KPFC first team at top of log after draw against Randburg
The second half was played at a breathtaking pace with the cool weather allowing players to recover quicker
Kempton Park Football Club’s first team played to a 2-2 draw on Saturday against last season’s super league champions Randburg at Randburg Sports Complex.
It was heartbreak for Kempton, who had been excellent all afternoon. Randburg celebrated like they had won the World Cup.
However, it was not all in vain though, as Kempton’s point ensured they went top of the league after their three games, overtaking early front runners, Old Bens, who lost at home to Luso.
Both sides were playing fine football with the ball rarely being hoofed forward but played stylishly out from the back.
Euclid Palmer broke the deadlock midway through the first half when a passing move involving Grant Terrey and Dion Homela set him free down the left. He almost arrogantly outpaced the centre back before placing his shot beyond the Randburg goalie and inside the right upright.
Randburg responded with a myriad attacks. Wave after wave of blue was repulsed by the sturdy Kempton defence. Centre back Quenn Hartridge cleared umpteen crosses and’keeper Cosway saved brilliantly at his near post when Randburg looked certain to score.
After surviving unscathed for about 15 minutes, Kempton doubled their lead. Humphrey Botopela controlled the ball superbly in the centre circle before sending goal machine Palmer on his way. As usual, the ball was on a string with Palmer in possession and he gracefully placed it underneath the Randburg goalkeeper who made a valiant but ultimately fruitless attempt to dispossess him.
There was a chance to make it three before half time but a Botopela free kick was driven straight into the’keeper’s midriff.
On the stroke of half time, key defensive midfielder Homela went off with a rib injury which was ultimately to undermine Kempton’s defensive capacity with his steady play key in the Kempton middle.
The second half was played at a breathtaking pace with the cool weather allowing players to recover quicker. The standard of the football was scintillating and the pace unrelenting.
Randburg pulled a goal back when confusion between Terrey and Hartridge allowed Randburg to fire home and halve the deficit.
At the other end, Palmer tore away from his defender, flicked the ball past the goalie and was hauled down. Incredibly, the referee, who performed erraticly all day, awarded a goal kick. Kempton could not believe their ill fortune and Randburg could not believe their luck.
Kempton created another golden chance when a deep cross from Terrey found Thango at the back post but his wild shot flew nearer the clubhouse than the net.
Warren Gardner came on late for Palmer and almost set up Stevens with a great cushion pass but he failed to control and the chance went begging.
Deep into injury time, Kempton failed to clear down the left and the ball was swung across their penalty area. There was a swing and a miss from both sides but the ball finally fell to a Randburg player who rolled it home to equalise.
Man of the match was Quenn Hartridge.
The reserve team produced an amazing performance to earn a 1-1 draw against a Randburg team who had won the reserve league four seasons in a row. In the previous 10 years, Kempton have not earned a single point against their esteemed opponents but perhaps the tide is turning.
Kempton were off to the worst of starts when a first minute free kick was launched into the penalty area and keeper Dean Workman produced a great parry only to see the ball spinning away from him and towards the goal.
He desperately scrambled across his line and seemed to have it under control when striker Mullet flew in and kicked the ball out of his hands and into the goal. Not for the last time on the day were Kempton dumbfounded as the referee awarded the goal.
Kempton equalised in the second half when Sandile Gamede drove a long free kick into the box which was flicked onto the crossbar by Rudolph Komape. Sheldon Stevens was the first to react to the rebound and he easily headed past the hapless Randburg keeper.
A draw at Randburg is always a fine result and Kempton lie fourth on the table.
Kempton host Benoni Northerns on Saturday with the reserves kicking off at 1.45pm and the first teams starting at 3.30pm.
