South Manchester`s 100 per cent record was brought to an abrupt end by The Village FC and was further compounded by injuries to key players
March 4, 2012 15:40MANCHESTER ACCOUNTANTS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
The Village FC 2 South Manchester Sports 1 0
South Manchester's 100 per cent record was brought to an abrupt end by The Village FC and was further compounded by injuries to key players.
South had been warned prior to the game that The Village would want to avenge their recent semi-final defeat and so it proved as they flew out of the blocks and South struggled to get out of their half for the first 20 minutes.
The ball was pinging around Sout's area and it was no surprise when from a set-piece the ball was crashed into the roof of the net from close in to leave the league leaders 1-0 down.
Things then got worse as Marc Yaffe limped off with a hamstring injury and with Toby Levy already out injured the lack of width was to prove a problem.
Having gone a goal down keeper Conor Rabbett then pulled out a fantastic save to keep South in the game and this seemed to inspire South for the last 15 minutes of the first half.
Gradually they got a foothold in the game and Adam Lavin went very close after Ben Peppi worked an opening for him.
Half time arrived with South lucky to be only one goal down and manager Darryl Lee rung further changes removing King and putting Stratton on at the back.
The second half was a stream of one way traffic as South pummelled the Village defence with little success and only half chances being created. A big moment came on 85 minutes when Sam Cantor found himself free on the edge of the six-yard box but the Village keeper pulled off a fantastic save.
Almost immediately Village broke onto a now two-man South defence and scored to seal the game.
Manager Lee was philosophical in defeat. ”On the day the ball wouldn't drop for our forwards but you cannot win a league by giving opponents the initiative.
"I did warn the players as I have seen it many times before - teams playing for nothing – just wanting to ruin your season. They celebrated like they had won the league which says a lot about our status, but status doesn`t win trophies.
"We are suffering with injuries but hopefully we will have Stewart, Levy and Kaye back next Sunday for a must win league game against PWC.”