5 February 2018 – This past weekend saw some mouth-watering action in the Eastern Cape edition of the SAFA ABC League as all teams looked to get February off to the best possible start. Seven of the eight scheduled matches took place at 15:00 across the province as fans anxiously waited to see if Tornado could finally be stopped.

NMMU South Campus played host Highbury and Lion City with the away team steamrolling their way to an impressive 7-2 victory which proved to be a treat for neutrals.

Future Tigers played host to Spears FC at Ginsberg Field in a top-half of the table clash with the hosts edging proceedings with a 1-0 win to move into the top six.

Jan Smuts Stadium saw home team FC Buffalo entertaining Matta Milan in a bottom of the log relegation tussle. The fixture proved to be the game of the season as both teams played out to a high-scoring 4-4 draw. Both clubs however still remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

EC Bees (last season’s surprize package) beat Sibanye FC 2-1 at home at the Bhisho Stadium to hold on to second spot and keep the pressure on Tornado, while Mthatha City gained a vital away victory at City lads to stay in the top four at Mt Ayliff.

Pace-setters Tornado had a tough away encounter at WSU Sportsfield against Butterworth FC but proved to be too strong yet again as they ran out 1-3 winners to take their season tally to 45 points and gain a stranglehold as log leaders. With an incredible goal difference of +34, the East London team seem unstoppable.

It rained more goals at the Mqeshwa Sports Fields as Bizana Pondo Chiefs proved to be too strong at home for Try again in a seven goal thriller (4-3). Try Again now have the worst goal difference on the table (-26) and will need to tighten up their defensive channel before the next round of fixtures.

Saturday’s late game saw PE Stars claw a 2-1 win at home against mid-table Swartkops Valley United Brothers at Gelvandale Stadium in Port Elizabeth. Stars narrowly hold on to third spot.

With an exciting round of matches to look forward to this coming weekend, the battle for ABC supremacy in the Eastern Cape seems to be well and truly alive.