Lack of consistency a concern
Inconsistent displays on the pitch this season are of concern to Benoni Northerns Football Club’s (BNFC) first team coach, Flavio Mariuzzi.
The team have not been successful on their travels in the ELFA Seniors Super League Division One this season, and their displays on the road have all but put to bed the side’s title ambitions.
Following a good 5-3 win against Kempton Park, last week, the team made their way to Robertsham, to take on Lions United, on Saturday, May 24.
A 1-0 victory for the BNFC second XI got things off to a good start for the men in red, but the first team would not be as successful, going down 6-1 to their opponents.
The second team’s winning goal came courtesy of Tumelo Makwakwa, in a game that saw the return of regular first team defender Gordon Brown.
According to Mariuzzi, the 6-1 score line for the firsts probably looks worse than what actually panned out in the south of Johannesburg.
In the first-half, Northerns went down 1-0 when a free kick from Lions found the back of the net.
The team remained 1-0 down until the second period, when things started going pear-shaped and they found themselves four goals down at one stage.
Brogan Shrimpton continued his good, recent goal-scoring run, with the team’s only goal of the game, and as the BNFC coach reshuffled his formation to a more attacking set up, with three men at the back, it allowed the Lions more counter-attacks and an additional two goals were scored as the Northerns team pressed higher up the park.
The coach reserved praise for his Man of the Match right back Brendan Shesby, a young player who “looked like he has been a Northerns first team player for years”.
“It was one of those games where we would attack and their goalkeeper would pull off a great stop, and they counter and score on the break,” said Mariuzzi.
“It is disappointing for the lads.
“They did not deserve a 6-1 defeat, because they have been working really hard.
“We will, however, take it on the chin, reflect on our errors and come out positive against a strong Luso Africa side at Northerns, this weekend.”
The second team will kick off at 1.45pm, and the first team game will start at 3.30pm.
