Cash Puts Points in the Bank

A superb performance from all 14 saw Maccabi come out on top in this battle between two of the most potent teams in the league, a sensational first half hat-trick from Lee Cash setting the side well on their way to this fine win.

Having been well beaten by Shebu last season (a side that boast players who've played pro football, most notable among them ex-Premier League star DJ Campbell), MLFC knew they'd have to be on their mettle without the ball as much as with it. Defensively the side worked tirelessly and it was from this solid base, protected expertly by Soutar and Pearl, that the side were able to flourish.

Conway heeded his pre-match instruction and put in the kind of shift that shapes games. Linking well with Stanton, Cash and Summers the four began to put pressure on Shebu. Conway was denied by the keeper before a Cash delivery just evaded Stanton and Summers, the curling effort cleared off the line. But just past the quarter hour the hosts deservedly led. Berg fed Pearl who via Stanton worked the ball to Conway who found himself one v one on the right flank. A burst of pace stole him a yard, his low cross was audaciously flicked goalwards by Summers, bringing a fine parry from the keeper, but Cash was on hand to bury the loose ball from close range.

Hakim gave Conway a deserved rest, and the new father celebrated almost immediately with a fine assist, striding past two players before delivering a delicious cross that an on-rushing Cash rose to plant home with a bullet header. And when Cash strode in from the left and lashed an unstoppable strike with the outside of boot into the far side netting the home side had a 3-0 lead to take into the break.

Goals clearly change games, so despite the scoreline this was a proper battle between two excellent sides. Maccabi knew the next goal would be crucial, Glass, Myeroff, Harvey and Rayner on their toes to ensure no way back for the high class Shebu frontline who started the second period well and pressed their hosts back. So when Conway picked up the ball, cut inside and unleashed an absolute stunner of a strike that simply arrowed into the top corner, Maccabi know they had the decisive cushion and that it was to be their day. And when Hakim got to do his "Bebeto" celebration when he rounded the keeper to notch Maccabi's 5th it seemed all over.

DJ Campbell though added some nerves with two goals in as many minutes, the first after a dazzling display of quick feet that had most applauding. With still a quarter of an hour to play was there a way back? Abrahams made a couple of smart saves and Myeroff one very timely intervention to maintain the comfortable margin, and with Shebu committing bodies forward at every opportunity Maccabi had the last laugh when both Cash and Hakim exploited the spaces afforded them, capitalising on Stanton's ability to find them to add to their personal tallies and round off a fine day at the office for the league leaders.