09 Mar 2020

Nico United on Sunday maintained their league position by defeating Calendar Stars by 2-1 in a Debswana First Division North league encounter played at the Francistown Old Stadium.

Nico is in a tight race for the league champions against Sua Flamingoes, which is still at the top of the log.

Of the two teams on Sunday, Calendar Stars  had an upper hand in the overall performance of the game.

Calendar Stars started the game in a positive manner as they pressed hard on their opponents, but they were not fortunate enough to get an early goal.

In the fifth minute, they got their first shot on goal through Charles Marumo, whose shot went over the bar.

Calendar Stars lads continued pressing hard and though they were awarded more free kicks, they failed to convert them.

In the 12^th minute, Nico United’s Motswari Goitseone’s efforts drew a blank, hitting the far post.

From recess, Calendars Stars got another shot on goal through Thabo Ngada and the Francistown lads, visited their opponents’ goal posts time and again, but their decisions inside the box were poor.

In the 56^th minute, their determination paid off as they got the opening goal through Ngada, which increased their confidence as they launched more attacks when going to the front.

Within five minutes of the opening goal, Nico United equalised, courtesy of Bokamoso Mosima’s header.

The goal, gave Nico players the necessary impetus, which forced Calendar Stars’ defence to lose concentration. Nico punished them once again via Mosima on the 79^th minute, from a well taken cross by Thabiso Ndlela.

Nico United coach, Peter Muchina was happy with results as they were no longer worse off than when the league started. 

For his part, Calendars coach, Vincent Chikumba said the results put them in a bad space as they went into the game eyeing fourth position. He said the players lost concentration just after Nico equalised.

Meanwhile in other games, Sua Flamingoes won 2-1 against City Green while Eleven Angels lost 1-0 to Tonota FC. ENDS