PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Reigning Safa Eden Hollywoodbets Regional League champions Bitou Young Pirates went down 4-2 against Black Cats in a entertaining fixture at Lawaaikamp Stadium in George on Saturday 8 March.

Viwe "Mr Cool" Mawindi, Lihle Toto, Shane-Lee Windvogel and Mpunzi "Scara" Kalolo scored for the Cats, and Anathi Jonas and Thembalethu Hermans for the Kwanokuthula outfit.

High tempo

With 36 points, George's Cats are in third position in the Safa Eden log table, fighting for the top spot, and Pirates are battling their way towards the top.

Cats started the fixture at a high tempo, and Toto missed his first chance of the game.

Then Mawindi beat Pirates goalkeeper Mihlali Ziwani with a powerful header inside the box.

Offensive play

Pirates chased the game, playing offensively, but the Cats, using their pace on the flanks, broke through the Pirates back line, and Toto scored for the home side.

Bongile Tabata, right, of Pirates gets the ball away from Lihle Toto of Black Cats.

The Plett side relied on the speed of Zukisani Msyesha to turn back Cats defenders.

The second half saw Pirates building passes from the centre, employing the strength of Anathi Jonas and Thami Dawethi, supported by Siyabonga Sodumo up front.

Cats were enjoying the game, interlinking passes from the centre, and Pirates battled to overcome a strong attack by the Cats wingers.

Windvogel netted Cats' third goal, and thereafter Pirates were awarded a penalty inside the box after a dangerous tackle by a Cats backline player.

Soft penalty

Jonas scored from the spot, making it 3-1. Then the Pirates back line handled the ball inside their box, giving away a soft penalty to Cats, from which Kalolo scored their fourth goal.

Pirates threw everything into the game in the dying moments and were awarded a second penalty inside the box after a malicious tackle. Hermans scored from the spot to make it 4-2.

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