Hekari No.1 again

By HENRY MORABANG
WITH less than three matches remaining in the Telikom National Soccer League, reigning champions Hekari United are set to represent Papua New Guinea at yet another 2012-13 O-League challenge.
Coming from three big wins, the current champions will no doubt bag the minor premiership despite the outcome of the remaining matches.
After upsetting Amicale 2-0 in match day four of O-League last Saturday, their 9-2 rout of MMJV Bulolo United and 5-0 thrashing of NBS Tukoko University on Saturday, the reigning champions are outright leaders with 40 points.
Last Saturday, Hekari wasted no time in making their intentions known when sneaky midfielder Samuel Kini scored in the 12th minute.
Tukoko fielded a strong side which included Valentine Nelson, Kohu Liam, Goroba Tawa, Begen Yanum, Malakai Ben and Madang import Topio Trimo.
But they fell short of the target.
Their attempts at goal were stopped by acrobatic goalkeeper Leslie Kalai who had a 100% success rate in defending his net.
The game seesawed until the 39th minute when striker Raymond Gunemba scored one to push the lead to 2-0 at half-time.
Maciu Dunadamu scored less than two minutes into the second spell to raise the lead to 3-0.
Lae University did not let their guards down. They continued to mount their attack but their raids were thwarted by good play from fullback Pita Bolaitoga, Koriak Upaiga, Daniel Joe and Andrew Lepani.
In the midfield, Kini and David Muta continued to step up and find the gaps to slot the balls through for their strikers to score.
A neat set of play from Gunemba saw Muta slotting the ball past Tukoko goalkeeper Daniel Yang in the 68th. Super sub Kema Jack found the net to seal the match 5-0.
The Hekari management was disappointed with Tukoko University for failing to put up a good fight to prepare the side for their O-League match against Auckland City next Saturday but were happy with the win.
In the other match, CPL Eastern Stars striker Felix Bondaluk scored a double to help his team brush aside a late charge by MMJV Bulolo United to win 4-2.
Stars midfielder Roniel Igens scored in the 14th minute after a David Taro penalty was deflected which resulted in Igens tapping into the net.
Igens again was involved in setting up Bondaluk for the first of his two goals. Minutes later Yang fumbled a shot allowing Taro to easily tap to extend the lead to 3-0 at the break.
In the second half, MMJV Bulolo FC came back strongly with former Eastern Stars midfielder Adrian Komu leading his charges.
Komu scored the opening goal for the corner kick while Gamaya Dimur scored the second to trail 2-3.
The Morobeans had the chance to level the scores but missed an easy opportunity. With the time ticking down, substitute Lap Embel was brought down in the penalty resulting in a free kick. Taro slotted it past Yang to extend their lead to 4-2 to wrap up the match in their favour.
In Lae, Besta United beat Gigira Laitepo Central Coast FC 3-1.
After the weekend’s matches, the points ladder has Hekari United on 40 points followed by Eastern Stars 27, Besta United 25, Central Coast 19, Bulolo United 13, Tukoko 11 and Petro Souths 10.