In all Ernst it should have been a “Middendraw”

Maritzburg United and Stellenbosch FC kicked off the 8th round of the DSTV premiership at Harry Gwala Stadium.

If there was one thing you were guaranteed in the PSL is the team of choice grabbing 3 points on a humid Friday night at home, but that has not been the case of late as the team has forgotten what victory tastes like. The win remained a pipe dream as they were held to a draw by Steve Barker’s side.

United uncharacteristically started off playing a high-line an it paid off as early as the 3rd minute when they grabbed the lead through Judas Moseamedi. Stellies continued to chase for the equaliser without any luck until 7 minutes later when Mark Van Heerden took it upon himself and started a move from the back with a piercing run that saw the ball land back on his head as he calmly scored from a Van Rooyen assist. In the 15th minute one would have sworn the Western Cape based side’s goal keeper, Sage Stephens, had made a detour to one of the vineyards before travelling to the game when he gifted Judas Moseamedi his second of the of the night. 2-1 it ended in the 1st stanza.

It became a game of 2 halves as Stellies pressed on from the resumption of the 2nd half. Barker’s charges kept calm and took comfort in the fact that whenever Ernst is involved a draw is almost guaranteed. Their goal duly came in the 59th with Stanley Dimgba. His celebration resembled that of a player that barely finds the back of the net.

As expected the Maritzburg’s coach seemed content with a point when he took out striker, Sibusiso Hlubi and put in defender Malebogo Modise. The scoreline remained unchanged, thanks to the crossbar on both ends. 2-2 it ended with United remaining at the basement of the log and Stellies making an entry in the top 8.