Morobe stay in top-two contention with Besta win

 By LARRY AULA ANDREW

WELGRIS Morobe United were pushed hard by the enthusiatic and enterprising Besta PNG United before securing a 1-0 win over the PNGFA Academy side in yesterday’s Telikom National Soccer League Northern Conference clash  at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, Lae.

In the other matches, Morobe provincial government/Panamex Pacific-sponsored Lae City Dwellers had a lucky escape against Manus provincial government-sponsored franchise Admiralty FC, winning a close encounter 2-1.

The NSL game in Madang was won by the hosts 2-1 after the side were given an unexpected lively challenge by Highlanders Goroka Gosiha.

The Gosiha held their their more fancied opponents to 1-1 at halftime. Morobe were kept at bay by Besta as the Welgris side found it hard to slip the committed and composed development side.

Besta coach Hans Gewebing saw his men keep possession for periods but accuracy in the opposition’s quarter saw several missed chances by Roy Yara, Giwi Simon, Ferdahlas Namuesh, Boas Isom and Neville Wingawi.

Besta continued to apply pressure but looked to have exhausted all their creative juice as Morobe’s coaching staff pleaded with the players to control the ball better and be patient.

Wing Markis Gelmai slammed home a goal for Morobe in the 43rd minute to take a 1-0 lead at the break.

The second half was anybody’s game with both sides coaches yelling instructions and admonitions from the sidelines to their players.

Man-of-the-match and Morobe captain Eliud Fugre calmed his side down and led them to a narow but deserving victory in the end.

With two more games in the regular season remaning the race for position number two in the conference is now between Morobe and Madang.

Morobe 1 (M.Gelmai 43’) Besta 0 HT: 1-0 (Morobe) at SIK Stadium, Lae.