Dan Berkley believes his Oakhill boys were too busy boozing and boogying at the start of the season - but they bounced back with a vintage performance to win the Feldman Trophy.
Lions roared to victory to leave South Manchester 2nd punch drunk at Oldham Athletic's Boundary Park to lift the cup for the second year.

Leading 2-1 at the break, the Manchester students raced away in the second-half with Berkley adamant that upcoming university finals have helped curb his team's wild side.

"At the start of the season we couldn't get going because it was Freshers' week and everyone was out drinking and partying," he said.

"But at the moment, with exams coming up, everybody is fully focused on their work and is making sure they're in good shape.

"We've improved markedly as the season has gone on and we really showed our fitness because Oldham is a huge pitch.

"We've got better and better as the season has gone on and I think that's because people have settled down whereas at the start of the year it was all a bit mad.

"We're a student side and that kind of thing happens."

Alex Goodman and Phil Reed struck either side of a Mark Collins goal as Oakhill carved out a deserved lead at the interval.

And they guaranteed a night of champagne and celebrations with Reed grabbing his second, before Alex Bloch added a fourth with skipper Dan Cohen firing a classy double.

Jack Rowe's goal 10 minutes from time gave South Manchester a consolation.

"It was a wonderful day. We had special kits made and even got a team bus to the ground because we wanted to make a day of it.

"It was fantastic to spray champagne around the dressing room and we had a great evening with a barbecue and a few drinks to celebrate.

South Manchester boss Neil Collins admitted his side got what they deserved after producing one of their poorest performances of the season.

"We never showed up," he said. "We beat Oakhill twice in the league but we just couldn't get to grips with the size of the pitch.

"Both teams struggled but they dominated us in the second half and to be honest it was like watching Chelsea against Accrington Stanley out there at times.

"I can honestly say that only two or three of our players played to their potential and you can't win games if that happens.

"They're a big, physical side and they 'mullered' us."