Sacks: ‘We will bounce back’

MANCHESTER COUNTY CUP SEMI-FINAL

MANCHESTER MACCABI 1ST 3 ST. JOHN’S 4

Maccabi player-manager Michael Sacks insists his team will regroup following back-to-back defeats.

The Chesman League Division One high-flyers were left stunned by their lower league opponents in a thriller.

Having been eliminated from the Division One Cup the previous week, it looked as though normal service had been resumed when Aaron Goldman tucked home a clever reverse pass from Toby Levy.

However, St John’s made some tactical changes and turned the tie around in the first half with two long-range strikes, both nestling in the bottom corner of the Maccabi goal.

St John’s then made it 3-1 in the second half, giving Maccabi a mountain to climb, but up stepped Goldman again with a 25-yard strike, pulling the 2016 County Cup champions back into contention.

St John’s grabbed the all-important next goal to make it 4-2 before Sam Hatton and Goldman combined again, pull Maccabi to within a goal, with Goldman completing his hat-trick.

In a thrilling finale, the St John’s goalkeeper pulled off a fantastic save to deny Hatton while Jamie Green hit the woodwork. St John’s also had a shot cleared off the line by Maccabi skipper Adam Jackson, but they managed to hold on to progress to the final.

Sacks said: “Credit must go to St John’s. They were well-organised and punished us in front of goal, so we wish them the best of luck in the final.

“We’ve suffered back-to-back losses, which is a bitter pill to swallow at the best of times, let alone on the back of more than ten straight wins. Of course it hurts, but we still have a lot to play for and the boys are determined to get back to winning ways.”