Peppi helps South Manchester cage Lions B

Early on the pattern was set with South keeping possession at the back, but being unable to penetrate a five- man Lions midfield who shut down Alex Koslover and Harvey Kaye in the centre of South's midfield.

After 30 minutes South created the one moment of outstanding class in the whole match. Picking up the ball on the half way line Ben Peppi ran at the Lions midfield and played a one-two with Harvey Kaye. Continuing his run, he then played another one-two with Anton Feingold to put him clean through. Showing good composure, Peppi buried the ball in the bottom corner of the net.

Soon after Peppi got through again, but this time Lions keeper Declan Green somehow got a hand to his powerful shot and the ball crashed onto the bar before bouncing out.

A narrow half time lead was just about deserved but the second half continued in the same vein with South dominating possession but really having no cutting edge.

A 1-0 lead is always risky and Lions' two big chances came in the last five minutes. Firstly, when keeper Jody Marks parried a cross-shot on to the bar, and then when Joey Lazare, who had left South Manchester in the summer, should have scored when clean through but skied his shot over the bar to the relief of the travelling fans.

South manager Darryl Lee confessed that they had been under par. He told JC Sport: "Other than one game today all the ties had one goal in them which says a lot about the nerves that creep in.

"I suppose if you win the Morrison Trophy no-one remembers a streaky win like this.

"However the players and I know we can play much much better.

"We look forward to the draw. I hope we can avoid outstanding favourites Redbridge."

Lions boss Jamie Kyte told JC Sport: "It was a very evenly-matched game with neither side having many chances."

Next weekend sees South Manchester return to league action in the Manchester Accountant League with a home match against Lawds at the Armitage. Kick-off is 11am.