Bens put up cup fight

The last 16 of the ELFA Super League Cup kicked off this weekend, and Super League Seniors Division Two league leaders Old Bens met Super League Division One’s Alberton Football Club on Saturday, June 28.

The Bens’ first XI put up a strong contest against their much-fancied opponents, at Currin Park, and although they were eliminated from the Cup with a 3-2 loss, their coach, Ray Cloete, was pleased with the performance against a stronger outfit.

It was Bens who would gain the upper hand in the early stages of proceedings, when a well directed Jethson Cloete free kick cross found the head of Eduardo Mendes, to give the team a one-goal lead.

Alberton hardly had a sniff at the home team’s goal, as Old Bens did most of the attacking in the early period of the game.

This attacking approach from Cloete’s team, however, gave the Alberton players the opportunity to counter-attack through long balls over the top of the Bens defence, that would eventually result in an equaliser for the visitors, courtesy of an exquisite shot that beat goalkeeper Matthew Carter and sailed into the top left corner of his net.

The teams would go into the half time break all-square at 1-1.

The Alberton team seemed to make the most of their break and came out strongly in the second period, scoring two goals to take the score to 3-1.

This score line would never be an easy to task to overcome and Bens upped the pressure in the latter stages.

Mendes would again get his name onto the score sheet, from a low free kick that burst through the defensive wall and took the sides to the eventual final score of 3-2.

Despite the loss, Cloete was positive about what he had seen on the pitch.

“It was a very good game,” he said.

“We had our chances and had most of the possession, but did not finish well.”

He added that the Man of the Match for the game was central defender Kagiso “Gee” More, who had a decent day at the back.

The coach was a little displeased with the fact that the match referee and an assistant referee did not pitch for the encounter.

The one linesman who did pitch had to officiate at the game and Cloete felt that one of the goals his team conceded may not have stood for what he feels was a push on a Bens player.

The City Times has since sent a request for comment to the ELFA on the refereeing issue.