Highlanders returns top
Koketso Kgoboge | Tuesday October 31, 2017 14:45
Highlanders made amends to their last weekend’s slip against Sua Flamingoes with a 2-1 win against rookies Calendar Stars.
GNT who now occupies the second spot are yet to lose after five games. They won three and drew two. The club coach, Edward Leposo, said they aim to get 25 points in the first round.
“It is going to be difficult but we are there. We are improving with every game and we are composed. We are not getting big headed with the results,” Leposo said after their Sunday clash with Francistown City Greens.
“We know Motlakase will be another contender for promotion and if we go through them this weekend we will gain more confidence. We want to be at the top at the end of the season.” GNT were lucky to escape with a point in the Sunday derby against a rampant Mamoja Diski. Mamoja endured a best start of the game and missed a penalty towards the end. GNT played a chasing game the entire 90 minutes.
In a spate of attacks in the opening of the game, Mamoja’s striker Onalethata Ipeleng missed a sitter on the 10th minute when he went through against the goalkeeper and short wide.
Four minutes later, Ipeleng’s free header from 16 yards went inches wide. The Mamoja captain failed to profit in the 18th minute when he rose high in the box to connect Goratamang Keti’s free kick, but his dropping header was parried out.
GNT’s clear chance came in the opening minutes of the second half when a well-positioned Keti cleared Aobakwe Mopaki’s header off the line. Mamoja responded with a clear cut scoring chance on the 54th minute, but Onkemetse Powe failed to profit when his connection at the far end went agonisingly wide off the empty net.
Mamoja had a penalty in the 80th minute. The ever-energised Powe took Batshwere Olopeng for paces into the box, the latter tripped him and the referee pointed to the spot. Ithobogeng Monnawapula’s effort from the spot was parried out.
Mamoja’s coach, Atshele Molapi bemoaned wasted chances. “We lacked in the final third. We were too wasteful. Our momentum was dampened by our postponed game last weekend.”
NICO United’s lackluster campaign ensued in Mahalapye where Mahalapye Hotspurs held them to a 1-1 draw. Amahot was registering their first point of the season.
Motlakase also returned to winning ways in Palapye where they stopped Sua Flamingoes with a marginal 1-0 score line.
Morupule Wanderers beat the hot and cold Green Lovers 2-0 in Pilikwe while in Serowe, Maphatshwa and Real Movers’ encounter was postponed due to heavy rains.