06 Mar 2016

Gaborone United midfielder Thato Ogopotse converted an easy tap to earn his club a 1-0 victory against cross town rivals Township Rollers in an entertaining be Mobile premiership encounter at the National stadium on Saturday night.

Moyagoleele’s hunger was felt as early as the first minute when Ogopotse tapped in the only goal of the match after Rollers’  shot stopper Kabelo Dambe failed to deal with an innocent looking free kick from the far right. 

Moments later Rollers hopes of grabbing an equalizer were blown up in smoke when the referee looked away what looked like a legitimate foul on Segolame Boy who had snarled through G.U’s defence and goal keeper Michael Pepukani was adjudged to have illegitimately stopped him. 

At the other end Dambe once again was in sixes and sevens when Moyagoleele took another free kick from a similar position after their marksman Benson Shilongo was fouled.

On the stroke of half time it was end to end attack but the ineffective Rollers forward Jerome Ramatlhwakwane was unable to breach a disciplined GU defence led by the stocky and heavily built former Accra Hearts of Oak defender Goodwin Osei Bonsu.

The two teams went into the break with a goal still separating them.

The second half was yet another interesting duel between the two Gaborone giants. 

GU started to crack in the middle of the park with Alphonso Modisaotsile now assuming a more defensive role thus allowing Maano Ditshupo a chance of feeding the likes of Sekhana Koko and Boy upfront. 

Nevertheless Moyagoleele averted the danger with neat positional play from the middle and excellent combination between their striking duo of Obonye Maome and Shilongo. 

The introduction of Terrance Mandaza and Gofaone Tiro was hardly felt as GU consolidated their dominance in the middle. 

Rollers left back Otlantshekela Mooketsi’s ambitious attempt from long range forced Pepukani to come up with a bit of magic and tip the scorcher out for a corner.

Shilongo could have buried Rollers with a second goal as the second half wore on but his selfish attempt was perfectly dealt with by Dambe. 

Zebras flying winger Kabelo Seakanyeng, who had replaced Maome watched in disbelief as his low angled drive shaved the upright before rolling back into play and cleared to safety.

Though Rollers remain perched at the summit of the premier log summit, the loss inched defending champions Mochudi Centre Chiefs closer with only two points separating them. 

BDF XI who beat struggling FC Satmos 4-1 are also breathing heavily on third placed Orapa United who lost to Magosi on Friday night. Ends