01 Feb 2022

 Extension Gunners and Masitaoka played to a one-all draw in an entertaining premier league match playedin Lobatse on Monday night.

Gunners led through a well worked goal by Kabelo Babusi after dominating the first half. 

However, Masitaoka pilled enormous pressure in the second half though they failed to hit the net until substitute, Bakang Tsholang equalised with four minutes of regulation time remaining.

The two teams went into the match with contrasting fortunes. 

Gunners were full of confidence after winning four of their previous five matches and also boosted by the sudden return of coach Wame ‘Pepezino’ Mokoke, who last week resigned from the team to join Jwaneng Galaxy. 

Masitaoka on one hand were recovering from four losses in their previous five matches.

Gunners alias Mapantsula started on the ascendancy in a fast paced encounter. 

They came close to opening the scoring in the fifth minute when Babusi shot wide after linking with Omphile Vissage inside the penalty area.

The on-form Gunners’ forward line of Babusi, Odirile Lekoba, Kgotso Phuti and Dirang Moloi kept Masitaoka goalkeeper, Kabelo Kuti and his defence busy.

The visitors, however, concentrated on absorbing the pressure and hitting on the counter attack through Kobamelo Kebaikanye and Ototeng Dintwa on the wings.

Mapantsula took the lead in the 21st minute when Babusi tapped in his eighth goal of the season from a square ball by Vissage after good build up by Moloi and Lekoba.

Phuti shot a glorious opportunity over the post afterwards from another mesmerising move between Moloi and Babusi.

Kebaikanye nearly equalised for Masitaoka aka Majatlhaga in the 42nd minute when his low shot went narrowly wide.

However, the Gunners defence had a torrid second half as Majatlhaga pilled pressure with substitute Kealeboga Koko, Kebaikanye, Patrick Kaunda, Koketso Majafi and Tapiwa Sepatela leading the onslaught. 

Mapantsula, however, nearly doubled their lead against the run of play when Phuti struck the post in the 56th minute.

Goalkeeper, Tumiso Mashakola, came to Gunners’ rescue with a stunning save from long range shot by Majafi, while Kebaikanye flicked a header narrowly over the post from a free-kick by Olebogeng Ramotse.

Mashakola then stopped a snapshot from Kaunda and a stinging drive from Kebaikanye. 

The Majatlhaga pressure finally paid dividends when Tsholang equalised in the 86th minute, after being left unmarked inside the penalty area.

The former Gunners winger was celebrating his first goal in Masitaoka colours. 

Centre back, Keabetswe Obonetse, had a chance to win it in stoppage time for Masitaoka but he shot straight at Mashakola.

The draw left Masitaoka on position 11 with 16 points from 15 matches, while Gunners are on position nine with 22 points from 15 matches.

Gunners will welcome Jwaneng Galaxy in Lobatse on Thursday in their next match, while Masitaoka will on the same day, take on Security Systems, who thrashed Prisons XI 3-0 on Monday. BOPA