Man Met seconds seal promotion with gritty win in Man Met derby
- Man Met seconds crowned champions of Men’s Northern Tier 4 with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Man Met third team
- Seconds winger Alex Holmes scored the only goal of the game
- Man Met seconds will play next year in the Men’s Northern Tier 3
Man Met FC seconds have been crowned champions of the Men’s Northern Tier 4 following a 1-0 victory over Man Met FC’s third team.
The promotion means that the 2nds will play next season in the Men’s Northern Tier 3 which Man Met 1s have just been promoted from.
All was to play for at Platt Lane with the 2nds sitting top of the league on 21 points and the 3rds behind in second place on 11 points.
A win for the 2nds would seal the title but an upset and a win for the 3rds would put them back in the hunt for a late-season title charge.
However, an upset was not on the cards today with Alex Holmes sealing the win for the 2nds with a superb header at the back post finding its way into the far corner.
From the first kick the game was being played at an electric pace and intensity. Both teams were pressing from the front meaning that there was little-to-no time on the ball for passing football.
The pace and intensity on the pitch was being matched on the side-lines with the biggest crowd I’ve seen for a Man Met game to date.
The first real chance of the game fell to the 2nds as they had a dangerous free kick on the edge of the box, but the strike was straight down the throat of keeper Joel Fletcher.
The crowd had to wait until the half-an-hour mark to get the first and only goal of the game. Following a number of consecutive corners for the 2nds they finally had some joy.
The ball was floated to the back post and found an unmarked Alex Holmes who headed the ball back across the goal over the helpless keeper and into the far corner, a brilliant header.
Although the 2nds were leading at half time the game was nowhere near over. The 3rds had been dangerous on the counter attack throughout the half and arguably should have made more of the half-chances they had.
In the second half the pattern continued with the majority of the game being played in midfield.
The game sparked into life in the last 15 minutes with the 3rds throwing more players forward hoping to get an equaliser.
This should have been the case in the 82nd minute. A great ball down the line saw 3rds number 16 bearing in on goal. Sam Stich was unmarked at the back post and would have had an open net if the ball was squared across but the chance went begging.
A late barrage into the box saw the 3rds come close several times but they couldn’t find the back of the net. Another win for the 2nds means their winning run in the league extends to 8 games (see table below).
The 3rds can count themselves unlucky to not come away with a point as they had the better chances of the game. One moment of quality from Alex Holmes secured the win for the 2nds and ensured their promotion into the Men’s Northern Tier 3.
Next up for the 2nds is Edge Hill 2nds at home on 16 February as they look to continue their unbeaten run in the league. For the 3rds they’re away to Manchester 2nds on 9 February.