Table-toppers draw with Old Bens at Currin Park
Fresh off their victory against Alberton the weekend prior, Old Bens Football Club’s Senior Super League team were hoping to continue their winning ways when they welcomed league leaders Randburg to Currin Park on Saturday.
Not only did coach Raymond Cloete’s men have to contend with the threat brought about by the table-toppers but they also had to deal with a strong wind that was howling over the field.
Bens had the wind behind them in the first half, which gave the team the opportunity to pin their opponents in their own half.
Cloete’s team scored with about 10 minutes remaining in the first stanza to go 1-0 up at the break.
Sifundo “Miri” Sibanyoni found the back of the net for Bens.
“We knew the wind would assist them in the second half and it did,” said Jethson Cloete, assistant coach and player.
“We managed to survive until about the 85th minute when a good strike from left midfield saw the back of the net.
“Their equaliser made the last few minutes of the game extremely nervy and on edge but we kept our defense tight and managed to walk away with a 1-1 result.
“We had an opportunity in about the 65th minute that should have been converted but the intense wind gusting made the volley a lot more difficult and the midfielder shot the ball past the upright.
“They had some chances too, but I think both teams were happy to walk away with a point each.”
• Meanwhile, Benoni Northerns Football Club’s (BNFC) first team traveled to Balfour Park to play Highlands Park on Saturday.
They remained in third position on the league table after a 2-2 draw.
The draw keeps them one point above rivals Old Bens, although BNFC have played two more matches than Bens.
BNFC’s first side and reserves played Olympia and Old Bens respectively in ELFA Cup semi-finals in Kempton Park on Tuesday night.
Coach Jannie van den Berg’s first XI beat Olympia 1-0 to advance to the final of the cup while the BNFC reserves lost 2-0 to their Benoni rivals.
BNFC will host second-placed Luso Africa in the league at Northern Areas on Saturday, September 2.
The reserves will open proceedings at 1.45pm followed by the first team clash at 3.30pm.
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