Please excuse and allow coach Lionel Miller (pictured) and his Greenwood Athletic troops to walk around with inflated egos and arrogance as this is the one time where their behaviour is justifiable – so, again, allow them to bask in their glory for now!
For the mere fact that Miller’s Greenwood did what no other side in Safa Cape Town’s Third Division campaign could muster after 16 games – to cut the log leader, Saxon Rovers down to size in front of their fans which is no mean feat – and boy they did just that!
Goals via Marcello Solomon and Aldrich Viljoen in each half not only secured the visitors three points in the title race (especially after their 1-3 loss against Trinitarians FC over the weekend) in Uitsig on Tuesday evening, but it also sent out a clear message to the potential title contenders like Rygersdal, Cape Town City, Young Pirates, Premier United and Ashford Athletic to a certain extent, that Saxons is indeed penetrable and can be knocked off their perch.
According to a very proud Miller it was always going to require a perfect game plan matched by a perfect performance to get the better of coach Robert Pretorious’ Saxons who had in their debut season in the Graveyard league, operated like a runaway train saying to their rivals ‘catch me if you can’.
“It was a massive game in the context, yes,” Miller pointed out to No Bones with Jones. “The boys just went out there and they did exactly what we as coaches asked them to do and for that I’m extremely proud of the boys. It’s well deserved and we need to build onto this.”
In fact, Saxons’ (44 points) defeat has now opened things even more and reduced their lead at the top of log over second placed Rygers (38) from nine to six points while Greenwood (33), who occupies the third position, can also still close the gap on Rygersdal should they win their game in hand.
According to Pretorius, who was gracious in defeat, “it was their turn to lose.”
“My boys played well, but Greenwood wanted it more and they also took their chances,” Pretorius conceded to No Bones with Jones. “It was just one of those games where we have to give our opposition credit when it is due to them… We also have to respect the grind all our opposing coaches put in because that is obviously the same respect you want from them.” Pretorius concluded.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
