South Manchester Sports reached their first final in a number of years after a nerve jangling semi final win over old foes The Village
January 22, 2012 21:42HANDICUP SEMI-FINAL
South Manchester Sports 1st 4 The Village 3
South Manchester Sports reached their first final in a number of years after a nerve jangling semi final win over old foes The Village.
South were missing a host of regulars due to injury and exams but in difficult conditions some scintillating fooball gave them a deserved victory.
It was due to some defensive indecision that South took the lead after 10 minutes when Toby Levy crossed for Marc Parry to stab the ball in from close range
The Village then attacked in numbers with a gale force wind behind them but South literally weathered the storm for Levy to supply Marc Yaffe who doubled the lead just before half time.
Manager Darryl Lee asked for a third killer goal after half time and it soon came when Yaffe scored his second and Sout's third after the ball broke to him 18 yards out and he curled it into the bottom corner.
The game looked completely dead 10 minutes later when a defensive clearance blew the wrong way into the path of Levy who clinically finished from 18 yards.
A couple of substitutions possibly distracted South and The Village piled men forward as they had nothing to lose.They scored three times in the last 20 minutes - the last one with the last kick of the game - to spark celebrations from the South players and bench.
Manager Darryl Lee said: "To get to any final is a great feeling and is reward for our season so far.
"What was impressive was the attitude of players who have not featured regularly but who really stepped up to the plate.”
The final is against Bowler from Division One on February 26. South will start the game 2-0 down due to the Handicapping system of the competition.
Next week South Manchester travel to London to take on London Maccabi Lions at Rowley Lane in the last 16 of the Peter Morrison Trophy.