BMC, Nico share the spoils

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Monday August 30, 2010 00:00

Hosts BMC were lucky to score late in the match to secure a 1-1 draw with Nico United in Lobatse as Kenanao 'Flo' Kgetholetsile once again turned hero with an opportunistic late 82nd minute goal. The visitors had opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Tendai Ndoro took advantage of the confusion in the BMC defence and Cosmos Lombala's poor judgement to slot the ball home from close range.

The visitors had been enjoying better possession as they showed confidence in both attack and defence and it came as no surprise when Ndoro, who had been lurking around the penalty area scored the opener. With Nico coming at BMC at full force the hosts often found themselves in desperate situations, committing fouls.

Defender Tshepo Maikano was the first to attract referee Kebafilwe Ratshipo's attention, earning the first yellow card of the match in the 18th minute.

BMC supporters could not believe their eyes when youngster Motsholetsi Sikele missed in the 20th minute following good spadework on the right by Ofana 'Pio' Motsumi who used his pace to beat two defenders before lobbing a cross to the left. Sikele, instead of sticking to the basics, tried to be stylish and his shot flew over the cross bar.

He came close to making amends in the 36th minute when he rounded the defence on the left to meet a Kgetholetsile cross but this time Ntungamile Tshoganetso came out bravely o force the youngster to take a quick shot which went over the bar.

With former BMC winger Topo Piet complaining of knee pain Nico coach Willard Khumalo brought on young Gift Moyo in the 54th minute and his natural talent often proved too much for the likes of Patrick Mathaba Mosimanegape Ramohibidu.  His introduction seemed to inject new blood into Nico's game as he used his skill wisely to open gaps in the already disjointed BMC defence.  Nico left wingback Kgomotso Keitumetse did well closing down the speedy Motsumi hence the dreadlocked former Mogoditshane Fighters man's replacement in the 61st minute.

His replacement, veteran striker Phemelo 'Bunene' Ditsile, was not to succeed against the young defender either as Keitumetse continued to frustrate Enos Mmesi's efforts to unlock the Nico defence on the left. Former Extension Gunners' striker Bernard Simakwezi created problems for the BMC defence coming very close on two occasions and despite his lack of pace often managed to break loose from Alex Matshameko. Nico scorer Ndoro was only unlucky in the 63rd minute as his shot went narrowly over the cross bar.  It looked like BMC would gain some spark after the introduction of Kobe Keagile in the 69th minute.

The former Masitaoka striker started pushing Nico on the left flank as soon as he came on and this seemed to inspire his teammates but their glow quickly faded away as Nico shifted into a higher gear and reasserted their superiority.

In a bid to apply more pressure, Khumalo pulled out the tiring Ndoro for Kitso Kowa in the 80th minute and although the latter's fresh legs seemed to raise the tempo of the game for the visitors it was not their day because Kgetholetsile repeated what he did against Gunner last week when he snatched a late goal after which BMC held on for dear life with Monametsi Kelebale covering the whole ground, thus helping to seal his team's all important win.

This is how the two teams lined up: Nico: Ntungamile Tshoganetso, Moagedi Tsametse, Kgomotso Keitumetse, Richard Legwaila, Derick Ramofi, Omphile Mothathobi, Topo Piet,(Gift Moyo54) Tendayi Ndoro,(Kitso Kowa) Monametsi Kelebale,Bernard Simakwezi, Obakeng Gaanabeng.Coach: Willard Khumalo

BMC: Cosmos Lombala, Tshepo Maikano, Omphemetse Molapo, Alex Matshameko, Mosimanegape Ramohibidu, Ofana Motsumi(Phemelo Ditsile 61) Patrick Mathaba, Lovemore Morwira(Kobe Keagile 80) Mothsoletsi Sikele, Kenanao Kgetholetsile, Owen Mwandabai.

Coach: Enos Mmesi Man of the Match: Kgomotso Keitumetse Cautions: Maikano 18, Sikele 26, Molapo 41, Piet 45 Mothathobi 79

Referee: Kebafilwe RatshipoAss Referees: Bakwena Simakalele and Lucas NkuFourth official: Jonathan Male