Misfiring Angels leave empty-handed in Ghetto thriller
Showing plenty of heart to go with their obvious talent, Premier League newbies, Eleven Angels, gave Jwaneng Galaxy a scare at the weekend, pushing the title chasers all the way in an absorbing contest in Ghetto.
In what is fast becoming a theme for the Francistown side, Angels were ultimately undone by their lack of prowess in front of goal, once again failing to find the back of the net despite creating decent openings.
It means Seemo Mpatane’s troops have now blanked in three of their four league outings to date, Ronnie Leagetse’s penalty in a 1-0 win over Masitaoka remaining their sole success.
They came agonisingly close to doubling this tally on Saturday, hitting the post three times and making Galaxy keeper, Karabo Gaolebale, work extremely hard for his first clean sheet of the campaign.
In the end, Kitso Mangolo’s clinical 34th minute strike proved the difference, securing a third successive victory for the mining side and ensuring they finished the day unbeaten and temporarily top of the table.
The afternoon sun beat down atop the Obed Itani Chilume’s thick, slightly overgrown grass as the players walked out for the 4pm kick-off; energy-sapping conditions that made for a sluggish start to the game.
Although Galaxy pressed and probed from the onset, dominating possession with Namibian playmaker, Marcell Papama dictating in midfield, their attacks lacked urgency and, content to sit back, Angels soaked up the pressure relatively easily.
Against the run of play, the home side nearly took the lead on the halfhour mark, Mompati Mbidzo desperately unlucky to see his curling, close-range shot slam into the post after Shanganani Ngada’s long-throw had caused chaos in the visitor’s box.
Buoyed by this let-off, Galaxy upped their tempo, pushing forward with a renewed vigor that had previously been lacking.
They forced the game’s only goal minutes later, Papama linking up with his countryman, Wendell Rudath, in a sweeping move down the left - where Galaxy looked at their most threatening throughout.
Beating the offside trap as he burst down the wing, Rudath low centre was met by the on-rushing Kitso Mangolo, who coolly rolled the ball past Angels goalie, Tambani Bachopi, from close quarters.
Showing their intent, Angels made a double-substitution at half-time, bringing on Bakang Mpatane and Eric Ookame as they went all out for an equaliser.
Bakang, who recently lost his place in the starting line-up and with it the captain’s armband, seemingly paying the price for a missed penalty against Extension Gunners, made an immediate impact. Deployed in an unaccustomed position on the right, the tough-tackling
midfielder managed to contain the dangerous Rudath and looked menacing in possession, distributing the ball well.
With the stadium now bathed in shadow, the cooler temperatures made for a thrilling second-half, with the action endto-end.
However, a combination of spectacular flying saves and desperate, last ditch defensive tackles meant the second 45 finished goalless.
Angels’ highly-rated young striker, Monty Enosa, in particular will be wondering how he didn’t score. Given the unenviable task of leading the line solo against four towering defenders, the pacey 18-year-old worked tirelessly for the cause and, exhausted, was eventually hauled off in the 76th minute. Enosa’s match defining moment came midway through the half, when, from just a metre out, his lifted shot was brilliantly tipped onto the post by Gaolebale, the Galaxy gloveman showing remarkable reflexes to keep the ball out.
From the resulting corner, Lekgamu La Bananyana were again denied by the woodwork, leaving Coach Mpatane to look skywards, as if asking the heavens what he had done to deserve such bad luck.
With the fixtures coming thick and fast, Angels have no time to feel sorry for themselves.
Next up for Mpatane’s starlets is a trip down south on Saturday where an inform Prisons XI lie in wait. Although the warders are on a three-game unbeaten run, including a 1-0 win over Sua Flamingoes last time out, it is the type of encounter Angels will have earmarked as a ‘mustwin’ if they are to prolong their stay in the top flight beyond a year.
For Jwaneng, whose coach, Morena Ramoreboli, described the clash as their toughest 90 minutes of the season so far, attention now turns to the diamond derby, and a mammoth meeting with Orapa United.
Four games in, and, while there may be no prize money on offer, the league is heating up nicely…