ACCOUNTANTS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
Lawds 0 South Manchester Sports 2

Strikes from Mark Stewart and Ben Peppi helped South Manchester return to winning ways in the league after their first defeat of the season against the Village last week.

Missing a raft of players through injury including Toby Levy, Marc Yaffe and Harvey Kaye, South had to grind out a win on a bobbly surface that meant the ball was always difficult to control.

South started the game well - dominating the midfield area and getting Mark Stewart and Ben Peppi into the game in wide areas. A flowing move after 10 minutes saw Adam Lavin have his goal-bound effort blocked, but the opening goal was not far away.

A move involving Mark Collins and Mark Parry saw the ball worked out to the left edge of the area where Mark Stewart took one touch and arrowed a 20-yard shot into the top corner of the goal after 20 minutes.

That was to be the standout moment of the game as after that it deteriorated into a series of mistakes and mis-placed passes from both teams.

At half time manager Darryl Lee warned his team that whilst the lead was 1-0 anything could happen and urged his players to press onto the opposition.

He advised that one more goal from South would be enough and his words proved prophetic. Ben Peppi missed a glorious chance just after half time when Lavin squared to him but he blazed his shot way over the bar.

Lawds were now just playing on the break and would have equallised but for a fine diving save from keeper Conor Rabbett. This was to prove crucial as on 70 minutes Lavin and Peppi combined again but this time Peppi composed himself and buried his shot in the bottom corner from 12 yards.

As predicted, this sealed the game and whilst Lawds did have some late flurries the South defence stood firm and held out for a crucial three points.

The league is now pretty much a two-horse race with Mace now top of the table by two points, but with South having two games in hand.

“We are now down to the run-in with 7 league games left but we get a week away from league pressure with the glamour of the Peter Morrison semi final next week” said manager Lee.” Unfortunately we are somewhat limping into that game with a raft of injuries and pretty poor form but hopefully we can raise our game and get some players off the treatment table and onto the pitch” he added.

South Manchester Sports host newly-promoted MSFL Division One outfit Oakwood in a 12.30pm KO at the Armitage Centre in Fallowfield in the semi-final of the Peter Morrison Trophy next weekend.