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KNYSNA FOOTBALL NEWS - The Safa Eden Men's Regional League returned to Knysna last weekend for the first time this year and served up some great encounters, with the two Knysna teams FC United and Knysna Celtics enjoying mixed fortunes.

It was the third weekend of fixtures in the 2021 season of this league, with clubs having already played fixtures in Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay prior to making the trip to Knysna.

Before the weekend's games FC United and CX Celtics had both played four games, with Celtics having won two, drawn one, and lost one while United had won three and lost one.

The weekend of games was hosted at the Hornlee Sports Ground on Saturday and Sunday, 20 and 21 March, with the Knysna sides only in action on the Sunday as they would play two games apiece. Due to a delayed start because of rain in the mornings, their planned 12:00 kick-offs only came shortly before 13:00. Celtics played newly promoted Burning Fire while FC United faced a challenge from Paris United.

Chulumanco Nkohla chases the ball down for FC United. Photos: Blake Linder

Celtics got their day off to a perfect start, sweeping Burning Fire aside with a resounding 5-0 victory and FC United narrowly defeated Paris United 2-1. Their next round of games was just before 17:00, with the sides swapping opponents.

Celtics were faced with a much tougher challenge in the form of Paris United, and found themselves 1-0 behind at half-time courtesy of a pinpoint free-kick goal. FC United were unable to break the deadlock in their match against Burning Fire, with the game standing at 0-0 at the half-time interval.

Both games' second halves were more lively than the firsts, with FC United managing to bag two goals to secure a 2-0 victory, keeping the Burning Fire attack at bay to secure a clean sheet.

Celtics equalised midway through the second half and dominated possession for the majority of the half, constantly threatening to take the game away from their opponents. But, it was once again a set piece that proved their undoing, as Paris United scored another stunning free-kick in the dying moments of the game to secure a hard-earned 2-1 victory.