14 May 2023

Extension Gunners came from behind to draw 2-2 with Township Rollers at Lobatse Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon.

Gunners’ relegation from the premier league was confirmed few weeks ago after a challenging season for the club in which they went through four different head coaches.

The team is currently winless in its last 24 matches in the league. They will next season play in the second tier for the first time since 1979 when they campaigned in the then southern region second division league.

In the Saturday match, there was not much attacking from the two teams in the opening quarter, but Rollers broke the deadlock through Lemponye Tshireletso in the 16th minute. 

Playing in an unusual left back position, Tshireletso showed his attacking instincts by foraging forward to tap in a pass from Tlhalefo Molebatsi after Gunners young goalkeeper, Lesang Senne, failed to deal with a high ball. 

However, Gunners were awarded a penalty six minutes later after striker Boemo Lekorwe was fouled inside the penalty area by Rollers centre back Thabo Babutsi. 

Lekorwe easily slotted the spot kick past Rollers goalkeeper Karamelo Kgosipula to level matters. 

After the equaliser, Gunners put pressure on the opponents and nearly took the lead through Omphile Vissagie, but his low shot was cleared off the line by Babutsi. 

However, sloppy defending by the hosts allowed Namibian forward Dennis Tjizimauwe an opportunity to apply a close range finish in the 44th minute to restore the Rollers lead.

Rollers had opportunities to increase their lead in the second half, but Senne pulled off some top notch saves to deny them. 

The youngster brilliantly saved a free-kick by Segolame Boy in the 50th minute to keep Gunners in the match and dived majestically to claw a dangerous ball off the head of the unmarked Molebatsi inside the penalty area. 

He then pulled off another save after Boy pulled the trigger from close range in the 62nd minute, and made another brave save from Jackson Lesole.

Gunners defender Thato Bolweleng was denied by the post midway through the second half after a mistake by Kgosipula, but Vissagie levelled matters in the 79th minute with a shot from the edge of the box after combining with substitute Pako Modikwa.

The draw continued Rollers’ patchy form under Portuguese coach Sergio Traguil. 

They have won four of their last 10 league matches and are on position four with 47 points from 27 matches. Gunners are bottom of the log with 14 points from 27 matches. ends