Bees start league campaign in style

First league game is always a nervy affair. Playing a team relegated from the league above holds a lot of unknowns and the team were missing captain Gareth Hampton (family commitment) as well as Patrick Souter and Mark Scholes, both with work. The Bees started with several new faces. Edward Holmes at centre back, Sean 'new Smudge' Smith on the right and Simon Lamb in the centre of midfield.

The game started in a quite tense manner, both teams holding possession and passing it well. It took just 6 minutes, however, for the Bees to break the deadlock as Richard Greenhough shot from the short corner and Simeon Afonje swept up the rebound.

Just ten minutes later, the Yorkshireman got his own tally going and Greenhough seemed relieved after missing some great chances the previous week. Just two minutes later, Rigby made it three after some good passing between Lamb and Matthew Bottomley which allowed Rigby a clean strike from the left.

The Bees didn't sit back and continued to press across the field. Sean Stewart, back after missing all of pre-season, played out of position in Centre Back and looked solid all day. It was Stewart breaking up a play, spreading it to Alan Leonard on the right which set up play for league debutee Sean Smith to smash it high and past the keepers glove; a fine finish to make it 4-0. The defence did their part too; GK Dean Colasurdo saving two well struck short corners and Michael Blackwood making sure the defence was never outnumbered. There was time for one more before the end of the half as Simon Lamb dribbled through the centre of the park before a nice one-two with Tom Hornsby before slotting home. 5-0 Bees half time.

The second half chat involved stand in captain Matt Bottomley ensuring players did not slack off and a clean sheet was prioritised. After a bit of possession for the away team, the Bees re-established control and, similar to the first half, it took just 6 minutes for the Bees to score, Greenhough adding his second. Hornsby finally got off the mark, after setting up several others a few minutes later and when Greenhough added his hat-trick goal 2 minutes later, Triton looked deflated. 8-0 and still more to come. The ninth goal caused controversy as Simon Lamb skipped over sticks, sweetly lifting it over the away keeper before Mark Ives crept in from the right to claim the last touch. He believed the defender may have made it back but his DoD nominations may suggest others disagree! Greenhough finished the scoring with 3 minutes to play with a nice reverse sweep to make it 10-0 final score.

South Manchester were clinical today, all over the pitch with nice passing and fast play. Triton have a lot of skill and with a bit more confidence and precision, may surprise some teams in this league. You'd think that a 10-0 win would put you top of the league but it wasn't to be. Arch-rivals Sale 3s beat their own 4s 16-1 to go top. Some may suggest there may have been some tactical scoring there between the 2 Sale teams but the author is far too uncynical to suggest such a thing.

Man of the Match went to Greenhough after his 4 goal haul and DoD to Mike Blackwood after apparently not washing his kit and contributing to the dodgy smell pitchside! First away game next week; away to South Cheshire. Up the Bees.