08 Dec 2016

Township Rollers head coach, Mark Harrison, says his team’s performance in their 2-0 BTC Premiership victory against Extension Gunners was their best so far this season.

Lemponye Tshireletso scored a brace at the National Stadium on Wednesday (December 7) when Township Rollers ended their three-match winless run.

Although Gunners dominated ball possession, they lacked punch in attack and were erroneous at the back.

Tshireletso punished them when he pounced on a high cross that eluded the entire Gunners defence and put Mapalastina ahead in the 16th minute.

The winger caught the defence napping again and doubled the lead two minutes later, netting his fourth league goal of the season.

Gunners tried to fight back with Kutlwelo Mpolokang and Wadza Seleka orchestrating things in midfield.

They had two chances to cut the deficit but Emmanuel Machinya hit the post after good work by Thabo Metlhayotlhe, and then placed a cross from Mmoloki Kebalepile off target.

Tshireletso was denied a hat-trick when his effort was cleared off the line by Leteng Legopelo in the second half.

Rollers were reduced to ten men late in the match when Thato Bolweleng was dismissed by referee Joshua Bondo for blocking the ball with arms.

“I thought it was a high octane battle today with two teams having a go at each other.  That was the first time this season that we performed to this level. It is the performance that won us the league last season. We need to perform like this week in and week out,” Harrison said.

Rollers climbed to second position on the league standings with 15 points, three behind log leaders Orapa United. Gunners registered a second loss in a space of four days and dropped to sixth on the table.

Gunners coach, Daniel ‘Chicco’ Nare said his team gave away two soft goals.

“I thought we matched them in key areas. I only lost the game when I let in two silly goals. Pepukani (Gunners goalkeeper) could have done better with the first goal and the marking was poor by my central defence for Tshireletso’s (second) goal. That is the only thing that separated us with Rollers,” Nare said.

Other midweek BTC Premiership results: Miscellaneous 0-2 Gaborone United, Jwaneng Galaxy 2-1 Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Orapa United 1-1 Sankoyo Bush Bucks, Mahalapye Hotspurs 0-0 Gilport Lions, Nico United 1-1 BDF XI, Police XI 2-0 Green Lovers, Black Forest 1-1 Security Systems. ENDS