17 Apr 2017

Township Rollers will spend another week at the summit of the BTC Premiership log after a 2-1 triumph over rivals Mochudi Centre Chiefs in an entertaining clash at the National Stadium on Saturday night.

A Good Friday draw between Galaxy FC and Green Lovers in Serowe had temporarily put the Jwaneng side top of the log by a single point, but Rollers’ win returned them to the top by a two-point cushion.

Much like the Biblical Salome, the daughter of Herod II and Herodias who demanded the beheading of John the Baptist as a birthday gift, Rollers and Chiefs supporters entered the Easter weekend seeking the scalp of their opponents.

It would be Popa who would put Magosi to the sword, first half goals from Lemponye Tshireletso and Edwin Moalosi giving them the result. Jerome Ramatlhakwana’s second half goal gave Chiefs the belief and revived the fight in the Kgatleng giants, but only served as consolation.

Three minutes into the contest, Rollers centre half Simisani Mathumo played a long ‘route one’ ball across the park into the opposing box where Terrance Mandaza was not alert enough to profit.

Two minutes later, Ramatlhakwana powered his way into the right side of the Rollers 18 yard box, but, escorted by Popa defender Mosha Gaolaolwe, the Chiefs striker could only muster a half attempt parried away by Rollers goal minder Keeagile Kgosipula.

In the seventh minute, Tshireletso opened the scoring, making a powerful run into the Chiefs area, skinning left back Ontse ‘Maniche’ Ntesa and lobbing the ball over advancing goalkeeper Noah Maposa to make it 1-0 to Rollers.

In a 4-3-3 tactical formation, the Chiefs midfield of Lesego Molemogi, Lesego Galenamotlhale and Dirang Moloi looked comfortable on the ball but could not get their forwards Ramatlhakwana, Ayanda Molefhe and Absalom Libondi involved.

Just after the hour mark, Tshireletso won the ball in the middle of the park, and went on another run that created the opening for Rollers’ second.  

The Chiefs defence and Maposa had looked like they had dealt with Tshireletso’s threat, only for Moalosi to pop up and squeeze in the ball, making it 2-0 to Rollers in the 32nd minute.

The game went into the half time recess at 2-0 to Rollers. Early into the second half, Chiefs had their first real chance when a 48th minute Ramatlhakwana free kick from just outside the Rollers box forced a save off Kgosipula.

Ramatlhakwana would get a second bite at the cherry in the 65th minute, and this time floated in a beautiful free kick that went in past a flatfooted Kgosipula, making in 2-1 on the night.

Rollers top the log with 49 points, two ahead of Galaxy who are on 47 followed by Orapa United who are third with 42 points. Centre Chiefs are in position 10 with 28 points.

OTHER EASTER WEEKEND RESULTS:

Sankoyo Bush Bucks 2 Extension Gunners 2,
Black Forest 1 BDF XI 0,
Green Lovers 1 Galaxy FC 1, Orapa United 5 Mahalapye Hotspurs 0, Nico United 3 Police XI 0, Gilport Lions 0 Miscellaneous 0, Security Systems 0 Gaborone United 0. BOPA