Polokwane still waiting for first home win

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Dec 09, 2017. 17:39

Polokwane City are still searching for their first home win in the Absa Premiership after they were held 1-1 at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium by Bidvest Wits.

Rise and Shine looked to be on course to end their home drought thanks to Rodney Ramagalela’s goal early in the second half, but a late reply from Eleazar Rodgers earned the Clever Boys a share of the spoils.

The result sees Wits rise off the foot of the table to 15th while City are also up one place to 13th. However, both could drop down again when more games are completed through the weekend.

The first half saw few chances created at either end, though Wits right-back Reeve Frosler sent an early warning shot across the bow of the hosts as he fired an effort just off target in the 10th minute.

Polokwane created flashes of danger themselves, with veteran midfielder Jabulani Maluleke almost able to create an opening on 20 minutes, but he was denied by some quick work from the Clever Boys’ defence.

Both sides stroked the ball around nicely, but two disciplined sets of defenders ensured that neither City’s George Chigova nor Wits goalkeeper Darren Keet were called upon to make any notable saves in a goalless first half.

The deadlock was broken just six minutes into the second stanza, with Polokwane putting together a fine attacking move which ended with Rodney Ramagalela finding the back of the net with a deflected shot.

Wits looked for a quick reply, but midfielder Phumlani Ntshangase saw his long-range effort fly over the crossbar, while coach Gavin Hunt soon shuffled his attack around by introducing both Eleazar Rodgers and James Keene.

The match looked to be headed in Polokwane’s favour as their defence repelled wave after wave of attack from the visitors, but the Clever Boys finally broke through and levelled the game in the 90th minute when Rodgers headed home to make it 1-1.

Polokwane City (0) 1 (Ramagalela 51’)
Bidvest Wits (0) 1 (Rodgers 90’)

City: Chigova, Semenya, Tshilo, Maponyane, Hlongwane, Seabi, Phiri (W. Maluleke 82’), J. Maluleke (Tshela 88’), Musona, Ramagalela, Ndou
Wits: Keet, Frosler, Hlatshwayo, Mkhwanazi, Hlanti, Claasen (Rodgers 60’), Ntshangase, Monare, Klate, Mhango (Keene 71’), Gamal (Phiri 79’)