League Play-Off

Athlone
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Maluleke Kekana made the kick off which started today's match. In the 6th minute the ball was on its way in behind Santos FC Cape Town's goalkeeper Hlamane Mandela, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Gruisklip's defense didn't have a chance, in the 15th minute, when Rob Mandla scored to the left of an out of position Bradley Thompson, making the score, 1-0. Rob Mandla who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 23rdth minute tested the skills of Bradley Thompson when he managed to save the team from getting behind. In the 25th minute, Siyabonge Mabele hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Rob Mandla came up free with the goalie in the 29th minute, the Santos FC Cape Town fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Rob Mandla couldn't finish the play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Maluleke Kekana in the 33rd minute of play forced Santos FC Cape Town's goalkeeper Hlamane Mandela to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 34th minute, Rob Mandla got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Rob Mandla was the one to do the kick off. With a little luck, Santos FC Cape Town's Hlamane Mandela got control of the ball when Vuyani Stoltz tried to sneak it across the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Santos FC Cape Town's zone, Vuyani Stoltz stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Hlamane Mandela came out of the goal and Vuyani Stoltz tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Siyabonge Mabele took the ball and in the 61 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Bradley Thompson. Bradley Thompson dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-0. After 66 played minutes Santos FC Cape Town got a freekick which was hit by Thomas Dube. The crowd rose to their feet as Gruisklip's Vuyani Stoltz slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Hlamane Mandela. That made the score 2-1 after 67 minutes of play. In the 76thth minute of the game Maluleke Kekana who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Santos FC Cape Town's Hlamane Mandela was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Leslie Strauss hit a great freekick 77 minutes into the match. With a little luck, Santos FC Cape Town's Hlamane Mandela got control of the ball when Vuyani Stoltz tried to sneak it across the goal line. Bradley Thompson took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rob Mandla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Harry Mayoyo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bradley Thompson having to interfere. When Vuyani Stoltz came up free with the goalie in the 84th minute, the Gruisklip fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Vuyani Stoltz couldn't finish the play. A collision led to Santos FC Cape Town getting a freekick after 85 minutes play. Leslie Strauss hit a great ball. The long shot by Tebogo Tshabalala in the 87th minute really tested Hlamane Mandela's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. In the 90th minute of the match Thomas Dube shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Bradley Thompson showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. 91 minutes into the match, Gruisklip's goal looked a bit too open when Rob Mandla came free, but Bradley Thompson reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rob Mandla in the 95th minute of play forced Gruisklip's goalkeeper Bradley Thompson to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball.