ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
South Manchester 1st bounced back from their Morrison defeat to progress to the Handicup quarter finals.
The competition format where Premier plays First Division, in the opening round, gives the lower division side a two goal start, and so It was against previously unbeaten Division one leaders Iraq FC that South found themselves 2-0 down from the start.
Manager Darryl Lee had freshened up the squad with a number of youngsters starting the game. Playing with a freedom not seen this season South tore into their opponents and a 20-yard volley into the top corner by Mark Yaffe was the prelude to further goals by Sam Cantor and Joey Lazare to give South a 3-2 aggregate lead after only 20 minutes.
A defensive error lead to Iraq scoring and at half time the tie was effectively all square.
South manager Darryl Lee reminded his troops of how they had established their lead and goals by Cantor and Ben Peppi seemed to have secured the tie.
But yet again South conceded two in a madcap five minute spell which effectively levelled the scores at 5-5.
With 10 minutes remaining a Peppi free kick was flicked in by Sam Cantor for the 17-year-old to complete a fine hat-trick. South saw out the last 10 minutes to secure their passage to the quarters 6-5 on aggregate.
South’s reward is a tie against The Village FC, opponents who beat them 3-0 in the league, in the last eight on Sunday so South will have their work cut out to progress
To the semi-final the following week. Scores start level as The Village are a premier division team like South.