MARIST AND MAKURU SCORE IMPRESSIVE NCC WINS

The Telikom National Club Championships are heating up in Honiara with and Makuru both scoring good wins obver the weekend. 

Marist 2, Uncles 1

Two second half goals from National Under 23 players Gibson Hosea and Joachim Waroi ended Uncles two-match winning streak and threw wide open pool A.

Marist needing a win going into this match did not disappoint their fans who turned up in their hundreds to cheer their boys on.

Coach Patrick Miniti was careful in his choice of players and made sure his first 11 were his best on that day.

Playing in their final pool match, Marist kept up the pressure from the opening whistle keeping Uncles dangerous three, Judd Molea, Ian Ngahu and Junior Billy in check all the time.

It was an equally contested affair until the half time break, where chances were created by both teams.

Marist saw the urgency when match resumed and started pushing up more. It was not until midway into the half in a goal-mouth scramble that Hosea managed to find space to hammer home from his left foot leaving Uncles goalie, Paul Huia stranded as the ball hit the back of the net.

Minutes later Uncles grabbed the equalizer for a rather controversial refereeing decision. Dead ball specialist Molea blasted the ball into the back of the net as their fans erupted into jubilation.

But any hope for a draw evaporated into thin air when Waroi rose above the Uncles defence line to nod home their second goal.

Hosea provided the killer corner kick, sending in an in-swinger to a waiting Waroi who made no mistake with his timely header.

Marist coach Miniti, called on his boys to retreat to their defense line to guard their one-goal lead as their fans celebrated.

It wasn’t long before the final whistle was blown to end the match.

Makuru 9, Banika Bulls 2

HONIARA, 3rd June 2008: Commins Menapi scored five of Makuru’s nine goals to confirm their intentions to go all the way and perhaps qualify for the O’ League when they played Banika Bulls of Central Province yesterday.

The former Honiara Football Association champion had to wait until the 11th minute before Batram Suri scored the opener after earlier threatening their goal mouth.

That goal threw open the floodgates as Makuru piled on additional goals in both halves through Suri, Menapi and replacement player Ezra Sale.

Banika grabbed two goals at injury time in both halves to put some respect back into their team through Alfred Roven and Oge Iibuti.

Makuru’s huge goal margin was overshadowed by an incident where their goalkeeper and former international Felix Ray reacted when he collided with a Banika player resulting in him being sent off at injury time.

Meanwhile, Fasi Roos defeated Lagoon Brothers 3-1 in the earlier match to keep their hopes of qualifying for the semifinals alive.

Progressive Table standings as at June 2, 2008

POOL A

POOL B