
Cheltenham had battled superbly in the third quarter to level at 6-6 after trailing 6-4.
Matt Helps restored the Poly lead only for Harrison Walsh to score again for Cheltenham 1.06 from the end. A penalty shoot-out loomed until Avital, heavily marked in front of goal, somehow squeezed in the winner.
City of Manchester ended Penguin's winning run in another excellent match - 8-4. The sides reached 3-3 after two periods, then goals by Albert Jonama, Ben Grech and Conor Lynch in the third put Manchester firmly in charge.
Qualification for the Super 5s will be the key issue when the Division 1 programme reaches its finale at Coventry next month. Penguin, Polytechnic and Manchester look certain to go through while Sheffield and Welsh Wanderers remain in the picture along with Cheltenham after wins respectively against Sutton & Cheam and Watford.
Worthing continue to dominate in men's Division 2, making it five wins from five at Bolton today with a runaway 15-6 success against Caledonia. Ben Curtis, George Wood and Sam Abbott all registered hat-tricks. Scott Sharpe hit four as Lancaster beat City of Bristol 9-8 - their first win.
Photos - Above (Trevor Hyde), Penguin goalkeeper Elliott McHugh in action against Manchester. Below: Worthing players celebrate another winning weekend.