With a number of regular players missing from coach Raymond Cloete’s team, due to injuries and fall-outs, it was always going to be a tough one against a side who have been undefeated this season in the 13 matches they had played ahead of this one.
On Youth Day, the Primrose-based visitors continued that unbeaten run with a 2-2 draw against the Benoni team, but they were made to work hard to leave Currin Park with a point.
In a fast-paced first half, it was Bens’ Jethson Cloete who opened the scoring from the penalty spot, after Lesiba Modau was brought down in the area.
This was Cloete’s third goal in as many matches.
Their lead, however, did not last long, as Luso equalised soon after the restart, when a cross from the right found the head of one of their players.
Bens would again gain the advantage when the diminutive left midfielder, Lasego “Wee Man” Mlangeni, controlled the ball with a magnificent touch and chipped the ball over the opponent’s goalkeeper to make it 2-1.
Again, the lead would not last for long, as Luso somehow got their second point with a questionable decision,when the linesman and referee awarded a goal that had seemingly not fully crossed the line, leaving coach Cloete wishing there was goal-line technology at Currin Park.
The teams would go into the halftime break with two apiece.
The second stanza was played in similar fashion to the first, with both sides trying to find that third goal, that would give them the upper hand. This was, however, not to be, as both goalkeepers pulled off some sublime saves.
Bens thought they had scored the winner on a counter attack, but the linesman again made a debatable decision when he ruled offside.
Brandon Senneck, in goals for Old Bens, pulled off a match-saving one-handed stop in virtually the last attack of the encounter, that ensured the point.
He was also named as the Man of the Match.
The draw keeps Cloete’s team in seventh position in the league after 14 games, two ahead of archrivals Benoni Northerns.
Old Bens will, on Saturday, June 20, travel to Delville, to play Germiston City.
