By Jerome C. Willie, Jr., boyzwill26@gmail.com
The Orange 2022-2023 National League season second phase resumed on 24 January as teams fight for domestic silverware or survival in the top-tier league of Liberia–1st Division and Orange National League-2nd Division.
The domestic league returns months after the just-ended Nation’s most watched festival the National County Sports Meet.
Champions Watanga FC hopes of winning the league back-to-back took another setback on Wednesday, 25 January 2023 in the team’s first match of the second phase as the Cooper Sannoh Boys of Watanga FC held to a goalless draw with the Church Boys of Jubilee FC at the SKD PP in Paynesville.
Champions Watanga FC squandered the chances to grab all three points as the team missed two penalties from the penalty spot during the match at each half.
The Orange National League-1st Division 2021-2022 Winner Watanga FC sits second place on the league table with 29 points from 14 games played and equal on points with league leader FC Bea Mountain who has a game on hand as the Gold Boys of FC Bea Mountain has only played 13 games.
Champions Watanga FC will fall at third place if the Shipping Boys of LISCR who sits at third place get a win over Cece United Football Academy on 27 January in an away fixture at the ATS on UN Drive.
In other results Heaven Eleven earn on three points over Nimba Kwado on 24 January on 24 January in game one of the second phase.
Morris Konneh and Karleo Anderson goals in either half secured a 2-0 home win for the messengers of Heaven Eleven over Nimba Kwado at the ATS on UN Drive and Lynch Street.
And still with the Orange National League- 10-men Gardnerville FC started the title chase on a good note as the Boys of Gardnerville FC pinned Global Pharma FC 2-1 on 24 January at the ATS on UN Drive and Lynch Street.
Otalis Sieh and Theo Williams 13 ‘ and 71 ‘ minutes goals give Gardnerville FC a narrow 2-1 win over Global Pharma FC on 24 January at the ATS.
The former GAC striker Williams has now netted 11 goals in his debut season for Gardnerville FC making him the second highest goal scorer thus far on the goal scorer chat in the Orange National League-2nd Division.
Other results
In other results, Blackman Warrior FC came from a goal down twice to force Almighty FC to a two-all draw at the SKD PP in Paynesville on Wednesday, 25 January.
Debutants Abraham Kromah and Francis Doe were on the scoresheet for the Warriors.
Kromah and Doe are new recruit of the Warriors to help the team escape relegation from the Orange National League-2nd Division.
The league continues on Thursday, 26 January and during the weekend with interesting fixtures in the Orange National League.
Below is the full fixtures for the Orange National League:
Round 14: (Orange National League-1st Division)
Thursday, 26 January —
LPRC Oilers vs. Mighty Barrolle at the Tusa Field in Gardnerville (kickoff time 5:30PM)
Friday, 27 January at the ATS on UN Drive (5:30PM)
Cece United vs. LISCR FC
Saturday, 28 January at the SKD PP in Paynesville ( 4:00PM)
Invincible Eleven vs. Nimba United FC
Sunday, 29 January at the SKD PP in
Paynesville (4:00PM)
Muscat FC vs. Bea Mountain
Sandi FC vs. Freeport FC at the Nancy B. Doe Sports Stadium (kickoff time– 3:30PM).
Round 15: (Orange National League-2nd Division fixtures)
Thursday, 26 January at the Tusa Field in Gardnerville (3:00 PM)
Life FC vs. Junior Professional
Friday, 27 January at the ATS on UN Drive (3:00 PM)
Angels FC vs. Nimba FC
Saturday, 28 January at the Tusa Field in Gardnerville (3:00 PM)
Tewor FC vs. Tony FC
Sunday, 29 January at the SKD PP in Paynesville (2:00PM)
Paynesville FC vs. NPA ANCHORS
Margibi FC vs. Samira FC at the Nancy B. Doe Sports Stadium in Kakata ( 2:00PM)
Sinoe NPA vs. PAGS FC at the J. E Green Sports Pitch in Greenville, Sinoe County ( 3:30PM).
FC Bea Mountain sits at top spot with 29 points in the top-tier league while NPA Anchors sits top spot with 37 points in the Orange National League-2nd Division.
FC Bea Mountain is the only team yet to taste a single defeat in the men’s Orange National League.
The Grand Cape Mount County club, FC Bea Mountain under its watchful tatician Coach Robert Lartey, alias “Argentine” is chasing or in search of the first domestic silverware since its establishment in the Country.
