Flawless Old Bens thrash Northerns

Old Bens piled more misery on Benoni Northerns after condemning their bitter rivals to their fourth straight defeat in the Easterns Super League on May 7 at Currin Park.

Bens claimed the bragging rights in the Benoni derby, thrashing Northerns 4-1.

The game began slowly with both sides feeling each other in the opening stages. But Bens’ superiority in Midfield forced Northerns to commit mistakes early on.

Old Bens were awarded a penalty after Bindu Makhesha was fouled in the area. Sheldon Lloyd stepped up but his spot kick was saved by the keeper, who dived to his left to pull off a spectacular save.

That didn’t deter Old Bens as they continued to knock but the Northerns keeper kept them a bay with a string of fine saves.

Northerns left-back Dean Steyn couldn’t deal with Bens winger Kgositsilenala Mogedi’s pace and Old Bens took advantage of that as most of their attacks were launched from that side.

Bens’ dominance was rewarded when Daniel Dyson opened the scoring with a tap in from a cross following a neat interplay on the right.

Until that point, Northerns were organised and were winning most of the duels in midfield but Dyson’s goal disintegrated them.

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Moments later, Travis McMean jumped the highest to make it two with a header from a set piece on the right.

Bens continued to pile the pressure and on the stroke of half-time, Makhesha thought he had made three but his goal was disallowed by the referee.

The game went into the break with Northerns trailing by two goals.

The second stanza began at a high tempo with Old Bens exerting more pressure on the Northerns defence.

The relentless Bens continued to surge forward and caught Northerns napping when Makhesha capitalised on a mistake by Steyn to increase the lead.

Steyn attempted to clear the ball but his miskick fell on the path of Makhesha who steered the ball to the far post to make it three.

That goal unsettled Northerns as their frustrations grew. They had themselves to blame as mistakes in midfield and miscommunication between the keeper and his defence played into the hands of the Old Bens attack.

The Bens goalkeeper was a spectator for most of the second half but he imposed himself well whenever called into action.

Against the run of play, Northerns were awarded a penalty after a Bens defender handled the ball inside the box. Calvin Ntsieng sent the keeper the wrong way to score the consolation goal.

Old Bens responded immediately when substitute Fabio de Freitas made it four with a header to rub salt into Northerns’ wound.

Bens increased their lead atop the Super League standings and what a better way to do it than against their local rivals whose last league win was in March.

The Old Bens reserves beat Northerns 2-0 with Khopotso Kholoane and Kaylem Jordaan grabbing the goals.

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