Smashing win for Richards Bay FC

HAVING clearly dominated for an hour but finding themselves trailing 1-0, Richards Bay FC kept plugging away until the dam wall caved in and they grabbed a 2-1 win over TS Sporting at the uMhlathuze Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Bay boys played some exquisite football in the first half, stringing together passes and combinations that delighted an appreciative home crowd that is steadily growing thanks to the NFD and Nedbank Cup performances.

But although possession was hugely in their favour, shots were few and far between. Sporting had done their homework and were giving no room for the speedy Siyanda Ngubo to do his thing up front.

Moegamat Bernard roamed free on the left side and was causing havoc for the defenders until his untimely departure from the pitch after an injury.

However, he was replaced by the ice cool Lionel Saal, who put in a superb shift from the right flank, whipping in crosses at pace that had the visitors in panic.

Both the first goals were scrappy, TS Sporting getting theirs midway through the second half after the ball bobbled all over in the box (1-0).

NRB’s equaliser soon after was almost a carbon copy, with Sandile Mthethwa putting in the final touch after another fragmented passage of play in the visitors’ box.

The rain was pelting down in the last quarter, as were Richards Bay as they bombarded their opponents’ goalmouth.

The winner had to come and it did courtesy of a Saal and Paseka Sekese build-up that resulted in the ball being barely cleared out the box.

It rolled to Mike Gumede and the on-form marksman hammered it hard and low to send the fans into raptures and allow long-suffering coach Brandon Truter again to breathe properly.

Three valuable points earned, a home win at last and a climb to fifth spot on the NFD log.

The NRB boys are on a roll; long may it continue.