Celtics stumble while United rises

Gallery Update

KNYSNA SOCCER NEWS - In the latest round of SAB Regional League's Eden Region fixtures, Knysna sides CX Celtics and FC United welcomed Heaven Stars and Parks United to Loerie Park on Sunday 23 February.

FC United has enjoyed a somewhat more successful season thus far, standing at sixth place on the Eden Region log, level on points with Peace Makers (fifth), but behind on goal difference.

Celtics on the other hand has endured a rockier season, finding themselves in the relegation zone in 15th place leading into the games, against bottom-of-the-log Heaven Stars and 12th-placed Parks United.

Celtics and Heaven Stars kicked off the day's action, with the game getting under way at 10:00. Celtics dominated the game, managing to take their chances and shut out Heaven Stars to earn a 2-0 victory and three much-needed points. FC United followed on from there with their clash against Parks United at 12:00. The game was a closely contested encounter, but FC United was able to edge their opponents from George 2-1, setting themselves up nicely for the game against Heaven Stars in the afternoon.

Photo gallery: United and Celtics SAB Regional League

After a one-hour intermission, FC United kicked off against Heaven Stars at 15:30 hoping to take advantage of their opponents' poor form thus far. FC United was first to make their mark by taking a 1-0 lead before Heaven Stars levelled matters at 1-1. This would be the last time for Heaven Stars however as FC United bagged two more goals before halftime to take the score to 3-1 into the break.

The second half offered more of the same for FC United, as they scored two more goals to round out an impressive 5-1 win to make it the perfect day out. Celtics on the other hand suffered a different fate in their clash with Parks United at 17:00. The home side took the lead midway through the first half with Parks United equalising shortly thereafter, but not before Celtics restored their lead to take the game into halftime at 2-1. The second half was somewhat nightmarish for Celtics, as they failed to take advantage of a whole host of opportunities handed to them.

This, combined with the factor of playing with a setting sun in their eyes impairing their vision, led to Parks United running riot. The men from George managed to net four goals in the second half to hand Celtics a crushing 4-2 defeat.

Chulumanco Nkohlani breaks through a group of Heaven Stars defenders.