Glenville a step closer to winning Nafa trophy

GLENVILLE placed one hand firmly on the Nafa Premier League trophy after their only challenger stumbled on Saturday.

With three matches remaining the log leaders are now seven points clear of Bloom Callies, who lost 2-1 to Blackpool in Windvogel.

In their match against Shamrocks at the Errol Heynes field, Glenville ran up a 4-0 lead before pulling out key players with an eye on yesterday's Mala Moodaley KO Cup quarterfinal. This allowed the Rocks to reduce the deficit to end at 5-2.

Both teams were reduced to 10 men after Kumarin Naidoo (Shamrocks) and Patrick Goliath (Glenville) were sent off midway in the second half.

Faheem Baartman led the charge for Glenville with a hat-trick. Marcus Bailey and Ricardo Holster added a goal each.

Blackpool put their poor performance last week behind them to bounce back into contention for second spot in the league.

Jonneton Pokbas put Blackpool 1-0 up with a well-placed header midway in the first half. The lead was short-lived as Callies were quickly on level terms. Almost on the stroke of half-time Blackpool regained the lead when Logun Freeman netted.

The defeat probably ended Callies' hopes of winning their first-ever league cup.

Despite being reduced to nine men, Saints beat Fairview Rovers 2-0. Kaylen Jantjies and Darren Bamboo scored for Saints, who are still not out of the woods at the bottom of the log.

Stardrift eased relegation worries with a 1-0 win over Helenvale.

Results: Glenville 5 Shamrocks 2, Blackpool 2 Bloom Callies 1, Saints 2 Fairview Rovers 0, West Lake 2 Wolves 2, Stardrift 1 Helenvale 0, Ebenezer 1 Ramblers 0, Hotspurs 3 Swallows 2.

NMMU Madibaz kept their hopes of a second-place finish in the Pefa Premier League alive with an easy 6-1 win over Warriors on Saturday.

Kwadwesi All Stars, who can only end as one of the also-rans, beat NMB Municipality 4-2.

Also on Saturday, Forresters beat Motherwell Academy 3-1.

IN the First Division semifinals of the Nodefa Buildit Top Eight Challenge, Highland Spurs thrashed Manchester Babes 3-0.

In the second semifinal Chelsea beat Eleven Stars 5-4 on penalties after the teams were tied at 2-2 at the end of extra time.

In the Premier League section Imbabala Young Stars thrashed City Friends 6-1 in the first semifinal. In the second match Manchester United beat New City Stars 6-5.