South Manchester lost narrowly to Saints, last year’s champions, who they beat in the early weeks of the season-when scoring goals seemed to be no problem.

Since the departure of Toby Levy and Harvey Kaye to China for a year the inability to put the ball in the net despite dominating

Many games has cost them.Six of the squad are aged 21 or under and teams are resorting to physical tactics to stop their pacy free flowing football.

Sunday was no different and a crude challenge on Leon Huller saw him limp off,possibly to a season ending injury, to be replaced by Joey Lazare after 20 minutes.

The first half was generally quite scrappy with Lazare carving out the best chance for South which the keeper scrambled away.In the last

Minute of the half South conceded a dubious corner from which Saints powered in a header.The referee blew for half time immediately.

South completely dominated the second half and upped the pressure after a Saints defender was dismissed for a second booking after another crude challenge.

Shots from Lazare,Sam Cantor and Ben Peppi all went close or were scrambled away and it was clearly not Souths day when Marc Yaffe hit the bar from a free kick.

Defeat leaves South with 10 games left,but realistically they are in a mini league of 5 at the bottom end.

Things don’t get any easier, as on Sunday South face title chasing Mace who are on a long unbeaten run.

Sunday 30th Jan Mace University Grounds Wythenshawe 11am KO