Hearts take temporary lead

Accra, Aug. 13, GNA - New signing Ablade Morgan scored his first goal for Hearts as the Phobians took a temporary lead atop the 16-club league after disposing off visiting Tano Bofoakwa 3-1 in their penultimate first round match at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday. This leader, however, could only become substantive if rivals Kotoko stumble in their encounter against Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals in Accra on Thursday.

In spite of the victory, Hearts were given a real scare in the second half after they had taken a commanding 2-0 lead before recess. Smallish Morgan, who was making his second appearance after his move from Liberty a week ago, scored with a low grounder from the "18" after winning a tussle with skipper Kwasi Owusu in the sixth minute. Speedster Lawrence Adjei made it two on 13th minute when he tapped in an inswinger from stocky Awudu Adama.

Ironically, that goal was to bring out the best in the Brong Ahafo lads who stepped up their game but could hardly make any threatening move at goal.

However, it was Hearts who nearly came close to increasing the tally before the break. Adjei hit the side net in the 32nd minute after a 20-metre dash while Frank Turkson was heckled down at the edge of the box on his way to score.

The game, however, took a swift turn in favour of the visitors after recess who pinned Hearts to their own half, but hard to wait till the 66th minute to reduce the tally.

Unfortunately it was Adjei who scored his personal second and third for Hearts in the 63rd minute after defender Kwame Antwi had beaten an offside trap to place the ball on his path. But before the Phaobian fans could shout for more goals, Bofoakwa had pulled one back through striker Kwaku Adu in the 66th minute. Sekondi Hasaacas beat Berekum Arsenals 1-0 in a well-contested Kinapharma premier league match played at the Sekondi Gyandu park. The winning goal was scored by Robert Mensah who played at the inside left position in the 75th minute after his side had earlier unsuccessfully exploited many avenues for a goal.

While the second half was in full swing, Mensah out-played the defence of Arsenals and took a powerful shot from the penalty area which flew past goalkeeper Justice Quaicoe and landed in the net. The goal gingered Arsenals into a desperate action and they played their hearts out for an equalizer which eluded them because good defensive work by Hasaacas.

Earlier in the first half, Hasaacas set the tone for the match when it launched an attack on Arsenals in the fifth minute but strong defence of Arsenals stood firm and responded with sharp passes on the flanks. This was followed by attacks and counter-attacks by both sides until the first half ended. At Koforidua, Stay Cool Professionals held Power F/C to a goalless draw in their Kinapharma match. The Stay Cool boys were more aggressive and displayed a good football to the admiration of the few spectators at the stadium . The Power boys looked more relaxed until the second half when Dennis Odoom and Kassum Sulleman were brought in to strengthen their attack but this did not change the score line.

Stay Cool had the chance to take the lead in the 11th minute but the short from the foot of their outside right Samuel Obeng flew over the bar to the relief of Power.

In the 31st minute, Abubakar Sulleman in the post of Power was forced to parry a shot from Stay Cool's substitute Clement Coffie to corner.

When the corner was effected, another shot from Francis Darko of Stay Cool, was blocked and prevented from entering the net. The afternoon's good performance of the Stay Cool players was marred by their attack on Referee Joseph Mac-Cartey soon after the referee blew the final whistle.

They accused Referee Mac-Cartey of being unfair in his handling of the match. Brong Ahafo United defeated visiting Accra Great Olympics 1-0 in their match at the Sunyani Coronation Park.

Frank Agyei headed home the lone goal in the 24th minute to beat on-rushing goalkeeper John Adjetey.

Olympics who played without their strong-man Kobina Dzodie, lacked the needed bite in attack and as early as the ninth minute, United nearly opened the score but a fine combination between Kwasi Boateng, Osuman Sakora and Nana Frimpong was poorly finished off by Adjei as with only the goalkeeper to beat he shot wide.

The game became a ding-dong affair until the 24th minute when Adjei hit the back of the net with the powerful header.

Poor officiating by referee J.B. Debrah and his two assistant referees, nearly marred the unexciting match as he failed to stamp his authority on the game, allowing both sides to play it rough for most of the time. The two sides made changes but neither could find the net.

Standings after 14th-week matches

Accra, Aug. 13, GNA - Standings of the 16-club Kinapharma Premier League after 14th-week matches.

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P W L D F A ... P W L D F A GD..pts Hearts 7 5 0 2 15 4 7 4 0 3 9 3 17 32 Kotoko 7 5 1 1 14 2 6 4 1 1 8 3 17 30 Arsenals 7 5 1 1 9 3 7 3 3 1 8 4 10 26 King Faisal 7 3 2 2 13 7 7 3 1 3 7 3 10 23 Liberty 6 2 0 4 8 4 7 3 2 2 9 9 4 21 Goldfields 7 5 1 1 13 3 7 1 2 4 6 8 5 20 Hasaacas 7 5 0 2 9 4 7 0 5 2 2 9 -2 19 Power 7 3 2 2 4 4 7 2 4 1 4 6 -2 18 Olympics 7 3 2 2 6 5 7 1 3 3 6 9 -2 17 Mines Stars 7 5 1 1 7 1 7 0 6 1 1 15 -8 17 Lions 7 4 1 2 8 7 7 1 6 0 3 15 -11 17 Bofoakwa 7 4 1 2 9 4 7 0 7 0 3 12 -4 14 R T U 7 3 3 1 6 4 7 0 3 4 2 9 -5 14 Okwawu 7 2 3 2 7 8 7 0 4 3 2 6 -5 11 B A United 7 2 2 3 4 6 7 1 6 0 4 12 -10 10 Stay Cool 7 1 4 2 3 8 7 0 4 3 3 12 -14 8