Rollers Tighten Grip With Sankoyo Rout
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday March 6, 2017 15:07
Rollers made a couple of changes to the starting line up with veteran defender Obuile Ncenga getting his second start of the season. Popa came close to taking the lead as early as the fourth minute, but Segolame Boy skewed his free kick off the post.
Five minutes later, winger Lemponye Tshireletso put a telling cross into the box and Keaketswe Moloi was the quickest to react as he headed home to give Rollers the lead.
On the 24th minute, Botshelo Mafoko spurned a chance to level the scores as he showed some quick feet to beat two defenders on the right but hit his shot wide. Four minutes later, Boy sent a pin point free kick for Ncenga but he skied his header. Rollers doubled the lead in the 35th minute following a series of short passes.
Moloi laid a pass to Tshireletso who shot and scored a grass cutter to the bottom corner. Popa went to the break leading by two goals.
In the second half, the visitors came looking for a goal. In the 53rd minute, Onkarabile Ratanang curled a free kick to the top corner but Kabelo Dambe was up to the task. The move was followed by a counter attack by Rollers. Boy found Tshireletso with a lob pass, the winger beat advancing keeper, Kabelo Kuti to the bottom upright to extend Rollers’ lead with his eighth of the league.
In the 78th minute, substitute Gofaone Tiro killed Moagi Sechele with pace and crossed for Motsholetsi Sikele who, however, mis-controlled the ball inside the box. Three minutes later, Sikele was again the culprit as he failed to score with only the keeper to beat inside the box.
Bush Bucks launched a counter attack, with Mafoko hitting the crossbar while Oabile Bathusi’s shot from the rebound was blocked by Simisane Mathumo with seven minutes to time.
In referee’s additional time, Wabuya Aebe missed a golden opportunity to get a consolation goal as his shot was saved by Dambe. Bush Bucks’ assistant, Gadimang Tiiso was sent to the stands following an altercation with the fourth official.
“We played good football. Sankoyo played a very good game. Rollers are a good team made of good individual players. They capitalised from the mistakes we made,” said Bush Bucks’ coach, Dragojlo Stanolovic.
His opposite number Mogomotsi Mpote said an early goal played a crucial role in the team’s win. “They have been losing by one or two goals. They are a good side. An early goal helped us even the rotation has been working to our advantage, as all the players want to prove a point,” he said.
The teams’ line ups:
Rollers: Kabelo Dambe, Thato Bolweleng, Obuile Ncenga, Simisane Mathumo, Edwin Olerile, Lawrence Majawa, Ntesang Simanyana, Segolame Boy (Motsholetsi Sikele), Lemponye Tshireletso (Gofaone Tiro), Joel Mogorosi, Keaketswe Moloi
Sankoyo: Kaelo Kuti, Bobby Ntshegisang, Onkarabile Ratanang, Refilwe Senyane, Moagi Sechele, Tendai Kesekile, Walter Sande, Wabuya Aebe, Onkagetse Mojwaine, Oabile Bathusi, Botshelo Mafoko
Caution: Dambe, Simanyana, Olerile
Dismissal: Tiiso
Rollers 3 (Moloi 9th, Tshireletso 35th, 55th)
Sankoyo 0