Reality check for Rich Boyz
NRB pay the price for losing possession too easily
RICHARDS Bay FC shot themselves in the foot in going down 3-1 to Sekhukhune United at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
It was a game the Rich Boyz dominated, but failure to make the most of superior possession, appalling passing inaccuracy and lack of any apparent attacking plan was their triple downfall.
The only bright display was in midfield, but sequences of good interplay did not translate into enough forays into the opponent’s 18-yard area.
Sadly, Sanele Barns had a miserable day by his standards as both he and striker-in-chief
Somila Ntsundwana failed to stamp their authority on the game.
NRB started the match with meaning,
Thabane Dube and Justice Figuareido both having chances in the opening minutes.
However, a thunderous long-range strike from home skipper Linda
Mntambo blasted Sekhukhune in the lead on 12 minutes (0-1).
The Bay side almost equalised shortly before the break when Ntsundwana’s accurate shot was well saved.
Vusimuzi Vilakazi’s troops dominated at the start of the second period and were rewarded when Moses Mthembu let fly from an impossible range and rattled the back of the net to make it 1-1 in the 64th minute.
However, within a minute Salim Magoola in the NRB goals was dubiously deemed to have brought down Mntambo and it was 1-2 from the penalty spot as Chibuike Ohizu did the necessary.
Richards Bay were twice unlucky not to level matters when first a shot was cleared off the line by a defender and then Barns saw his firm strike finger-tipped onto the post before Thulani Gumede then hit one wide. As often happens, the quest to equalise led to vacancies on defence and Thami Masiya bundled in a soft third goal for three points for the Hedgehogs. Unless the postponed Polokwane game is factored in somewhere, NRB’s next game will be on 3 March against Royal AM.