Tough break for Newcastle Ladies

Sibusiso Mdlalose

Newcastle Ladies squandered a chance to stay atop the South African Football Association (SAFA) KwaZulu-Natal Sasol League’s Inland Stream last Sunday.

Instead, the team played to a goalless draw against Durban University of Technology (DUT) Midlands at the Arbor Park grounds.

Newcastle Ladies needed nothing but a straight win in Sunday’s clash.

This would have boosted its chances of toppling the Inland Stream, and potentially competing at the provincial play-offs in November.

Both Newcastle and DUT are left with two matches to play this season.

However, Sunday’s clash was basically a decider for the Inland Stream, as current log leaders, DUT needed only a draw to extend its gap atop the log.

Performance-wise, the match could have gone to either team.

Both sides created a number of scoring chances, but failed to convert from in front of the goals, with the time side enjoying the upper hand in the second half.

DUT assistant coach, Zithulele Ndawonde was in a buoyant mood after Sunday’s encounter.

Insisting his side stood a good chance of going to the provincial play-offs, he said, “We needed nothing but a draw in this match. I’m happy we managed to achieve our objective, but it is still not over yet; there are still two matches to play, but the result against a formidable side like Newcastle Ladies is what we needed.”

Ladies’ coach, Max Mpungose expressed optimism in the face of adversity.

“Though a draw was not a positive result for us, we have not yet thrown in the towel. We are prepared to fight until the bitter end in these remaining two matches.”

Mathematically, DUT stands a better chance of ending as log leaders.

While both DUT and Newcastle Ladies need to win the two remaining matches, the oSizweni-based side must hope DUT cannot muster any further victories.

DUT leads log standings with 19 points, two points clear of Ladies in the Inland Stream.

Other weekend games saw Tottenham Ladies crush Simunye Ladies by seven goals to nil, in another thrilling Inland Stream encounter.

In the Coastal Stream, Tiger Girls thumped KwaMashu Ladies 5-0, Galaxy Ladies beat Ntuzuma Ladies 3-1 and Remax Shooting Stars were edged out by Durban Ladies, 0-1.