Northerns reserves crush Old Bens in derby
Nkabinde's brace was in between Tshepo Hlalele and Ernest Mlakalaka's strikes as Northerns won convincingly.
Anesu Nkabinde netted a brace to help the Benoni Northerns Football Club (BNFC) reserves to 4-0 derby thrashing of Old Bens reserves on the Manny Ferreirinho main field on September 13.
Tshepo Hlalele opened the scoring before Nkabinde took centre stage with a second half double, while Ernest Mlakalaka capped the contest with a late strike as Northerns ended their brilliant Eastern Super League campaign positively.
Northerns went into the match on the back of a 2-0 defeat to eventual champions, Olympia, last week, while Old Bens also suffered a 1-0 loss to second-placed Impala. But with the derby bragging rights at stake, both teams made their statement early.
They had half chances early on but none troubled the keepers. While the hosts enjoyed the lion’s share, the visitors tried to catch them on the counter, using their wingers.
Northerns got on the scoreboard midway through the first after defender Mbuso Fakude’s clearance found Mlakalaka upfront. The striker drilled a defence-splitting pass to Hlalele, unseen by the two centre-backs, to slot it past the keeper.
The game went into the break with the hosts leading 1-0. They kicked into gear in the second stanza with three unanswered goals to seal the victory.
Old Bens started the half the stronger of the two, with a free-kick just outside the area flying inches above the post.
But Northerns wrestled back the momentum as Nkabinde tapped in a cross from the right, before keeper Hector Makhanya was called into action, jumping above everyone to save an inswinging Old Bens corner.
Moments later, Nkabinde beat the off-side trap, pouncing on a pass from the right, for his second and his team’s third, before Mlakalaka capped off a good afternoon for his club with a late strike.
Northerns finished the season fourth on the log on 53 points from 26 games. They won 16, drew five and lost five. Old Bens were seventh with 31 points – nine wins, four draws and 13 defeats.
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