CHESHIRE & MANCHESTER SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
SOUTH MANCHESTER SPORTS CLUB 5 CHORLTON SPORTS FC 3
South Manchester 1st XI got off the mark this season with a 5-3 victory over Chorlton Sports FC, thanks to a superb left-footed hat-trick from talisman Adam Lavin.
South were quick out of the blocks and created several chances in the opening 10 minutes, before finally going in the lead through TOBY LEVY.
Despite several chances, it was Chorlton who scored next, levelling the game at 1-1, before LAVIN opened his account for the season beating two defenders and rifling the ball home.
DAVE STEWART made it 3-1 with a header from an outswinging Levy corner - a header his cousin, Adam Levine, would have been proud of.
After the break, South continued to put the pressure on but again conceded to set up an exciting last half hour. However LAVIN popped up twice, with his left foot, to complete the victory and bring the three points back to Gatley.
South Manchester manager Neil Collins said: "The Chesman League will be a challenge for us this year and we lost to a very strong team last week - credit to the boys for bouncing back and registering our first victory.
"It's also great to see the young boys coming up and appearing in the first team, from Josh Darcy and Ben Brownson to the ageless Mark Stewart, the team ranges from 17-55!"
South Manchester 2nds XI, under the stewardship of Marc Magid, opened their MJSL season with a 3-2 victory over Presfield FC.
ETHAN KRELL returned from a year in Israel with a goal and LOUIS RAWLINGS grabbed a brace to make it a good day for South.
Collins added: "There's nothing more satisfying than sitting on a sunbed in the Med and receiving a text saying that both 1st and 2nd teams have won."
This Wednesday sees the South derby as the 2nd and 3rd team go against each other in the MJSL at The Armitage - 6.30pm kick-off.
