South Manchester, being a one team club, love the Lancashire Cup. The chance to play teams several divisions above provide a great learning opportunity. After playing teams in Division 6 in 2010/11 then in Division 5 in 2011/12, the Bees made the jump to Division 3 for their 2012/13 Lancashire Cup Quarter Final tie.

After several players turned up just minutes before push back, the umpire broke down 15 minutes away and seeing possibly the worst pitch this author has ever seen, it could've been quite conceivable for South Manchester to throw the towel in and allow their experienced opposition to dominate. The Bees, however, went out with intent to make it difficult for Mossley and some good play in the middle from Simon Lamb and constant running down the wings from Sean Smith and Gareth Hampton showed that the Bees wouldn't go lightly. It took Mossley a good 15 minutes to get on the scoresheet. Ashley Critten could do nothing as his attacker turned onto his weak side before firing a rocket of a back hand into the goal. Sean Smith almost shocked the home side when he found himself in space one on one with the keeper but his lifted shot just went over. Mossley pushed on and added a second when some nice passing play ended in the attacker sweeping past Colasurdo. A third was added not long after and Colasurdo was unlucky with the fourth as he saved it twice before Mossley forced the rebound home. 4-0 at half time but it could've been a lot more if not for Ed Holmes and his defensive colleagues.

The Bees did not let their heads drop and went for a consolation goal. Some good saves from Colasurdo kept Mossley at 4 whilst Patrick Souter and Ash Critten kept Mossley's chances to a minimum. It took nearly an hour of hockey but the Bees goal finally came, Sean Smith creating space on the right, passed to Gareth Hampton on the penalty spot who tapped it in. The home team rallied and pulled back their 4 goal lead when a nice shot was placed into the corner but minutes before the end, the bees scored a second with a well hit shot low past the keeper.

5-2 is a very respectable score and the Bees will take a lot of confidence from this.

South Manchester Hockey Club

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