Accountants League Premier Division
Deloittes 0 South Manchester Sports Club 1st 1
South Manchester Sports continued their bright start to the season with a hard fought win against third-placed Deloittes.
Missing a raft of university students including flying wingers Toby Levy and Harvey Kaye, manager Darryl Lee had to shuffle the pack to find a winning formula.
The first half proved to be very tight with South edging the chances with Adam Lavin and Mark Addis failing to test the keeper when well placed.
Headers from Nathan Ezair and Lavin again went close towards the end of the half but again the home keeper had nothing to save.
Whilst Deloittes played on the break, they looked most threatening from set-pieces and South keeper Rabbett made a fine save from a Deloitte fee kick to keep the scores level at half time.
The second half saw South start to press more and a couple of tactical changes seemed to give South better attacking impetus. Jack Rowe and Darren Brewer were replaced by debutant Alex Koslover and Marc Yaffe returning after five months out injured and South looked to pose much more of a threat.
Ironically having played some decent pass and move football, a long clearance from defence set Lavin away who having rounded the Deloittes centre half, coolly slotted home to spark joyous celebration.
20 minutes remained and South spurned two chances to kill the game off with Lavin and Ezair the culprits. These misses did not prove costly as the defence stood rock steady with Stratton making a crucial six-yard box clearance five minutes from time.
The final whistle brought a great sense of relief but more importantly the South defence have not conceded a goal in 360 minutes of football a rarity in any level of football.
South remain second with a 100 per cent record, one point behind leaders Mace who have played a game more.
South's next match is against Manchester Villa at the Armitage next Sunday, 11am KO.