Late brace keeps Reds in top spot

By BENJAMIN KOITAKA
HEKARI United maintained their number one spot top of the Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League Southern Conference after seeing off Star Mountain 2-1 in on Saturday.
The Reds have five wins from as many games but kept the fans on the egde of their seats scoring two late goals to seal victory.
Kolu Kepo and Gibson Daudau found the back of the Star Mountain net with goals in the 80th and 82nd minutes.
The Tabubil side proved equal to the task staying in the contest against their more fancied rivals and were the first on the board thanks to Daniel Oriu in the first 21st minute.
Star Mountain had their tails up going into the break leading 1-0 lead and based off their first half effort would have been confident they could spring the upset.
But in reality Hekari had barely got out of second gear and spurred on by coach Jerry Allen, the former NSL champions, slowly started to regain the ascendency and put the heat on Star Mountain’s defence.
And they saved their best for last with Daudau and Kepo providing the one-two that knocked out the Star Mountain side late.
Star Mountain’s Jerus Kondoi earned a yellow carded in the final minute for some over-zealous defence on Kepo but other than that the Tabubil side could not muster anything significant offensively to turn the game in their favour.
Hekari’s Allen said his was happy his side had a perfect five from five but said his players were starting to be targeted by opposition defences.
Allen said some defences were starting to play the man rather than the ball, particularly when they were desperate late in games.
“There’s no need for players to get too physical,” Allen said.
They just need to play football and let their skills and fitness take over.
We train to play the football to go after each other,” the Solomon Islander added.
“Referees need to stop that kind of play because it might get out of hand.”