Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FC Hunters…….0
Herentals………(0)1
HERENTALS are back in the top four after a second successive win when they edged Hunters at the Heart Stadium yesterday.
The Students, who are having a dream season and poised to collect their best ever tally, had been out of the top four in the past weeks.
But, after beating Manica Diamonds last week, they ensured they kept up with the leading pack after substitute Clemence Gobvu buried a late penalty to collect the maximum points.
Without their influential captain Ralph Kawondera, who sat out due to an injury, Herentals never looked short of ideas.
The result left FC Hunters, who had some reprieve win of their own last week over CAPS United, in an enclave they have to escape sooner rather than later if they are to survive their debut top-flight term.
“I am very happy that the boys continued to fight. That’s the hallmark of our philosophy,” said coach Celestino Paul Benza.
“I would like to salute the boys. It was a tough match but we managed to earn the win at the end. That’s impressive.”
Yet the match looked well destined for a draw before Herentals earned a penalty after an FC Hunters defender appeared to handle a goal-bound header from Milton Chimedza.
FC Hunters protested the penalty but there was no escape as Gobvu sent goalkeeper Moreblessing Phiri the wrong way.
Coach Nesbert Saruchera was a disappointed man.
“They are one of the best teams in the country and one day they will actually win it (the league title).”
