The first Benoni football derbies of the season between Old Bens and Benoni Northerns football clubs were played at Currin Park on February 3.
The Eastern Local Football Association’s (ELFA) pre-season Senior Super League and Super Reserve League Top Eight competition kicked-off over the weekend with the first and reserve team coaches from both local clubs getting a chance to blood new players and try out new tactics.
A good crowd gathered at Old Bens to witness the respective derbies.
The opening derby between coach Dave Clark’s Old Bens Reserve XI and coach Darren Lee’s Northerns Reserve XI ended in a 1-1 draw.
Striker Andrew Welgemoed opened the scoring for Northerns while Bens’ Daniel Dyson found the equaliser for Bens.
The first team match-up between coach Raymond Cloete’s Old Bens First XI and coach Jannie van den Berg’s Northerns ended in a 2-1 victory for the hosts.
Frequent goal scorer Lesiba Modau opened the scoring for the hosts in the first half before Northerns’ youngster Matthew Welgemoed had a sublimely struck direct free kick disallowed by the referee who indicated that he had signaled for an indirect free kick.
Soon into the second stanza Kwanda Sokutu found himself on the end of a Dylan Nienaber header to find an equaliser for Northerns.
Bens eventually got the lead through their new striker to ensure pre-season bragging rights.
Both coaches were relaxed post-game, stressing that the match was just a good chance to assess the player options available to them.
“I thought it was pretty even,” said Cloete.
“Both sides had some good chances that they didn’t finish.
“Our goalkeeper had two great saves one-on-one and their keeper had the same.
“We weren’t at full strength and I know Northerns weren’t at full strength either, but it was good pre-season training.”
Cloete added that his goal for the team this season is to improve on their fifth place finish from last year.
“We want to finish in the top three of the Super League, but at the moment we are not quite there.
“It is something we will work towards as we build up towards the league campaign.”
Van den Berg echoed his coaching counterpart’s sentiment.
“We didn’t take the match too seriously and used it as a good platform to try out a few new guys in the team.
“The game was played in a good spirit and could have gone either way.”
He said that Northerns too would like a top three finish or better in the Super League.
“We strive for the best, but obviously each year offers different challenges.
“We seem to have more stability in the squad at this stage of the year as opposed to last with good quality in the ranks.”
Northerns will host Kempton Park in their next ELFA Top Eight Pool B encounter on February 10.
The Reserve XI will open proceedings at 1.45pm followed by the first team clash at 3.30pm.
Old Bens will travel to Alberton.
PREVIOUS ARTICLES:
Old Bens, Northerns collide in day of Benoni Derby draws (full report)
Follow us on these platforms:
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp: 079 431 1217
Instagram: benonicitytimes.co.za
