South Manchester Sports capitulated to Mace in an important but not decisive game at The Armitage Centre Fallowfield
March 25, 2012 18:39ByAnonymous, Anonymous
ACCOUNTANTS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
South Manchester Sports Club 1st 1 Mace 5
South Manchester Sports capitulated to Mace in an important but not decisive game at The Armitage Centre Fallowfield.
Missing regulars including Addis, Levy, Koslover, Peppi, Kaye, Jackson and Tom Cantor through University commitments and injury, South fielded a depleted team, but there can be no excuses for the feeble way that they folded under limited pressure.
Having allowed a long punt to bounce over the centre halves and be lofted in after 20 minutes, South then switched off at a corner and the ball broke to the Mace full back who hammered it in from 20 yards to double the Mace lead.
Strangely South then started to play and after top-scorer Adam Lavin hit the post. The Mace keeper then saved well from Marc Parry and Anton Feingold.
Just before half time Marc Yaffe beat the keeper with a free-kick, but incredibly Darren Loofe hit the post from literally inches out for a miss of the season contender which should have halved the deficit.
At half time South manager Darryl Lee told his team that a goal for South would have an impact and Lavin found his scoring boots to rattle one in off a post to halve the arrears.
South then briefly rallied but the limping Mark Stewart found himself exposed again and was unable to stop the Mace forward rounding him and scoring easily, before he was immediately substituted.
Unfortunately, with the long-term injured Mike Filson on the bench having to come on, and young Jake Feinstein coming on for only his second first-team game, South were now floundering with a combination of injuries and poor play contributing to Mace scoring two more to run out easy winners.
Mace’s manager told everyone how much he would enjoy reading about this in the JC and further goaded South with comments about having facilities but no ability.
Indeed Lee had toyed with pulling this game but chose to play it because we are so far behind, but the decision backfired as some players took seconds and others were just poor.
"The best team won but we have to play them again,” said manager Darryl Lee. ”The facts are that if we are able to beat Mace in the return fixture and win three of our other five league fixtures, then we should win the title.
"I like the fact their manager was celebrating as though he had won the league, but the old adage is that form is temporary and class is permanent - so lets hope that’s the case.
"We have a few weeks off until our next league fixture, but we will re-group and go again as the destiny of this league is still in our own hands.
"All the University lads are back now for five weeks so let’s see where we stand at the end of April.”
Next week Accountants League Cup v Saints Uni Ground Wythenshawe 11am.