Saints share masters honours with visitors after weekend games

HONOURS were shared in the masters soccer match between northern areas outfit Saints and Wynberg visitors Battswood in Gelvandale at the weekend.

Two matches were played at the Saints field as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations.

Legends of the past under the auspices of the SA Soccer Federation took the field on Friday evening and in the return fixture on Saturday.

With most of the players well over 50, the body may have been weak but the spirit was more than willing.

On Friday, the local boys beat the visitors 2-0, with both goals coming in the first half.

Saints were the first to strike when the burly Keith Assam proved that he had not lost any of his wizardry and set up Nagieb Lagerdien for a 1-0 lead.

Midway in the half, good combination between Ralton Potgieter and Aldridge Hop Hing saw Hing make the score 2-0.

After the break, coach Bravo Jacob made several changes, which seemed to upset the Saints’ rhythm and allowed the visitors into the game.

Battswood dominated the second half and could have shared the honours.

Mark Orgill in particular was unlucky to hit the woodwork with Saints goalkeeper Leon Fick well beaten.

In the return match on Saturday, the visitors won 1-0 after a brilliant solo effort by Rushdie Dyson, who rounded Saville Kops to beat Ambrose Paulson with a low shot into the corner.

Saints battled gamely for the equaliser but Battswood held on.

In the end, the final whistle came as a relief for both teams as playing two matches within 24 hours took its toll on ageing legs.

“It was a nostalgic weekend,” event organiser Graeme Harrison said.

“It was great to meet and play with and against guys after more than three decades. In the end, camaraderie and friendship were the winners.”