‘Sundowns’ fail to impress as they head for the drop

BOTTOM feeders of the Safa SAB Regional League Hartswater’s Bonita Sundowns made a lame attempt at digging themselves out of the basement of the log as Cosmos West trounced them 4-1 at the Galeshewe stadium yesterday.

The game was a decidedly onesided affair as Sundowns put up token resistance against Cosmos’ attacks. The Hartswater team has the ambition to be in the fourth tier league but is desperately in need of a big dose of technical and tactical know-how.

Bonitas did at times dish up real nuggets, indicating what could be an above-average team with some proper guidance.

The final whistle, when it came, was a great relief from watching the mess they were making of the beautiful game and subjecting the few followers on the stands to a dreary display of football 101.

The match result seals Bonitas’ fate at the bottom of the log as they are definitely candidates for the local football association ranks in their districts come next season.

The follow-up game between Cosmos West and Ritchie All Stars was just what the doctor ordered.

The teams were level at the first quarter-hour with a goal apiece. The score could have been much higher for either of them had they taken well-placed shots at goal. By then the riverside team seemed to be on the back foot as they frequently had to stave off attacks on their poles by a goal hunting Cosmos strikers.

At one point an All Stars midfielder collected a pass just a inside the attacking half and sprinted towards the Cosmos goal area with a defender on his heels. He unleashed a marvellous shot which whizzed past the outstretched goalkeeper.

Just before the end of the first half, Cosmos midfielder Thapelo Maduwaduwe earned a himself a red card for dissent and had to march off to an early shower.

The game continued with excellent displays of taking pinpoint shots at goal from at least two dead balls by Cosmos. A third from the penalty spot saw Bobby Julius earn himself a brace. He was following the example of Fikile Mangaliso who had opened their account.

The teams went into the break with Cosmos leading 3-1.

All Stars had by then obviously found a plan on how to plug the gap in their defence and score more goals as they found the net twice in the second half and gave the 10-man Cosmos a fretful last period on the field. But luckily for Cosmos they found the match-clinching goal right at the end and sealed the game 4-3.