MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Bay Stars Lengthen at Home Unbeaten Streak

By

Nelson Mandela Bay’s hope of long term Premier Soccer League (PSL) participation, Bay Stars, pulled off an exciting 3 – 2 win on Friday night against Tembu Royals at Gelvandale Stadium to ensure that the side’s 100% home record remains intact.

Stars’ Coach Graham Harrison said the standard of the match was high against a classy Tembu Royals.

“The boys managed to keep their cool and clinched the victory with a clinical performance. It showed what a good team we have here with players who gave their all,” Harrison added.

The first half turned out to be a closely contested tussle but both sides could not convert their chances resulting in the sides entering the dressing rooms with the score still 0 – 0.

Stars’ Central Midfielder Leroy van Rensburg worked his magic by outclassing the Tembu Royals defense in the 52nd minute and drew first blood for the home side when the ball rattled the net.

Van Rensburg managed to stretch the lead to 2 – 0 in the 55th minute when he managed once again to slice through the visitors’ defense like a hot knife through butter and warmed the heart of the home fans.

Coach Harrison said the home team suffered a lapse of concentration thereafter leading to Tembu Royals scoring two goals in the 70th and 75th minute.

“Since we could not afford a draw, which seemed unavoidable at that stage, I substituted one of consistent performers John Giannakis with a fresh Farouk Abrahams,” he said.

The fresh legs made the difference when Abrahams managed to get in an excellent cross that gave Right Midfielder Lutho Totwana the opportunity to finish with a header.

The other “Super Friday” clash dished up a surprise as log leader FC Tornado lost against FC Buffalo in their East London derby.

Bay Stars Managing Director Tony Lovegrove described the victory as a sign that the team is capable of providing soccer solutions for the region, with the contest to be log leader in the Eastern Cape leg of the Vodacom League being the first hurdle to overcome in the race to the play-offs.

The following two tabs change content below.

Port Elizabethan

This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.