Omaticus hat-trick fires Rangers clear at top of Stream A
Ubuntu's Siyasamkela Ngumba slides into a tackle on FN Rangers' Wahied Wilkenson, during their sides' ABC Motsepe League match, at the Royal Road sports ground, on Saturday.
Image: Mark Ward
Mark Ward
Darren Omaticus lit up the Royal Road Sport Ground on Saturday with a fine second-half hat-trick to steer FN Rangers to a commanding victory over Ubuntu and tighten their grip on top spot in Stream A of the Western Cape ABC Motsepe League.
The prolific striker, affectionately known as “Billy”, produced a clinical display of finishing after the interval, striking three times to break Ubuntu’s resistance and underline his growing influence in the Rangers’ attack. Imitha Ntimba struck the opening goal while Luke Camelo added the second after which Omaticus took over to complete the rout.
Rangers’ emphatic win 5-1 keeps them unbeaten after seven matches and lifts them to 19 points at the top of the Stream A standings. Hope United remain their closest challengers, sitting two points adrift in second place, although they have played one match more than the log leaders.
FN Rangers striker, Darren Omaticus, controls the ball before unleashing a pot shot at the Ubuntu FC goalmouth, during their ABC Motsepe League match, at the Royal Road, on Saturday.
Image: Mark Ward
Omaticus, who grew up in Bonteheuwel, has steadily built a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable goal scorers and again demonstrated his natural eye for goals.
Speaking after the match, the striker said he was enjoying his football at Rangers and was determined to build on his latest performance.
“It’s been a good season so far and I’m feeling confident going into the next game. I’m not a full-time professional. I work during the day in our family business but I try to give my best every time I step onto the field. I’m happy with how things are going and I just want to keep improving,” said Omaticus.
FN Ranger's coach Areshaat Daniels following his side's 5-1 win against Ubuntu FC, in an ABC Motsepe League fixture, at the weekend.
Image: Mark Ward
Rangers head coach Arashaat Daniels was full of praise for his leading marksman and revealed that his message to the team at half-time was simple to provide Omaticus with opportunities.
“It just shows what he’s capable of. I challenged the players during the break and told them to create chances for Darren because he will finish them. If you look at his goals, two of them came from well-taken headers. That shows his movement and his timing in the box,” said Daniels.
Daniels also cautioned that the title race is still in its early stages, with a key clash against Hope United looming.
Carlyle Jones of FN Rangers is boxed in by Ubutu defenders during an ABC Motsepe League fixture, at the Royal Road, on Saturday.
Image: Mark Ward
“It’s still early days and next week we face Hope Unite. “At this stage it looks like the match will be played at Royal Road, but we’ll confirm that later in the week,” added Daniels.
Elsewhere in Stream A, Grassy Park suffered their first defeat of the season when they went down 3-1 to Batallions at Mbekweni on Friday, a result that further underlined the competitiveness of the race at the top of the table.
In Stream B, Diadora continues to set the pace and remain firmly at the top of the log as the League campaign gathers momentum across both streams.