Sweet Nectar for Bees in Wilmslow

The Bees travelled to a depleted Wilmslow team with a strong looking line up and in their new 3-5-2 formation.

With three starting centre backs of Mark Scholes, Alan Leonard and Sean Stewart, it was always going to be tough for the young forwards to breakthrough. And so it proved as the Bees took the lead early on when Hampton scored from a Simeon Afonje cross.

South Manchester dominated the rest of the half despite Ed Holmes, Mike Blackwood and Patrick Souter adjusting to their new defensive midfield roles. The Bees played the ball around the defence well and the wingers, Afonje, Rigby and Ives, gave the away team excellent width. Simon Lamb dominated the centre as usual and he enjoyed the attacking options that the new formation gave him. Goals from Tom Hornsby, Simon Lamb and Richard Greenhough followed and the Bees were 7-0 at half time.

The second half was a bit more subdued. Wilmslow found a few passes and managed to test keeper Colasurdo out a few times but despite Ashley Critten shouting 'Leave It!' to a legitimate shot, the home team couldn't find the back of the net. The game was overshadowed slightly by a nasty injury to Alan Leonard who took a ball in the head defending a shot, it was a nasty cut and had to be taken to hospital.

The Bees finished 10-0 victors and once the South Cheshire result is reinstated, will put them back on even points with top of the league Sale, although the Cheshire outfit have a game in hand.

A 'friendly' v Crewe awaits next week where the Bees can perfect their 3-5-2 formation in time for the visit of Sale the following Saturday at the Trinity Honeypot.