Manchester Accountants League Premier Division
Saints 2 South Manchester Sports Club 1st 3
South Manchester Sports completed the first half of their league season with a 100 per cent win record after a spirited and gutsy performance in shocking conditions.
The pitch looked fine when cleared to play at 8.30am but by kick-off the incessant rain had turned it into an absolute quagmire.
With Mark Addis celebrating the birth of triplets and Mike Stratton out until the New Year following a double hernia op, Loz Newman and Adam Jackson, making his first start after joining from Hyde Park, started together as centre halves for the first time.
Ben Peppi`s late arrival meant he dropped to the bench and Stuart Goldwater also started a game for the first time after joining with Darren Loofe from Republic of Mancunia over the summer. Loofe was on the bench for his first appearance at this level.
The early exchanges saw South dominate possession without really troubling the opposition defence. However, Saints were dangerous on the break and it took a fine save after 20 minutes from Conor Rabbett to keep South ahead.
As if awakened from their slumbers, Marc Yaffe got in down the left side soon after and squared for Adam Lavin to tap in.
Half time came and went with Peppi replacing Goldwater on the right and a defensive reshuffle saw King move to centre half, Newman to right back and Toby Levy to left back. However, the previously solid Jackson made an error after 50 minutes and the Saints forward finished well.
The game was in the balance but South kept playing wide in an effort to get in round the back and a fine move involving Levy and Lavin saw the latter fizz the ball across the box for Loz Newman to crash in the ball at the far post.
Another goal from South then would have made the game safe but a moment of controversy was to follow. Newman gave away a throw-in at right back or so he thought. However, there was no assistant on that side of the pitch and the Saints winger just played on although South had breached the fundamental rule by not playing to the whistle. The ball was crossed in and the resultant header levelled the scores.
With 15 minutes remaining the game was very much in the balance and two critical moments were to decide the outcome in the last moments.
As the game ebbed and flowed South persisted in their wing play where there was at least some grass. In the 85th minute Toby Levy skinned the right back and crossed hard and low for Lavin to knock it in from six yards. Scenes of jubilation followed but a big moment remained as Rabbett was to make an unbelievable one- handed save with practically the last kick of the match.
The final whistle brought sighs of relief all round and a record of played 10, won 10 for the season so far.
South Manchester manager Darryl Lee was delighted with the performance.He said: ”To get to Christmas with a 100 per cent record after 10 league games and one cup game is unusual and something I have never seen despite 34 years in senior football.
"I have heard a lot said about the league we are in, but nothing was said last year when we struggled. We have scored 56 goals and conceded only nine which is a good achievement as well.
"We have won nothing at all yet but we have a semi-final of the Handicup next week and I would love the opportunity of taking this team to a final.
"More importantly, I have put together a really decent set of boys where their efforts are all about the team and not individual targets. They are a pleasure to manage.”
South Manchester take on The Village in the last four of the Handicup at the Armitage Centre.
