NIGEL – Cambridge Football Club suffered a narrow 2–1 defeat away to 11 Experience in Kwa-Thema on Saturday, falling short against one of the Regional Hollywood Bets League’s title contenders.
The Nigel-based side made the short trip with hopes of claiming valuable points, but despite a determined performance, they were unable to overturn the home side’s advantage in a tightly contested encounter.
The match was a much-anticipated clash between two rival teams that always push each other and fight for league points.
11 Experience started the game well with wing play, attacking Cambridge’s defence, and putting them on the back foot.
The home team dominated possession in the opening stanzas by circulating and playing out from the back, while Cambridge didn’t apply their high-pressing tactics, which allowed the home team to find spaces behind their defence.
Cambridge on the attack. Photo: Supplied Ignatius Maphike
The opening goal came from wing play, as the young Cambridge players were beaten, and a cross-kick from 11 Experience scored, making the scoreline 1-0 to the home team.
11 Experience went two goals to the good when a long ball was spread wide, beating the defence, making the score line 2-0 just before the halftime break.
In the second half, Bridges came out all guns blazing. The boys from Nigel started playing their own style and pushed the home team back.
Cambridge attacked from all directions to search for a goal to reduce the deficit.
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A well-taken team goal saw Cambridge scoring when team Setjhaba General Mmuso tapped the ball into the back of the net, making the score 2-1.
From there, the teams patched each other as both teams remained tactically disciplined. Both teams created chances to score but failed to convert. The match ended 2-1 in favour of 11 Experience.
Assistant coach Daniel Tshidi said, “Our boys started slow and showed the opposition too much respect and did not realise that we can compete and challenge for the league”.
“What a good game of football. We are not happy as we feel we could have gotten away with a point, but it wasn’t to be.
“We thank our loyal Nigel supporters who travelled with us; it indeed made a difference. Now it’s back to the drawing board for us,” said Ignatius Maphike, Cambridge FC chairperson.
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