Rollers End Sharps' Unbeaten Run
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday September 17, 2018 11:34
Sharps came into the game unbeaten after winning their first three encounters, earning a the tag name ‘giant killers’ along the way as they had claimed the scalps of Gaborone United, Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Orapa United. On Saturday evening, it was Sharps who first had their sight at goal with Thabo Metlhayotlhe trying outside the box, but his effort was saved by Wagarre Dikago as early as the third minute.
But it was Rollers who took the lead on the 13th minute. Joel Mogorosi flicked for Tumisang Orebonye, and the latter controlled well inside the box amongst a sea of defenders, and beat the roof of the net to score his third of the season. Popa took control of the game and had a lion’s share of the ball possession.
Orebonye came close in the 36th minute with a header but this time, Thabiso Mathe was up to the task as he parried the effort away for a corner kick. Popa once again failed to double the lead on the 44th minute, after Segolame Boy laid for Mothusi Cooper, the latter’s low drive from outside the box hit the bottom corner of the upright and went wide as Popa took a slim 1-0 lead in to the break.
At the early stages of the second half, Sharps looked more rejuvenated, but could not break in to final third of their opponents. On the 55th minute, Boy tried with a long shot tried from outside the penalty area, but his shot was parried back into play by Mathe. Jackson Lesole’s effort from the rebound was blocked by the defence, with Rollers’ players appealing for a penalty but referee Joshua Bondo waved away the plea.
Four minutes later, Mathe produced yet another splendid save as he denied Boy’s header from inside the box. On the 62nd minute, Sharps were granted a chance to level the scores, Khumoetsile Kufigwa hit the upright and Dikago was quick to react as he pounced on the rebound.
Six minutes later, Orebonye found Mogorosi with a pinpoint cross, but the striker shot over the bar with a free header. On the other end with five minutes to time, Kufigwa met Monageng Thaele’s cross with a volley, but Dikago tipped it over the bar. On the 90th minute, Orebonye failed to double his side’s lead after substitute Galagwe Moyana found him free inside the box, but the striker was let down by this connection as the shot went over the bar.
“We dominated the first half. We had total control of the game. In the second half, they regrouped and looked more dangerous. Playing against a team that has been winning was always going to be difficult. The intentions was to put more pressure on their defence,” Rollers’ assistant coach, Leutlwetse Tshireletso said after the game.
His counterpart, Motlhale Kentse of Sharps was disappointed man but said the loss will help better his side. “We lost. It’s part of the game. We have to now go back to the drawing board. We played a very good team. We tried to destabilise them. They are good on set pieces. From now, we have go back and plan for our next game,” he said.
The Teams:
Rollers: Dikago, Lesole, Simisani Mathumo, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Kago Monyake ( Moyana), Maano Ditshupo, Cooper (Ivan Ntenge), Mogorosi, Boy, Orebonye
Sharps: Mathe, Khumo Bogale, Tshepo Mbulawa (Allen Ndodole), Thaele, Tebogo Benjamin, Tshepo Malgas, Gift Maworere, Emmanuel Nlu, Kufigwa, Metlhayotlhe (Falkirk Shabani), Letlhogonolo Chenjela
Rollers 1 (Orebonye 13th)
Sharps 0