PHOTO: Duport Road Vs. Alpha with goal sscorer Sam Johnson in #17 Jersy
By Jerome C. Willie, boyzwill26@gmail.com
The open-air Nancy B. Doe Sports Stadium in Kakata, Margibi County has played host to another entertaining showpiece of games in the chase for the 2022 Championship of the Liberia Old-timers National Association (LONA) league.
Several games were played at two other venues in Montserrado County.
At the football theater in Kakata, Margibi County on Sunday, 18 September, five games were last weekend with interesting results along with fabulous football displayed at the arena that saw over hundreds of spectators from within and around Margibi County cheering their respective teams.
In the opening fixture, NPA Anchors Old-timer thrashed Independent Old-timer 4-0, while Bassa Old-timer pinned Thinker Village Old-timer 2-1. Still at the theater football house in Kakata Paynesville Old-timer won a narrow 2-1 win over Stephen Tolbert Old-timer after a 1 -out draw at halftime.
Leroy Dorazia on the ground and standing up is Abraham Seh of Bong Mines
Emmanuel Tarnue put the boys of Stephen Tolbert Old-timers in the lead over Paynesville Old-timer in the 5th minute of the match but it was POSA talisman Abraham Suah levelled the score 1-at piece before the end of the first half. Johnny Dean got the winning goal for POSA from the penalty spot in the dying minutes of the match to secured three points for Paynesville Old-timer.
In other results, Sam Johnson brace in the second half of the match secured a narrow 3-2 away win for Alpha Old-timer over Duport Road Old-timer. The reigning Champions came from two goals down to win Duport Road Old-timer after been down 2-0 at halftime.
Alpha Old-timer got the first goal in the second half from a controversial penalty in the early minutes with Sam Johnson scoring twice from a beautiful header and placement in the 18-yard box of Duport Road Old-timers from a well entertaining football from the champions.
And the final showpiece which saw host Kakata Old-timers playing to a 1-1 draw with its nearest neighbor Bong Mines Old-timers.
Leroy Dorwazia from a clinical finish in the 6-yard box of the visitor gives the home team a 1-0 win at halftime. Dorwazia alias ” Sane Mane ” been called by fans at the open-air stadium was a man to watch.
He tormented the defense of Bong Mines Old-timer but was heavily involved into several tackle from good defending from Abraham Seh of Bong Mines Old-timer that the home team was awarded several set pieces but failed to capitalize on..
Back from recess the visitor exhibited much composure as compared to the fisrt half after the home team lost possession of the midfield due to poor substitution from the technical staff of the home team. The away team put out much pressure due to the quest of earning a point or securing the three points increased the tempo of the game that saw the fans of Kakata Old-timer expressing their frustration due to the lack of poor coordination and communication from the midfield department of the team.
Coach Mohammed Kemokai, alias ” Jamal” was left with no option but to sacrifice Leroy Dorwazia who got on the score sheet in the early minutes of the first half, because of the change in formation by introducing Zoyou J. Wesseh among others but failed to get another goal to keep the hope alive but the visitor got the equalizer from a controversial penalty which was ignored by the center referee but later called by the assistant referee giving the center referee no option but to signal for a penalty.
Coach Jeror Cole Bangalu of Alpha Old Timers
The visitor got the equalizer from the penalty spot to level the score 1- at piece in the 35th minute of the second half.
With still much time to end the full 90th minutes plus added time Kakata Old-timer again missed another golden opportunity from a beautiful pass from midfield maestro Bill Mcgill to substitute Alieu Kromah who was introduced into the match minutes ago but failed to get on the score sheet with both teams playing to a 1-1 draw during the full 90th minutes of play.
The lone goal scored in the first half for KOTSA marks the 5th goal for Leroy Dorwazia this season and first at home in the 2022 National Championship of the Liberia Old-timers National Association (LONA).
He is now the club second highest goal scorer for KOTSA behind Hence Doruu with 11 goals.
At the Jacob Town Sports field on Sunday, two teams did not turned-up for such game.
Bench and West Point Old-timers forfeited points to Snow Hill and New Georgia Old-timers. In other results Genesis Old-timer 1-1 Shoe Factory Old-timer, Lakpazee Old-timer 1-0 Omega Old-timer and 72nd Old-timer 0-0 Cowfield Old-timer and at the ETMI sports field Chocolate City Old-timer 1- 0 Central Monrovia, BAME Old-timer 0-1 Vetrean Old-timers, Sinkor Old-timer 2-0 BOTFA Old-timer and AMUNUE Old-timer 1- 1 BOSA Old-timer.
Round 15 recorded 26 goals on the field of play with two games not playing at a single venue. All of the host of Round 15 failed to secured three points but rather salvage a point. The Nancy B Doe Sports Stadium in Kakata recorded the highest number of goals from Round 15 with 16 goals scored as NPA Old-timer recorded the highest win.
As it stands on the league table among the top 5 teams only BAME Old-timer did not get a win over the weekend with Vetrean Old-timers still maintaining 1st place followed by Paynesville and Alpha Old-timers.
The league continues on Sunday, 25 September at three venues namely EMTI, Stephen Tolbert Estate and the Voker Mission Sports pitch.