Edgey Encounter

The Bees have built up a friendly rivalry with our Cheshire counterparts after a string of close fought battles over the last 3 seasons. This encounter was no different and was perhaps the tightest match yet, with dominance swinging from one club to another throughout.

The game started well for the Bees and it didn't take too long for the Bees to get on the scoresheet. Sean Smith took a free hit quickly, dribbled it into the D for Gareth Hampton to sweep home. Ten minutes later and South Manchester doubled their lead. An interception by Richard Greenhough in Alderley's 25 led to a sweet pass through to captain Hampton. He selflessly took it wide around the keeper before squaring it back to Greenhough who couldn't miss from a few yards out.

Aldlerley got themselves back in the game and began to mount some pressure. Dean Colasurdo got the faintest of touches on a shot destined for the goal whilst the defensive short corner unit looked much more solid; especially Tommy Sedgwick in his new position of running 'one'. The away team looked more and more likely to score and nearly did when Sean Stewart played a suicide ball across the D, it was intercepted but Colasurdo was on hand to make the save. Alderley did eventually break through when the away #98 finally managed to escape Mark Scholes who shadowed him all game and thunder a shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-1. They almost equalised too, but a glove save from a short corner meant that it was the Bees 2-1 up at half time.

The second half started with Alderley continuing their pressure but it was South Manchester who took the two goal lead. The Bees one and only penalty corner was slipped back to Simeon Afonje who sweeped it across the goal. The young keeper saved well but Sean Smith was on hand to tap in the rebound. Good chances went both ways but Alderley pulled a goal back with 15 minutes left. The attacker cut in from the right and although Colasurdo saved the first shot, the Alderley attacker was quicker to the rebound that either Ed Holmes or Sean Stewart at centre back and slotted home to make it a one goal game. As the minutes ticked by, the next goal seemed crucial. Another Alderley error in their own half, this time Tom Hornsby with the interception who dribbled into the D with pace then let off a thunderbolt which the keeper could do nothing about. 4-2 with 6 minutes to play. Mark Scholes also managed to take a ball in the face from a short corner to stop a certain goal, although a defensive free hit was correctly awarded as the defender had no chance of evading the lifted ball.

The two goal lead, however, lasted just minutes as a short corner was slipped right and shot into Colasurdo's near post, despite Alan Leonard running full pace out. Then heartbreak for the Bees as a harsh short corner was awarded and the away team nicely played in their injector who simply directed it into the goal.

4-4 and probably a fair result at the end of the day. The Bees will be disappointed that they couldn't hold onto their 2 goal lead but Edge may have felt that a Bees win would've been an unfair reflection.

Away at Wilmslow next week where South Manchester look to continue their goal scoring form whilst perhaps tightening up at the back.

MoM was a tie between 'keeper Colasurdo and defender Scholes.