A Bees Bakers Dozen

After being beaten 16-1 by their own 3s, the Bees set out to emulate a similar scoreline, knowing full well from last season that goal difference could make all the difference.

It took a grand total of 90 seconds before the Bees broke the deadlock, Sean Smith finishing at the back post after good work from captain Gareth Hampton. The away team settled into the game nicely from that point and although the game was largely one way traffic, Sale defended well and had a few small opportunities on the break.It took another 15 minutes before a second goal came, this time Hampton adding a goal to his earlier assist to keep up his recent good run of goal scoring. With two minutes of the half left, Richard Greenhough got his tally going, a deflection from a Simon Lamb shot, and Antony Rigby added a fourth with seconds remaining.

4-0 up at half time but many thought that it should have been more given the opportunities.

The Bees started the second half in a sluggish manner and although Sean Smith got his second within a few minutes, Sale also pulled one back to make it 5-1, a nice sweet shot from the top of the D that Pete Lynch-Mathew could do nothing about, even with Ashley Critten injuring himself attempting to block the shot. This perhaps served as a wake up call to the Bees that Sale would not go easily and would try and make a game of it.

After several short corners, Patrick Souter got on the scoresheet after injecting then getting the rebound from a Rigby shot. A flurry of goals came within ten minutes with Mark Ives and Simon Lamb getting on the scoresheet as well as Greenhough adding another three. Hampton and Rigby also added their personal seconds as the Bees ran out comfortable 13-1 winners.

Overall, South Manchester were very pleased with their performance, especially in the second half. If not for the heroics of the young Sale 'keeper, the score could've been much more impressive and the Bees' rivals have a real future star between the posts.

The Bees now sit pretty at position number 1 after 3 games. It's likely this will be another roller-coaster season and who would have it any other way? Up the Bees.