Star shine over Fox

Main Stories, Sports
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By HENRY MORABANG

EASTERN Star are on fire after adding Madang’s Niupetro Fox to their string of victims with a 3-2 victory in Lae on Saturday to consolidate their position for the remaining three spots in the Telikom National Soccer League challenge.
The Star, who gave scare to Hekari United during the mid-week clash before going down 4-3, put on a distinguished show at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium to sound a warning that the game was not over yet for the Milne Bay side.
With three more games remaining before the NSL finals start, the minor premiers is already in the bag for Hekari United while the race is wide open for the remaining three positions.
CMSS Tigers, Gigira Laitepo Morobe, Esiloan University, Tukoko University and Eastern Star – are all in the running for the remaining three spots.
Eastern Star franchise owner Joe Ealedona said his team were the great improvers of the round after beating Gigira Laitepo Morobe 3-1, then lost to Hekari United 4-3 before upsetting Niupetro Fox 3-2.
Ealedona added that he was happy with the performance of the team but could not predict the remaining games.
He commended his coaching staff under Moyap Francis who had been working overtime to get the boys focus on the game.
In other games, young Besta United side put other franchises on notice that they are not easy meat when they held Tukoko University to a 3-3 draw.
In Port Moresby, Hekari United outclassed Gelle Hills to win 5-1 while a 10-man CMSS Tigers shrugged off the strong challenge by Esiloan University to end  with scoreless draw.
The points ladder as of the weekend: Hekari 31, CMSS Tigers 23, Gigira Laitepo Morobe FC 21, Esiloan University 19, Tukoko University 19, Eastern Star 18, Gelle Hills 15, Niupetro Fox seven and Besta PNG United seven.