Kessben pip Asante Kotoko 0-1 in Premier Leaguer match

An 85th minute goal by Baba Iddi enabled Kessben F/C to earn 1-0 victory over visiting Kumasi Asante Kotoko in their 14th Week of the Glo Premier League match played at the Anane Boateng Stadium at Abrankese near Kumasi on Sunday.

Kessben who were under severe pressure getting to the end of proccedings took advantage of a counter attack from the right flank where Bobie Ansah beat a defender and gave a short pass to Iddi who in the midst of the defenders hit the back of the net with goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye stranded.

Just after the goal the home fans went into wild jubilation, with the technical bench of Kessben rushing to carry high their head coach Bashiru Hayford, a former coach of Kotoko while Coach Isaac 'Opeele' Boateng of Kotoko consoled some of his players for conceding the dying minutes goal.

While the jubilation was going on some Kotoko fans were seen throwing sachet water and orange peels at referee Cecil Fletcher and his assistants, thus bringing proceedings to a temporary halt while goalkeeper Nurudeen Mohammed of Kessben laid on the turf apparently hit from an object which was all apparently in protest against some hasty decisions by referee Fletcher.

It was a match which Kessben deserved to win because they proved superior to Kotoko right from the blast of the referee's whistle.

Keessben kicked off but it was Kotoko who quickly took over and nearly took an early lead but Nii Adjei wasted the opportunity.

Undaunted by the early incursion by Kotoko, Edmund Owusu-Peprah hit the woodwork with a header in the 14th minute with goalkeeper Soulama injuring his left hand as he overstretched his body.

The game at that stage became a ding-dong affair with Kessben matching Kotoko boot for boot to end the half goalless.

Kotoko on resumption of the second half, brought on Ofosu Amoah for Francis Coffie who combined perfectly with Samuel Inkoom on the right flank leading to series of forays they failed to translate any of the chances into goals.

Sensing danger Kessben made two changes with Godbless Asamoah taking over from Suraj Mohammed in the 53rd minute and Fuseini Abubakari also coming in for Owusu Debrah in the 81st minute to strengthen the attack.

Kotoko made a last minute onslaught but a chance that came their way was wasted by Alex Asamoah who shot wide before a lurking Iddi on a swift counter attack scored the match winner for Kessben to send the whole town into a wild jubilation.