Tough encounter for Northerns
Highlands Park defeated Benoni Northerns FC 2-1 on Saturday, July 27.
It was always going to be a difficult assignment for Benoni Northerns Football Club’s first team,when they met Highlands Park FC, in a top-of-the-table clash, at Northern Areas, on Saturday, July 27.
Northerns were six points behind the table-toppers in the ELFA Super League Seniors Division One at the start of the match, and were hoping to defeat their opponents and make up some much needed ground.
A good size home support gathered at the club to cheer on the Benoni team and, when the match kicked off, it was the away side that made most of the attacks and had the early chances with a number of shots that went astray.
At about the 20-minute mark, Highlands Park’s striker managed to break the Northerns’ defence and knock the ball past goalkeeper Daniel de Abreu.
The opposition dominated the play for most of the first half and played some silky football at times.
The teams went into the halftime break with Northerns 1-0 down.
It was hearts in mouths time for the Northerns faithful when the ball was cleared off the goal line from a Highlands Park shot about eight minutes into the second half.
Northerns nearly bagged an equaliser when a Brogan Shrimpton effort sailed over the crossbar.
The job got even tougher for Gordon Brown’s men when Highlands Park scored a headed goal from a corner to take the score to 2-0.
There was hope for Northerns in the 83rd minute, when Graham Turnbull got a goal back.
The team threw everything at their opposition in the last minutes, but it was Highlands Park who secured the all-important three points, which almost certainly guarantees them first place in the league.
First team coach Flavio Mariuzzi said, after the game, that it was an unfortunate result, but the team with the better chances won on the day.
“It was a very good game between two quality teams and although we are disappointed to lose we will pick our heads up for the next fixture,” he said.
The first team’s next encounter will be away, against Luso Africa, on Saturday, August 3, with kick-off at 3.30pm.
