By GAVIN VAN ROOYEN
Cambridge United FC defied all odds when they held the East London Central premier league champions Riverside to a 1-1 draw on Sunday at the North End stadium in their premier league encounter.
For once this season Kelly Smith’s blue and whites were unable to get out of their starting blocks and were made to rue missed chances when Cambridge United’s striker Vinay Vaaltyn struck in the 36th minute.
With time running out, Riverside were able to pull one back courtesy of Mongameli Magqabi but it was a little too late.
Parkridge-based Swaraj took full advantage of Riverside’s setback when they humbled Brothers of Peace 3-0 to move to the top of the premier league log standings.
Swaraj ace striker Angel Snyman marked his return to form with the opener and two killer strikes from the in-form Renaldo Joubert settled matters.
Seagulls kept their title aspirations alive after they crushed Conquerors 8-0 with Bevlin Willard (2), Alrico Sandt, Marco van Wyk and Allistar Visagie (2), doing the scoring.
Third-placed Star of India locked horns with Pride of India on Sunday in their Braelyn derby encounter knowing that dropping points at this juncture could prove fatal in their title quest. Prior to this encounter Star of India had never beaten Pride of India in the East London Central premier league since its inauguration in 2013.
The closest they came was when they played to a 2-2 draw in their first round league tie this season.
It appeared that this sequence would continue when Prides’s Shanley Izally got behind the Stars defence in the 41st minute to net the opener. Stars’ talisman Cuan Benny then levelled matters in the 51st minute and it appeared that the duck would be broken when Benny rifled home his second goal in the 72nd minute to the delight of Star of India supporters.
However, it was not to be after Pride of India’s teenage striker Ronaldo Fray struck with five minutes remaining to grab a share of the spoils for his side.
In the other premier league results veteran Shiloh goalkeeper Augusto van Heerden was in scintillating form as he led his side to a narrow 1-0 win against the luckless Napoli.
East London Central 1st division runaway log-leaders Parkside United are now but two points away from annexing the title after they beat FC East London 2-0. Saints upset Black Birds by the same margin, Millan beat Central United 2-1 and Leeds United picked up an invaluable 2-0 win against Egoli United.
In the East London Central Youth leagues, Buffalo City Soccer School remained on top of the U11 log after they beat Atlantic Spurs 2-0, U13 table-toppers FC East London and Millan played out to a 1-1 draw, U15 front-runners Swaraj suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat to Riverside, U17 log leaders Pride of India recorded a 2-0 win against Riverside and defending U20 champions and current log-leaders Riverside edged Brother of Peace by a 1-0 margin.
United have champs in sweat
Cambridge United FC defied all odds when they held the East London Central premier league champions Riverside to a 1-1 draw on Sunday at the North End stadium in their premier league encounter.
For once this season Kelly Smith’s blue and whites were unable to get out of their starting blocks and were made to rue missed chances when Cambridge United’s striker Vinay Vaaltyn struck in the 36th minute.
With time running out, Riverside were able to pull one back courtesy of Mongameli Magqabi but it was a little too late.
Parkridge-based Swaraj took full advantage of Riverside’s setback when they humbled Brothers of Peace 3-0 to move to the top of the premier league log standings.
Swaraj ace striker Angel Snyman marked his return to form with the opener and two killer strikes from the in-form Renaldo Joubert settled matters.
Seagulls kept their title aspirations alive after they crushed Conquerors 8-0 with Bevlin Willard (2), Alrico Sandt, Marco van Wyk and Allistar Visagie (2), doing the scoring.
Third-placed Star of India locked horns with Pride of India on Sunday in their Braelyn derby encounter knowing that dropping points at this juncture could prove fatal in their title quest. Prior to this encounter Star of India had never beaten Pride of India in the East London Central premier league since its inauguration in 2013.
The closest they came was when they played to a 2-2 draw in their first round league tie this season.
It appeared that this sequence would continue when Prides’s Shanley Izally got behind the Stars defence in the 41st minute to net the opener. Stars’ talisman Cuan Benny then levelled matters in the 51st minute and it appeared that the duck would be broken when Benny rifled home his second goal in the 72nd minute to the delight of Star of India supporters.
However, it was not to be after Pride of India’s teenage striker Ronaldo Fray struck with five minutes remaining to grab a share of the spoils for his side.
In the other premier league results veteran Shiloh goalkeeper Augusto van Heerden was in scintillating form as he led his side to a narrow 1-0 win against the luckless Napoli.
East London Central 1st division runaway log-leaders Parkside United are now but two points away from annexing the title after they beat FC East London 2-0. Saints upset Black Birds by the same margin, Millan beat Central United 2-1 and Leeds United picked up an invaluable 2-0 win against Egoli United.
In the East London Central Youth leagues, Buffalo City Soccer School remained on top of the U11 log after they beat Atlantic Spurs 2-0, U13 table-toppers FC East London and Millan played out to a 1-1 draw, U15 front-runners Swaraj suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat to Riverside, U17 log leaders Pride of India recorded a 2-0 win against Riverside and defending U20 champions and current log-leaders Riverside edged Brother of Peace by a 1-0 margin.
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