Marauding Popa Clip Ostriches� Wings
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday January 23, 2017 16:01
The top of the table clash started 30 minutes late as hundreds of football fans were still making their way into the stadium.
Orapa were quick off the blocks with Ronald Chikomo laying a pass to Omaatla Kebatho whose shot went wide off the post in the second minute.
Rollers drew first blood after 15 minutes when Simisane Mathumo rose highest to head home Segolame Boy’s cross.
Three minutes later, Rollers were awarded a free kick at the edge of the box but Lemponye Tshireletso failed to double the lead as his shot hit the cross bar.
Rollers eventually went further ahead nine minutes to the break. Mosha Gaolaolwe was quick to react to a loose ball after a scramble in the box and tucked home from a close range. Mapalastina took a 2-0 lead to the break. Two minutes after the break, the visitors pulled one back with Kebatho’s half volley inside the box. However, Rollers replied a minute later when keeper Mosimanegape Robert parried Moalosi’s initial shot.
The ball fell onto Terrence Mandaza’s path, the striker tapped in for his ninth of the campaign to extend Popa’s lead. On the hour mark, Moalosi beat Lesenya Ramoraka with speed and skill, passed to Mandaza, the latter got the better of Emmanuel Nlu inside the box and laid to Moalosi who put the icing on the cake, as he beat Robert at the near post to send the Popa faithful into delirium.
The visitors tried to come back but their efforts went in vain as Rollers defence stood firm. The win takes Rollers to the top of the table. “You don’t come to the party, you get these kinds of results. Not any individual is to be blamed, for it is the whole team. It is with the whole team that we will get home, sit down and see where it went wrong,” Orapa United’s coach, Madinda Ndlovu said in reaction to the loss.
His opposite number, Mogomotsi ‘Teenage’ Mpote lauded his troops for an impressive performance. “The plan was to take the game to Orapa and see how they would react. We played short passes and avoided long balls. We won the game in the midfield,” he said.
Rollers: Mwampule Masule, Tshepo Motlhabankwe, Simisane Mathumo, Mogogi Gabonamong, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Lawrence Majawa, Maano Ditshupo (Ntesang Simanyana), Segolame Boy, Edwin Moalosi (Gofaone Tiro), Lemponye Tshireletso, Terrence Mandaza (Kekaetswe Moloi)
Orapa: Mosimanegape Robert, Kealeboga Molebatsi, Emmanuel Nlu, Olekantse Mambo (Patrick Lenyeletse), Lesenya Ramoraka, Thabang Mosige, Obonye Moswate (Letumile Molebatsi), Tendai Nyumasi, Ronald Chikomo, Zebron Ndjovu (Lemogang Maswena), Omaatla Kebatho
Caution: Nlu
Rollers 4 (Mathumo 15th, Gaolaolwe 34th, Mandaza 48th, Moalosi 60th)
Orapa 1(Kebatho 47th)