KPFC is back on track after their first loss in almost a year

After suffering their first defeat since May 7 last year by 2-1 against Olympia last week, Kempton Park Football Team’s first team roared back to winning ways with a comprehensive 4-0 defeat of a decent Germiston side on Saturday.

Euclid Palmer opened the scoring when, 10 minutes in, he gathered the ball on the right-hand side, easily beat a floundering defender and calmly slid the ball into the bottom right-hand side of the net.

Kempton continued to dominate possession without making many clear-cut chances but they were never in danger of conceding as any Germiston progress was easily blotted out by the imperious Kempton midfield.

Palmer whizzed a ball wide and Rudolph Komape contrived to balloon the ball over when it seemed easier to score. In one of the best moves of the day, involving no less than 16 passes, Kempton was denied by the linesman’s flag when they finally finished off an amazing move from left back to right wing via almost every player in the side.

Germiston came out for the second half in a more determined mood and for the first time in the game, the reds found themselves under some pressure.

Michael Ntsiro made a last ditch tackle to concede a corner on the Kempton left which led to four consecutive corners being flown into the back post. Somehow, Kempton kept their nerve and managed to deal with the pressure.

At the other end, it was turning into the Euclid Palmer Show. An incredibly mazy run down the left allowed him to cut into the box and lay on a perfect centre for Komape, who was able to finish into an empty net from six yards out.

The Germiston defence decided the only way to stop Palmer was to hack him down and with little protection from the referee, they proceeded to do so.

However, after Palmer was clattered for the umpteenth time, Grant Terrey whipped in a free kick from the left which was parried by the goalkeeper only for Palmer to be in the ideal position to whack the ball home.

Palmer was rampant and he twisted and turned beyond four clueless defenders before having his shot blocked by the fifth. Kempton was now having fun and with Shange, Botopela and Homela in total control of the midfield, there was time for more drama.

Palmer flew down the left into the penalty area and only a desperate lunge would stop him. Unfortunately for the defender, he made no contact with the ball and a penalty was awarded.

This infuriated two of the Germiston players so much that they began to abuse the referee verbally. Two red cards were shown and eventually the players trudged off.

Palmer stepped up to complete his hat-trick but fired straight at the keeper. But the linesman had his flag raised and had spotted a Germiston player encroaching in the area. Penalty to be retaken.

The second time round Palmer made no mistake, side-footing the ball high into the left hand roof of the net. The final whistle blew shortly after and it was a job well done. Kempton Park is away at League leaders Old Bens on Saturday.

The Kempton Park second team remained unbeaten after an uncomplicated 2-0 win over their Germiston rivals.

Kempton made all the running in the first half without success and the poor finishing that had marred their 3-1 win over Olympia the previous week was well in evidence.

After a goalless first half, Kempton took the lead when a corner was floated into the back post and headed back across the area only to be half cleared by the Germiston defence and for Andy Ngangeli to latch on to and drive the ball high into the net.

Chance after chance was butchered before Vinny took possession near the halfway line and attacked the opposition’s defence. He scooped the ball over a pair of mesmerised defenders and drove into the penalty area before firing indecisively from twelve yards out.

The third team made it a senior treble with a 4-1 win in Easterns Division 2 over Benoni Northerns. Goals from Anele, Chris Ngalalume, Andrew Shabalala and Phiwe Sithole made it two wins out of two after last weeks 2-0 over World Net.