Grocott's Mail
  • NEWS
    • Courts & Crime
    • Features
    • Politics
    • People
    • Health & Well-being
  • SPORT
    • News
    • Results
    • Sports Diary
    • Club Contacts
    • Columns
    • Sport Galleries
    • Sport Videos
  • OPINION
    • Election Connection
    • Makana Voices
    • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
    • Newtown… Old Eyes
    • Incisive View
    • Your Say
  • ARTSLIFE
    • Cue
    • Makana Sharp!
    • Visual Art
    • Literature
    • Food & Fun
    • Festivals
    • Community Arts
    • Going Places
  • OUR TOWN
    • What’s on
    • Spiritual
    • Emergency & Well-being
    • Safety
    • Civic
    • Municipality
    • Weather
    • Properties
      • Grahamstown Properties
    • Your Town, Our Town
  • OUTSIDE
    • Enviro News
    • Gardening
    • Farming
    • Science
    • Conservation
    • Motoring
    • Pets/Animals
  • ECONOMIX
    • Business News
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Personal Finance
  • EDUCATION
    • Education NEWS
    • Education OUR TOWN
    • Education INFO
  • Covid-19
  • EDITORIAL
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • In the words of Nelson Mandela, “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity”
  • Flooding at the James Kleynhans Water Treatment Works
  • Avbob 2023 Poetry Competition Second Place: Jeannie Wallace McKeown
  • Avbob 2023 Poetry Competition Winner: Sithembele Isaac Xhegwana
  • Residents of Extensions Nine, 10, Transit Camp, Phumlani and Enkanini voice discontent!
  • Makhanda Creatives Speak Out
  • Running towards a drug and alcohol-free Makhanda
  • What’s On 23 – 30 March
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Grocott's Mail
  • NEWS
    • Courts & Crime
    • Features
    • Politics
    • People
    • Health & Well-being
  • SPORT
    • News
    • Results
    • Sports Diary
    • Club Contacts
    • Columns
    • Sport Galleries
    • Sport Videos
  • OPINION
    • Election Connection
    • Makana Voices
    • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
    • Newtown… Old Eyes
    • Incisive View
    • Your Say
  • ARTSLIFE
    • Cue
    • Makana Sharp!
    • Visual Art
    • Literature
    • Food & Fun
    • Festivals
    • Community Arts
    • Going Places
  • OUR TOWN
    • What’s on
    • Spiritual
    • Emergency & Well-being
    • Safety
    • Civic
    • Municipality
    • Weather
    • Properties
      • Grahamstown Properties
    • Your Town, Our Town
  • OUTSIDE
    • Enviro News
    • Gardening
    • Farming
    • Science
    • Conservation
    • Motoring
    • Pets/Animals
  • ECONOMIX
    • Business News
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Personal Finance
  • EDUCATION
    • Education NEWS
    • Education OUR TOWN
    • Education INFO
  • Covid-19
  • EDITORIAL
Grocott's Mail
You are at:Home»SPORT»News»Home side thrills to clinch place in final
News

Home side thrills to clinch place in final

Grocott's Mail ContributorsBy Grocott's Mail ContributorsDecember 30, 2018Updated:December 30, 2018No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Semifinal Grahamstown United (yellow) vs Zwide Pirates JD Dlephu Stadium Friday 28 December 2018 - New Year's Cup. Photo: Sue Maclennan
Semifinal Grahamstown United (yellow) taking on a Zwide Pirates defender at JD Dlephu Stadium Friday 28 December 2018 – New Year’s Cup. Photo: Sue Maclennan

By CHRIS TOTOBELA

The semi finals of the NYC 2018 took place at at a packed JD Dlepu stadium on Friday 28 December.

In the first game Makhanda’s Grahamstown United took on Zwide Pirates from PE who were yet to concede a goal in this year’s tournament.

The home side made their intentions very clear from the first whistle as they immediately took the game to Pirates. It was clear from the first 10 minutes of the game that it was going to be a war, as the tackles flew all over the field.

The home side missed two glorious chances and were nearly made to pay as Zwide Pirates came back strongly into the game and missed a good chance as United’s keeper fumbled the ball back into an oncoming striker who failed to hit the target.

Both teams went to the halftime brake-locked at 0-0 after an energetic and electrifying first stanza.

In the second half, the home side started where they left off, putting pressure on Pirates and forcing them to defend.

Pirates launched attacks of their own with some good movements, but were still unable to find the back of the net. It took a moment of brilliance for the tie to be decided as the home side took the lead after a great defence-splitting pass found Lizo Norhutshu unmarked just outside the box and he volleyed it home, leaving the Pirates keeper for dead to the delight of the home fans.

Semifinal Grahamstown United (yellow) vs Zwide Pirates JD Dlephu Stadium Friday 28 December 2018 – New Year’s Cup. Photo: Sue Maclennan

Pirates tried to fight back but United’s defence stood firm and held on until the final whistle.

Grahamstown United’s coach Nkosinathi “Reason” Fountain could not hide his excitement and said “I am happy with these results and I am not surprised because we have prepared very well for this game and the entire tournament. We played a tough team today but I reminded my boys that they are carrying the hopes of Makhanda people on their shoulders and that they should make them proud.

“I thank them for their support and call upon them to come in numbers again for the final”.

Semifinal Grahamstown United (yellow) fans celebrate their goal with them against vs Zwide Pirates JD Dlephu Stadium Friday 28 December 2018 – New Year’s Cup. Photo: Sue Maclennan

In the second game Addo academy defeated Manyora by two goals to nil. Things got even worse for Manyora as three of their players were sent off, leaving them with no choice but to finish the game with eight players. Seeing that they had a mountain to climb, Manyora decided to turn on the heat and got the whole of Dlepu up on their feet as they started show boating.

The whole stadium erupted as Manyora dished out some beautiful football skills.

Despite losing the game, the Gauteng based side received a standing ovation from the crowd. Manyora will now face Zwide Pirates in the third and fourth place play-offs while Grahamstown United will take on Addo academy in the final on new year’s eve.

https://www.grocotts.co.za/2018/12/30/grahamstown-united-up-for-nyc-final/

Previous ArticleStage set for thrilling New Year’s Cup final
Next Article Locals thrill with New Year’s Cup win
Grocott's Mail Contributors

Grocott's Mail Contributors includes content submitted by members of the public, and public and private institutions and organisations - regular and occasional, expert and citizen, opinion and analysis.

Comments are closed.

Tweets by Grocotts
Newsletter



Listen

The Rhodes University Community Engagement Division has launched Engagement in Action, a new podcast which aims to bring to life some of the many ways in which the University interacts with communities around it. Check it out below.

Humans of Makhanda

Humans of Makhanda

Weather    |     About     |     Advertise     |     Subscribe     |     Contact     |     Support Grocott’s Mail

© 2023 Maintained by School of Journalism & Media Studies.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.