League

Louden
Spectators: 8328 (Terracing: 6300, Seating: 1968, VIP seats: 60) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Jikolo Qabi kicked off to start the match. In the 10th minute, Papi Melele made a precise shot to the right of Silas Sibeko. BARKING BEARS's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. BARKING BEARS's Silas Sibeko played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Michael Mothobi in the 19th minute of play. After some careless play in the BARKING BEARS defense, Jikolo Qabi kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Silas Sibeko. The BARKING BEARS fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Silas Sibeko should have stopped the shot. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Jikolo Qabi in the 28th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Silas Sibeko prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Silas Sibeko showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Themba Mangope, who was totally free with the ball in the 36th minute. Papi Melele sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. If Jikolo Qabi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 40th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ricky Mfeke's late challenge caught a Ihluku's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ricky Mfeke helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to BARKING BEARS getting a freekick after 43 minutes play. Ricky Mfeke hit a great ball. 45 minutes into the match, BARKING BEARS's goal looked a bit too open when Jikolo Qabi came free, but Silas Sibeko reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Papi Melele came up free with the goalie in the 48th minute, the Ihluku 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 Papi Melele couldn't finish the play.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Phillip Mokhasi to make the kick off. Silas Sibeko made an important save on a dangerous shot by Michael Mothobi in the 54th minute. Jikolo Qabi struck a weak shot in the 55th minute. Silas Sibeko didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ihluku. Ricky Mfeke sent away a hard shot on goal in the 59th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to BARKING BEARS getting a freekick after 61 minutes play. Jomo Mncube hit a great ball. In the 69th minute, Jikolo Qabi 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. Michael Mothobi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Silas Sibeko having to interfere. Papi Melele had several of the BARKING BEARS's defenders around him in the penalty area when he, after 73 minutes of play, received a pass and succeeded in some way to shoot a shot which went straight ahead into goal. This resulted in a 0-3 score and a disappointed Silas Sibeko as he didn't even see the shot coming. In the 90th match minute, BARKING BEARS was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Oliver Sewele to maneuver through the defense. After having played for 95 minutes, Jikolo Qabi managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ihluku's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jikolo Qabi was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 97th match minute, Ihluku was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Simamane Patel to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 98th minute, Lucky Mkhwanazi managed to get in a good position for a shot. BARKING BEARS's supporters rose to their feet, but Lucky Mkhwanazi was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Siyabonge Ntsume breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When the match was over Ihluku could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than BARKING BEARS throughout the match.