NRB share the spoils
The first stanza was relatively uneventful, with the many breaks down the right flank by the NRB boys failing to produce any end result
DOWN 1-0 at the break, Richards Bay FC put on a strong second half performance to draw their home fixture against Cape Umoya United at the uMhlathuze Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The first stanza was relatively uneventful, with the many breaks down the right flank by the NRB boys failing to produce any end result.
Richards Bay were playing solid football but lacked penetration and, as is often the case, their territorial dominance was undone in stoppage time when keeper Dumsani Msibi – who otherwise put on a terrific match performance – failed to hold on to a free kick and Ndiviwe Mdabuka was on hand to tap home the loose ball (0-1).
True to form, after the half time dressing room analysis and pep talk, coach Brandon Truter’s charges came out firing in the second period, with the energetic Thabo Maphakisa firing one over the top almost from the restart.
Siyabonga Vilane was winning every long ball in the air and the chances kept coming and going.
Maphakisa sent a screamer just wide of the post but both he and Devon Saal missed a number of chances they could and should have nailed.
Saal was not going to miss the spot kick awarded with 15 minutes left on the clock and he restored parity with ease (1-1).
A brilliant save by Gershin Kock denied Richards Bay the lead, and there was further disappointment for home fans when Vilane burst the back of the net only for the goal to be disallowed for a dubious offside only one official saw.
NRB pushed hard for the winner, as did the Cape visitors, and on reflection the draw was perhaps a fair result for both sides.
With no fixtures this weekend owing to the international break, Richards Bay will resume their NFD action away to TX Galaxy on 15 September.
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