‘BARNEY’S HAT-TRICK DESTROYS MANZINI SEA BIRDS

Green Mamba .................(2)5
Banele 2nd, 47th, 59th, Welile 5th, Phinda 75th
Sea Birds .........................(0)1
Mfundo 71st

LOBAMBA – Banele ‘Barney’ Mdluli singlehandedly destroyed his former team, Manzini Sea Birds, when he netted a devastating hat- trick for Correctional Services ensemble Green Mamba in the emphatic 5-1 win yesterday.

The completely one-sided affair was played at Somhlolo National Stdaium. Green Mamba coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati watched gleefully as his charges turned on the magic to dish out their best perfomance of the season.
Green Mamba bounced back in style following the midweek loss to second-placed Mbabane Swallows. Yesterday, they were ruthless and clinical.

Mdluli opened his account as early as the second minute of the clash when he outpaced Zambian defender Alfred Musonda to score with a ground shot past Mlungisi Mamba. It was evident Sea Birds were headed for a torrid afternoon. Three minutes later it was two, as speedy striker Welile Maseko headed home from close range a Lawrence Mncina square ball from the right flank. The game was over as a contest then. Somehow Sea Birds managed to go to the break trailing by the two goals when it could have been worse had Green Mamba not removed the foot from the pedal.

After the break, Green Mamba continued from where they left off and dominated play with ease. Thembinkhosi ‘Mbhedze’ Dlamini was having a field day in the heat of the field, spraying passes all over with precision.
Two minutes after the break, Mdluli scored his second of the day and his team’s third when he latched onto a through ball before firing home with a treacherous ground shot to beat Mamba at the Sea Birds goal posts at his near post.

He was back to complete his hat-trick and crown a memorable afternoon moments later when he netted his team’s fourth. He was allowed to run at the defence, pick his spot and riffle home from close range once again.
Mfundo Zwane pulled one back for Sea Birds with about 19 minutes left of play remaining. It did not help matters, as four minutes later Phinda ‘Phindrix’ Dlamini made it five for the green and white side.



He unleashed a hissing grass cutter, which Mamba at Sea Birds goal posts could only watch as the ball rattled the corner of the net.
Sea Birds probably thanked the referee for blowing for fulltime, as Green Mamba threatened with each passing minute.
Sea Birds remain trapped in the relegation murky waters.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: