KPFC rakes in another win
As in the previous week, it was 3-0 in under 20 minutes
THE Kempton Park Football Club’s First team continued its great run with a relatively simple 5-2 victory over Corinthians on Saturday.
Injuries, no shows and work commitments meant that regular first teamers Waren Gardner, Dion Homela, Colin Mahova, Owen Hartridge, Zivai Verenga and Byron Jarmen were not available for this super league tie.
Their stand-ins did not disappoint and three points were bagged once more.
Kempton were off to the best possible start when, straight from the kick-off, Euclid Palmer ripped through the Corinthians defence before seeing his strike deflected out for a corner. The resulting set piece, taken by Grant Terrey, flashed across the six-yard box at waist height and went flying into the net by way of a defender’s shin.
Five minutes later it was 2-0 when Nathi Shange exchanged passes with Humphrey Botopelo and easily rounded the goalie before sliding the ball inside the right-hand post.
As in the previous week, it was 3-0 in under 20 minutes. Shange finished well after a delightful passing move involving Ociano Pretorius, Didi Kasalu and the ever rampaging Palmer.
The Kempton players seemed to think they had done enough and chances were squandered by Mike Lemphale, Kasalu and Palmer. The boys in red came to regret their profligacy when a speculative Corinthians cross was only half cleared by a hitherto untroubled Dean Workman punch and ended up being knocked into the goal by the studs of an onrushing striker.
On a rare sortie into the Kempton half, Corinthians were awarded the softest of free kicks just outside the 18-yard box. The ball was floated in and a melee of legs and bodies attempted to clear and score before a Corinthians player, who seemed very offside, contrived to prod it home to reduce the deficit to one.
Kempton continued to dominate and scored just before half-time when Grant Terrey placed a perfectly struck free kick over the defensive wall and into the top right-hand corner of the goal.
The second half was all Kempton but the finishing was poor. A great Palmer cross from the right put Kasalu in but he blasted over. Botopelo fired straight at the keeper when he should have done better.
Palmer himself missed a one-on-one with the goalkeeper before another one of his marauding runs ended with him being smashed to the ground by an obviously frustrated full-back who had been given a torrid afternoon by the Kempton wing man. There was some debate over whom should take the resulting penalty and eventually it was agreed that as Shange was on a hat-trick, he should.
He fired to his right but the keeper made a spectacular save. However, the officials ruled he had moved early and the spot kick was to be retaken.
This time, Zuks Bahlakazi stepped up and speared his shot to the goalkeeper’s right with the same result. This time an incredible two-handed save was produced.
Kempton continued to dominate and when substitute Skillo Ditshego latched onto a Pretorius pass, cut inside the penalty area, feigned to cross and ultimately blasted in, it was no less than Kempton deserved.
The second team were awarded a 2-0 walkover as Corinthians were unable to field a team.
The Kempton third side finished their Easterns Local League Division 1 campaign with a creditable 2-2 draw with league champions Golden Lions. They play the same team in the cup semi-final on Saturday in Germiston.
The Kempton super league side will play Germiston at Delville on Saturday.
