Hekari beat POM 2-1

 By FRANCIS RODNEY PULU

HEKARI Football Club has now cemented the top position of the Southern Conference of the National Soccer League with a close 2-1 win over second placed FC POM at the Bisini Soccer Parade yesterday.

Golden boot contender Koriag Upaiga scored twice in the first half to seal the games that saw second half goalless.

The win now sees Hekari further extend their lead to 27 points.

Coach Jerry Allen said by being the only undefeated team so far after nine games they want to finish the Conference stage with 30 points.

Hekari were the first to register on the score board in the first 30 minutes that saw midfielder Wira Wama doing a corner flick kick that found Upaiga making no mistake to score the first goal.

Ten minutes later a class long kick from the back from striker Tommy Sammy found Upaiga in the front to score his second goal.

FC POM had the opportunity to register  on the board when flanker Nathan James was kick on the side and a penalty  was given which saw Neil Hans curving the ball with his left-foot trademark into the goal mouth to bring the score 2-1.

Seen as one of the best NSL games so far the second half was anybody’s games which both sides playing their best to score but nothing was conceded.

Allen said with last game on the way he was telling his players to maintain their momentum and hopefully finish undefeated with 30 points. “We want to finish on 30 points before we advance to the Champions League stage,“ Allen said.

FC POM’s assistant coach Reginald Davani said with the second spot still up for grabs he wanted his players to maintain the same level of football and see the better outcome of next weekend’s game.

“We play Erema next week and that game is important for us,“ Davani said.

Results: Hekari 2 (Upaiga 2), FC POM 1 (Hans 1)