ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
A brave effort from a young South Manchester team was not enough as they failed to extinguish relegation fears with a narrow defeat against high-flying Miam Miam.
Darryl Lee, the South manager, put out a young squad with nine of the 14-man group aged 20 or under.
The upshot of this was that whilst South dominated in football terms they were restricted to very few efforts on goal against a team boasting a big physical presence in the key areas of defence and midfield.
Played on a beautiful day at The Armitage Centre, the experience of Loz Newman and Darren Brewer at the back restricted the opponents to shots from distance which rarely threatened.
South themselves had few chances but a deflected snapshot on 30 minutes from Sam Cantor was superbly flicked over the bar by the opposition keeper.
Half time brought words of encouragement from the management team, as despite the teams being at opposite ends of the table, there appeared to be little difference on the pitch.
The first goal- if any were to be scored - was going to be crucial and somehow from a South Manchester free kick outside the Miam Miam area the opposition broke and South were outpaced at the back for the opposition to score.
The last 20 minutes saw South camped in the opposition half and with three minutes remaining an effort close in from David Chaytow was again superbly saved by the opposition keeper.
So somehow South ended the game pointless despite the opposition having only one meaningful effort on goal. Other results mean that South probably only need one win from their remaining six games.
A chance comes on Sunday when South meet PWC who sit just below them in the league-a possible relegation six-pointer.