Bens get a point in Edenvale

Edenvale, who were coming off a good last month of football under the guidance of their new coach, Ian Thomson, started well by keeping Old Bens under a great amount of pressure, however, goalkeeper Brendon Senneck, playing his second match during a short return from a spell at the Elite Football Academy, in the United Kingdom, kept a number of good Edenvale chances out.

Eventually, a defensive blunder saw the home team open the scoring, and the first half ended at 1-0 in favour of Edenvale.

In the second half, Old Bens’ coach Raymond Cloete changed his formation to 4-3-3 and this attacking move bore fruit when his men scored a sublime equaliser.

A great cross-come through ball from Ludick Malele found Jethson Cloete, who struck a volley from about 26m out that rocketed into the bottom left corner of the net.

The game was even at this stage and both teams pressed for the winner.

Edenvale eventually took the lead from another close-range effort, but Bens followed suit about 10 minutes later, after a spell of pressure.

Striker Mohammed Brand hit a good, straight shot at the ‘keeper, who could not prevent it from rolling over the goal line.

Coach Cloete was pleased with the result away from home, particularly as a number of players fielded made their debut on Saturday.

The coach was also heavily impressed with young Keagan Bailie, who has fortified Cloete’s central midfield.

His Man of the Match award went to Phokungoane Kgonotso.