Manchester Maccabi In Late Win

Paul Rose - Monday 11th 2006f December 2006

Eccles League
Manchester Maccabi 1st 3 Charlestown 2
Sunday, 10 December, 2006

A superb victory from Manchester Maccabi 1st saw them dispose of another big name in the Eccles League.

For many seasons, Charlestown especially have been a thorn in Maccabi’s side with some late winners against the run of play, some aggression coupled with a good footballing style of play. Two late goals for Maccabi sealed a well deserved win at a windswept Manchester FA headquarters, Littleton Rd.

Before the home team went in front Maccabi could and should have been two goals to the good as through-balls saw Huller outpace a static defence only for the resultant shots either saved or fired past the upright.

A dogged battle ensued in the middle as the conditions deteriorated. It was just after one of the golden opportunities just mentioned that Charlestown counter-attacked and from nearly 25 yards, Matt Campbell who had just been cautioned for kicking the ball away, struck a venomous shot which gave Brunen little hope of saving.

After a couple of scrambles in Maccabi’s area, they regrouped and came back at Charlestown and twice hit the woodwork from well worked moves and headers. Ricardo saved well from Loofe and Bentwood. The half ended at 1-0 with Maccabi perhaps a little unfortunate given the possession they enjoyed against the wind.

The second period started in similar fashion with more control from Maccabi but no end product, Charlestown being very quick moving out of defence.

Several tussles and big tackles were won in the middle of the park and Huller was set free only to hit a post. Just reward was soon on the horizon as the home team’s defence were pulled across the penalty area leaving Huller to atone for earlier misses, rising high above the Charlestown centre half.

Surely this was going to signal a change in fortune for the reigning Jewish champions … evidently not, as slack marking at a free kick allowed Campbell to slot home his and his team’s second against the run of play. Again Brunen will be wondering where his rearguard were. Back came Maccabi, Bentwood smashed a shot wide, Lavin had an effort that went over, and the feeling was that if a second goal could be scored, then a winner was likely.

Indeed with less than six minutes to go, some neat work by Peck who had come on as substitute, allowed Lavin’s quick feet to somehow steer the ball through a ruck of players to equalise.

In the dying minutes, Charlestown tried to restore their lead but in doing so left themselves open at the back, and sure enough Huller raced through face to face with the keeper who had thwarted four previous efforts. On this occasion, however, it was Huller who won the test of nerves as he drilled through the keeper to secure a marvellous victory over a team who had recently beaten a couple of the leading lights of the Premier division.

An all round team effort, exemplified by Richard Buxton whose work rate, knowledge and experience proved invaluable in this titanic tussle. Next week the venue is the same, the opposition is Salford Waggon.