Mamale grabs hat-trick as derby ends in thrilling draw
He scored a brace in the first-half and completed his hat-trick from the spot in the second-half.
Lebo Mamale bagged a hat-trick as Benoni Northerns came from behind to draw 4-4 with Old Bens in a pulsating Benoni derby at Currin Park on March 16.
Mamale’s three goals came after Jayden Prinsloo, Daniel Dyson and a brace from Lerumo Matsipa had fired the hosts into a 4-2 lead going into the break in front of a boisterous home crowd.
The Northerns star-man had a hand in all his team’s goals as he also landed an assist to Nicholas Farinha’s strike, while Matsipa and Prinsloo played a starring role for Old Bens with clever movement and runs off the ball that created lots of problems for the Northerns defence.
The match lived up to its billing as the most anticipated game in the Eastern Super League. It produced fireworks from the first to the final whistle, leaving the fans on the edge of their seats.
But Old Bens have themselves to blame for allowing their opponents to come back into the game after racing into an early 2-0 lead through Prinsloo and Matsipa.
Prinsloo fired the hosts in front after pouncing on a ball parried by keeper Cole Simpson and Matsipa made it two with a tap-in from Prinsloo’s cross.
Mamale pulled one back for Northerns with a spectacular shot from outside the area. He pounced on a header from Farinha after the striker did the scavenger’s work when he dispossessed his marker. The loose ball fell to him and he unleashed a thunderbolt, beating the keeper on his right.
The talisman equalised for his team after receiving a through ball from Sipho Pooe, who spotted him making a run on the blindside.
Pooe laid the ball perfectly on his path and Mamale shielded his marker to steer in past the keeper, making it 2-2.
The hosts took the lead through Dyson, who scored with a low finish from close range after capitalising on a defensive mix-up inside the Northerns box.
Matsipa grabbed his brace when he tapped in Prinsloo’s cross. The Old Bens marksman came with the ball on the right and with the away side’s players ball watching, he crossed to Matsipa and the forward beat his marker to make it 4-2.
Comeback
Andrew Kelly’s side remained patient in the second half, dominated possession and were eventually rewarded with Mamale again proving how indispensable he is for Northerns.
Substitute Sonnyboy Mkhwanazi made a crucial block just outside the Northerns box. He advanced and launched a quick counter after spotting Mamale unmarked on the right.
Mamale pushed the ball once, lifted his head and crossed to Farinha who scored with a neat strike to reduce the deficit.
They had a penalty appeal turned down after a Bens defender handled in the area but that didn’t dampen their spirits as Mamale completed his hat-trick and his team’s comeback from the spot after James Kgeteke was fouled inside the box.
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