Durbanville FC are back in the Third Division after an absence of more than decade, and few would argue it is anything other than thoroughly deserved.
The Tygerberg outfit booked their place in the promotion final after a dominant 3-0 victory over Only the Brave in the semifinals of the SAFA Cape Town Third Division Playoffs at the Greens in Manenberg on Sunday.
Durbanville started brightly and took control of proceedings from the opening whistle, creating the better chances throughout the first half. Their pressure eventually paid off when the 16-year-old Nick Knoll produced a moment of quality, unleashing a superb volley from outside the box to break the deadlock and give his side a deserved lead heading into the interval.
Only The Brave from the Rygate LFA, struggled to contain Durbanville’s attacking threat after the break, and veteran striker Regan Faro put the result beyond doubt midway through the second half when he doubled his side’s advantage.
Faro then added further gloss to the scoreline in the dying stages, calmly converting a penalty to complete his brace and secure a convincing 3-0 victory for Divian Adams’ charges.
The final whistle sparked scenes of celebration among the home supporters, who witnessed their club take a significant step towards restoring its former status in local football.
Durbanville will now join Salt River Blackpool in next season’s Third Division, the notoriously demanding competition often referred to in local football circles as the “Graveyard League”, where they will look to continue their impressive rise
