Junior Pefa clubs in thrilling derby

THE two biggest junior clubs in the PE Football Association stable, Callies and St George’s, faced off in an exciting derby day at Union on Sunday.

Callies drew first blood in the U11A game, winning 1-0 with a goal by Connor Mitchell. The St George’s team had numerous scoring opportunities but failed to capitalise on them.

Callies also took the honours in the B team clash with a 4-1 win.

In the second big game of the day, Callies were again to the fore when they won a close U13A encounter, with Jared Grassow finding the net in a 1-0 victory.

St George’s secured their first win of the day, in the U13B section, beating their rivals 1-0, with the goal coming from the boot of Ayabukwa Mzewuza.

In the U9 division, Callies Bravehearts beat St George’s Cavaliers 3-0, with the B teams – Callies Thistles and St George’s Braves – playing out to a goalless draw.

The A teams battled it out in probably the best U9 game of the season, with St George’s emerging the winners thanks to a first-half goal by Connor Olivier.

A single goal again separated the teams in the U15A division, with St George’s winning 3-2. The match was deadlocked at 2-2 until the last minute when St George’s midfielder Nick Broek showed a burst of speed to capitalise on a loose ball to score the winner.

Athi Komani and Litha Jela scored the other two goals for St George’s.

The Callies U15B team ran away with an easy 7-0 win over their St George’s rivals.

In the final clash of the day, the U17 teams took the field at 3pm under the experienced eye of referee Scott Christie.

St George’s went 1-0 up in the opening minutes after a superb run by right winger Thando Mancam.

Mancam found the net again shortly thereafter to make it 2-0, but Callies pulled one back to go into the break 2-1 down.

The second half was evenly matched until the dying minutes when Sly Njenje scored for St George’s to seal the game 3-1.

Of the 10 matches played, St George’s won four, Callies won five, and there was one draw

In other games, a gutsy Hearts U17 team came from 2-0 down at the break against unbeaten KwaDwesi All Stars to win 3-2.

Tai Jensen and Ndibulele Zola scored for Hearts, while the last-minute winner came from the boot of Cuan Kingwill. Onwabile Jongikhaya and Lufezo Zolelo scored for KwaDwesi.

NMMU U15 produced a fine display in a goalfest at the Missionvale campus, beating KwaDwesi 6-3. KwaDwesi’s Sibusiso Jaxa notched his third hat-trick of the season.