 defeat against King George FC.
Despite taking on a side in the division above, Maccabi created chance after chance with only a spectacular last-gasp save denying them the opportunity to take the tie into extra-time.
But joint manager Tony Rosenberg was left to rue a catalogue of missed chances, despite both Danny Rubinstein and Max Rose hitting the target.
“It was the same old story because we created so many chances but didn’t take them,” said Rosenberg.
“It was a good game, but we were always chasing and in the end, perhaps a draw would have been a fair result.
“But the goals we conceded were sloppy and in football, it’s all about percentages.
“We didn’t convert our chances and that’s why they won.”
Having fallen two goals behind, Maccabi were given a lifeline when Rubinstein unleashed a rasping 20-yard drive into the top corner.
But any hopes of a comeback were killed off when St George grabbed a third, despite a huge suspicion of offside.
Rose pulled another goal back to set up a frantic finish, but Maccabi were denied at the death as the King George keeper pulled off a stunning save to ensure victory.
Teenagers Rose and Rubinstein both kept their places after making their debuts last week and Rosenberg was keen to praise the young duo.
“We’ve got a young team and it doesn’t matter how old you are,” he said.
“If you’re old enough, you’re good enough and they are the boys in possession of the shirts at the moment.
“We had the older boys back on the bench but they’ll have to fight hard to get back in.”