‘WESLIANS’ CLOSER TO DROP ZONE

(At Mavuso Sports Centre)
Young Buffaloes........... (1)3
Sandile 15th, 88th, Ndoda 57th
Manzini Wanderers..... (0)0

MANZINI – A Sandile Gamedze-inspired Young Buffaloes shot down a listless Manzini Wanderers here yesterday.

Gamedze fired a brace while Ndoda Mthethwa punished his former employers to ensure they maintained the second spot with a clean sheet. They are now on 28 points, just three behind log leaders Green Mamba, who were held by strugglers Matsapha United. The victory for the army side was a proper send-off for the late marketing officer Zanele Magagula whose moment of silence was observed before the start of the game.

For the hub giants, it was more misery as they were pushed closer to the relegation trap door. They are now only a point above the drop zone with 12 points. New coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati is searching for his first goal and win since coming on board. He was booted out of the Ingwenyama Cup last 16 in his first official game following a 0-2 loss to Royal Leopard and the army side further aggravated the situation.

Both teams started brightly but it was Buffaloes who drew the first blood.
Sandile Gamedze headed home from a Fanele ‘Order’ Mamba throw-in on the right flank to beat goalkeeper Ramanus Igidimba in the quarter-hour mark.
New Nigerian signee Ugochukwu Ohakwe won the ‘Weslians’ loyalists’ hearts in the first 20 minutes as he had two shots on target. In the 16th minute he fired a ground shot but Buffaloes goalkeeper Nhlanhla Gwebu was superb between the sticks.In the 20th minute, Ohakwe almost equalised for the hub giants but his rasping shot went inches off the post.

The army side almost doubled their advantage in the 35th minute through ‘Order’. He received a defence freezing pass from Ndoda but Igidimba was quick as he came out of his box and cleared the dangerous ball before ‘Order’ could tap it in.
The Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati could have restored parity in the 41st minute but Makhosi Mthethwa’s header went over the crossbar.

agony

Mcebo Mdluli watch in agony as his ground shot from the left flank missed the target by inches in the 48th minute.
The Dominic Kunene-led charges made it 2-0 three minutes before the hour-mark. It was Ndoda who benefitted from a goalmouth scramble. He rattled a cracker that went past Igidimba and rested at the top right corner of the net.

Ohakwe was fouled on the edge of the box by Sibonelo Sibandze in the 16 minutes from time and Willie Ekwe almost converted from the free kick but Nhlanhla Gwebu parried the ball for a fruitless corner.
 Sandile completed his brace with just two minutes to spare. He benefitted from Banele Mkhabela rebound to bury the ball into the net.

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