MANCHESTER ACCOUNTANTS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SOUTH MANCHESTER SPORTS CLUB 1st 1 VILLAGE MANCHESTER 0

A first-half strike from Louis Rawlings saw South Manchester return to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over the Village Manchester.

South Manchester really took the game to the Village in the first half after manager Paul Kirkham told his team to get 'up them from the off' and that's exactly what they did. Some neat tika-taka football helped create the goal and when Rawlings sprung the offside trap he had 20 yards to compose himself, close his eyes and find the back of the net.

South Manchester were extremely resolute while defending their lead and managed to see the game out while letting the opposition create few chances. The team had chances to extend their lead in the second half but one goal was enough to send South Manchester home with the three points.

Rawlings has been in fine goal-scoring form in his debut season for SMSC and has formed a great partnership with talisman Adam Lavin. Lavin is in somewhat of a scoring drought currently having been the club's leading scorer over the last few seasons. Asked about his current form, he said: "I haven't needed to update the spreadsheet over recent weeks which has worried me at times. Even great strikers go through dry patches and I'll be back on the score sheet pre-Chanukah."

On the absentee front, South we're missing a few key players including Toby Levy, David Flax and Mark Stewart who they hope to be back in the side swiftly.

An ecstatic Neil Collins was interviewed in the car park outside the ground after the game. "I'm delighted," he told reporters. "We showed real chutzpah to win what was a tough game against a tough, fershtinkiner team. We were without a number of key players all over the park, but the lads worked very hard and got the win.

"I’ve spoken with the chairman Johnny Davis to let him know the result and he was delighted. Whilst he can be a bit of a yenta, he’s a real haymisher mensch and great to work with."