Heartbreak Semi

Maccabi bowed out of the Middx County Cup in the most controversial of circumstances, their chances of reaching the final cruelly taken from them when, despite the referee initially awarding a last minute equaliser, the linesman convinced him to chalk it off despite the ball being 2 feet over the line as acknowledged by all including the opponents.

It was a sad end to a terrific contest, testament to both sides who made light of the strong winds and didn't allow the conditions to ruin the game. Wanderers are a touring side made up of only ex-pro or good level semi-pro players - they are undefeated in 5 years, being 5 times reigning Ryman League Vets champions and 3 times reigning champions of this Middx competition. In the early exchanges they showed why, their link play pinning Maccabi back, but they failed to apply a decent strike to some good moves. But on 20 minutes they did take the lead, a long range strike that Abrahams in the Lions goal allowed to slip through his grasp. But the response was excellent, and within 5 minutes the hosts levelled the scores, Bentley playing a fine through ball to Cash who finished emphatically into the corner.

Both sides began to play some good stuff, defences working hard to snuff out the quality of the attacks. Wanderers did however retake the lead when, after Corin had executed a fine tackle on the edge of the box, their striker in an instant chipped the loose ball over Abrahams and, despite the wind threatening to hold it up, it just crept over the line. Back came Maccabi, and with Stanton, Levack and Corin becoming more influential, they created openings. Conway was stopped in his tracks by a stray arm that bloodied his lip, but he responded in the perfect way by winning the ball back for the side, it eventually finding its way to Cash who lashed home an unstoppable second equaliser.

Lauffer was introduced at the break, adding an extra layer of security for the hosts that really seemed to work. With Corin and Stanton joining Summers and Cash the hosts created by far the better chances and thought they'd taken the lead on the hour when Cash wriggled free down the right before squaring for Summers, but on the run from 8 yards the Lions #9, who had a superb game, was unable to keep his strike down and a golden chance was passed up. He then beat the keeper to cross, the loose ball hacked clear off the line as too was Corin's follow up, soon after another rocket was deflected an inch wide of the post.

Wanderers always remain a threat, but there was little sign of them grabbing the all important next goal. Yet with 15 to go that's exactly what they did. Their striker was stopped by another Myeroff tackle, but he got the good fortune as the ball ricocheted back to him and from nowhere suddenly found himself in the clear - the finish clinical.

Maccabi gambled, on the break the visitors had the odd chance, Abrahams doing his bit to atone for his earlier error with a couple of fine stops. But Maccabi really did put the champions under serious pressure, their keeper with acrobatic saves to deny goalbound efforts from Summers and Cash. With the game in its final minute another strike was deflected behind for a corner. The ball driven into the box where Bentley rose and powered a header from 10 yards goalwards. The ball struck the underside the bar and bounced down fully 2 feet behind the line. The hosts celebrated, the referee awarded the goal, there were no complaints initially from the visitors and Maccabi returned and lined up for the restart, planning for the additional period. What happened next defied belief. The linesman did not move from his spot and, now put under pressure from the opposition who saw an opportunity, called the referee over. As was explained to us post-match, he insisted that the ball had not crossed the line (even though everyone knew it had) and insisted that as the linesman he had the best view and his decision must be taken. The referee felt he had no option but to dis-allow despite having deep reservations. All hell threatened to break loose with hosts feeling that after all their hard work they had been cheated out of a goal by an official with an agenda. But they were powerless to affect a second change of heart.

The game eventually restarted and almost immediately concluded, Maccabi were out, their mood not helped when the opposing players openly admitted that the ball had crossed the line by some distance. A sad way to bow out, but the side should be proud of making such a great side work so hard to progress, and all at Maccabi wish them the best of luck in the final.