By HENRY MORABANG
GELLE Hills came from a 2-0 deficit at half time to force a 2-2 draw to continue to make life a misery for Inspac Rapatona as the Telikom-sponsored National Soccer League soccer competition finals near its final.
Hills and Rapatona was the first of the double header match played at Telikom Park in Port Moresby on Saturday while in the main game, Hekari United beat Welgris Highlanders 1-0 to maintain the lead in the NSL competition.
Rapatona had the game in the bag in the opening half but could not counter a strong comeback fight from Hills who scored their goals through striker Richard Auram and penalty through Ila Ilaita junior to level the draw.
Striker Ravu Habuka scored in the 26th minute before Kialou Pouru collected another goal to put Rapatona in a comfort zone but could not defend the goal to allow Hills back into the game.
Rapatona dominated the game in the opening half but they loose their cool in the second half to allow Hills to capitalize on them to easily convert them into goals.
Gelle Hills had several opportunities in the dying minutes of the final half to secure the three competition match points but they took wrong options which denied them the three points.
In their other match played in Port Moresby, Kema Jack header in the 70th minute of the game was enough to help his team, Hekari United to win the competition following a scoreless opening half.
Despite missing their four key players to PNG Under 23 team, the Highlanders under Captain Ian Yanum gave their best shot against the star-studded Hekari United team through the entire match.
Yanum who took control of the midfield with the help of Esa Nassa did everything in the books but their frontline let them down.
Strikers Gary Moka with flanker Philip Apo played exceptionally well but could not convert their opportunities into goals.
In the first half, the Highlanders came close in causing the upset but good cover defence by Hekari backline players Jacob Pekau, Brian Tuhiana and Tasola Niebo stood up to their task denying them to score.
Hekari also had several opportunities but the Highlanders goalkeeper Anton Pipi made some classical aerobic saves for his team.
In Madang, Besta Madang proved their superiority over their sister team, Madang Fox winning 6-5 at Laiwaden Oval.
The points ladder is as follows: Hekari United 23, Gelle Hills 19, Morobe Kumuls 17, Inspac Rapatona 16, Welgris Highlander 14, Besta Fighters 10 and Madang Fox 4