15 Dec 2014

Substitute Manqoba Ngwenya scored a late double as log leaders and reigning champions Township Rollers thrashed FC Satmos 4-1 in a be Mobile Premier League game on Saturday, December 13, in Molepolole.

The win at Molepolole Sports Complex was the seventh in a row for Mapalastina in the league, which stretched their league record from September last year to 42 consecutive unbeaten matches. 

Rollers were dominant from the beginning but were unable to convert early opportunities as Satmos defended manfully. 

And the Gaborone west giants were stunned when forward Mogakolodi Balatotse capitalised on static defending by Simisane Mathumo and Bogosi Kaekwe to side-foot the Cheetahs into a twentieth-minute lead from a break-through. 

But Madinda Ndlovu’s men responded to the setback by laying siege on goalkeeper Morambiwa Ndlovu’s goalposts, and Segolame Boy came close with a screamer from 25-yards out. Mathumo equalised with a free header from a Kobamelo Kebaikanye free kick seven minutes before break. 

Satmos cleared a Jerome Louis header off the line, but the striker then punished some sloppy defending by Mosimanegape Ramohibidu and company to give Rollers the lead on the stroke of half-time. The Namibian dispossessed two defenders inside the 18-yard area and fired a low shot past Ndlovu. 

What looked like a harmless cross by Obakeng Gaanabeng two minutes into the second half nearly caught Rollers goalkeeper Mwampole Masule napping. 

However, Rollers established another spell of dominance after that and midfielder Motsholetsi Sikele went wide with a rasping shot, before left-back Otlaantshekela Mooketsi missed the target with a rocket from long range. 

Rollers made a double substitution 15 minutes before full-time when Ngwenya and Sekhana Koko, after a long injury lay-off, entered the fray.  Boy, who scored a late winner against Motlakase Power Dynamos last weekend, watched in frustration as another late attempt crashed against the post. 

But Ngwenya added gloss to the score line with a quick-fire double in the dying minutes.  First he tapped in a loose ball three minutes from the end after the defence had made a mess of a clearance from a free kick, then steered home a Mooketsi cross on the stroke of full time. 

Rollers have now collected 36 points and maintain their six points lead above second placed Mochudi Centre Chiefs.  Satmos on the other hand were suffering a third league defeat in a row. They have collected 14 points from the same number of matches and are just three points above the relegation zone. ENDS