MANCHESTER ACCOUNTANTS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
Iraq FC 1 South Manchester Sports 9

South Manchester Sports returned from the festive break with a hammering of Iraq FC in a game which saw South awarded four penalties and in which Marc Yaffe scored five times.

The pitch at Hough End was typically bobbly but within 60 seconds of the start Adam Lavin started the New Year off as he finished last year - with a fine finish after being slipped through by Harvey Kaye.

The early goal set the tone and South got into their usual passing game with Yaffe and Ben Peppi proving unstoppable down either flank. Yaffe cut in off the right wing to hammer in his second and Peppi then provided really good crosses for Adam Jackson to score his first for the club and then for Yaffe to score his second.

Just before half time Lavin was upended in the box when clean through and Yaffe completed a first half hat-trick.The referee showed leniency as he could easily have dismissed the offender.

The half time break saw South manager Darryl Lee ask for more goals as goal difference could be critical in the final shake-up.

Dan King marauding forward from left back was hauled down and Lavin coolly dispatched the penalty before adding his second soon after.

Toby Levy and Yaffe then converted numbers seven and eight before Lavin was pulled down again and Yaffe converted his fifth and the teams ninth.

Amazingly Lavin was pulled down again when clean through in the last minute and limped off injured which will be a worry to South with big games ahead.

To add insult to injury Yaffe missed from the spot meaning his chance for a double hat-trick had gone.

South face Deloittes next week in a tough league fixture and doubts about Lavin`s fitness will raise concerns as the return fixture was only narrowly won in October.